County Commission | The Magazine December 2018 | Seite 21

FROM THE COVER Much Road & Bridge Work Needed, But Funding Falls Short As ATRIP’s one-time investment in local roads and bridges comes to an end, road work will slow to a crawl with current funding. No additional funding is currently available, and counties have no way to secure additional resources without the Alabama Legislature’s help. Alabama county paved roads to be resurfaced GRADING SCALE D = 51-69% = Poor, At Risk MAINTENANCE: Falling Further Behind STANDARD ALABAMA County Repave 100% Repave 57% ROADS every 15 years 2000-2023 County Rebuild 100% Rebuild 19% BRIDGES every 50 years 2000-2023 GROWTH 1990-2015 Alabama on the Move, but Infrastructure Lagging POPULATION 20% REGISTERED VEHICLES MILES DRIVEN SYSTEM CAPACITY REPORT CARD ROADS Next 5 Years county bridges to be replaced 2% 8% ASCE Infrastructure 14% Poor to fair condition and mostly below standard, with many elements approaching the end of their service life. A large portion exhibits significant deterioration. Condition and capacity are of significant concern with strong risk of failure. $ $ $ $ Costs Rise, but Funding Declines 46% 57% • Since 2003, inflation on road and bridge construction has increased twice as much as the consumer price index. • Improvements in fuel efficiency continue to undercut funding for necessary infrastructure. SOURCES: American Society of Civil Engineers; Association of County Commissions of Alabama; and Alabama Transportation Institute, University of Alabama COUNTY COMMISSION | 21