Brackett: Transportation bill hearing likely Thurs., rather than tomorrow…

It’s looking like it’ll be Thursday, rather than Tuesday, when Senate Transportation Chairman Bert Brackett, R-Rogerson, holds a hearing on proposed big new investments in transportation in Idaho in his committee. Brackett said this afternoon that he’s working on a series of changes to his larger bill, which includes $300 million in new GARVEE bonding; $200 million in general obligation bonding to be paid off by sales taxes; shifting ITD funding from highway funds to the general fund, with a dedicated share of sales tax to replace it; a five-year surplus eliminator extension; and more.

“Part of the question is: Are we ready to get serious about funding transportation?” Brackett said. He said Idaho’s road needs have been “exacerbated by years of deferred maintenance,” and said, “We’ve got some catchup to do.”

Some other, unnamed, items also could be included in the bill, Brackett said. The new version of the larger bill likely will go to the Senate Judiciary Committee tomorrow for introduction, to allow the Transportation Committee to hear it on Thursday.

Brackett said he’s been in lots of talks, but doesn’t yet have a commitment that the House will support the proposal. “I hope they will … take a good, solid look at it,” he said, “because I think it’s worthy of consideration.”