House Transportation Chairman Joe Palmer, R-Meridian, introduced legislation in his committee this afternoon to allow highway districts to seek local-option registration fee increases for specific road or bridge projects, if voters approve them by a 2/3 supermajority in a countywide vote. “As all of you know, there’s definitely a shortfall in transportation funding for everybody,” Palmer told the House Transportation Committee. “It may never get used, but it might also. And I think it’s good … to have available for those local districts.”

The bill would allow the local districts to bond for the projects, and pay off the bonds with the local-option fees, Palmer said. The panel agreed to introduce the bill, clearing the way for a full hearing on it.