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MSGID: 1:379/301.1 4d0d7122
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REPLY: 1:343/304 2fe4f2ef
-> RG> The USDOT and FHWA provide the statistics used to apportion
-> RG> Federal Highway funds to the states.  What they look at is
-> RG> active participation in speed control, weight control and
-> RG> other safety related law enforcement activities.
-> RG> Approximately 25% of the Federal Highway Funds allocated to
-> RG> the states is to be used for this purpose, and if the states
-> RG> aren't using it for that purpose, then they loose that
-> RG> portion of the funding.  Which is a sizeable amount of
-> RG> money...
-> I don't know about the percentages but I do know that
-> the biggest chuck of money is based on the number of
-> miles of NEW roads being built and almost none of it is
-> for repair of existing ones.  That's why you see new
-> roads being built while dodging pot holes on the road
-> you are using now.
Actually, it's the other way around.  Money is regularly allocated back
to the States and the States build new roads with it rather then fix the
existing infrastructure.  Our Officers Association will be testifying
along with the FHWA next week at the State Legislature.  The FHWA wants
bridges fixed, our DOT thinks they should be building car pool lanes.
-> Sometimes I think we should do away with all highway
-> taxes and make every road in the US a toll road.  You
-> use, you pay for it.  Why should you pay road tax for
-> the gas you are using in your chain saw or lawn mower?
They tried that up here and the public went nuts.  We have some of the
highest use and fuel taxes and by RCW it's supposed to be 90% for road
repair and upgrades.  Instead they administrate the money away for
things like job training, food stamps and other things.  About 65% of
the funds ends up in the highway fund.  And over half of that is
allocated to management It's been making the "government waste" news up
here.
We made the national news a couple of years ago.  They have a crew that
washes highway signs in the late spring, early summer.  They remove the
grime from the road sanding that occurs during the winter.  Well they
have one guy to run the rinse hose, another to scrub the sign, and a
supervisor in the truck to make sure the job is done right.  Each crew
has (had) it's own supervisor.
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