DISCUSSING THE THREE-CENT BOND ISSUE WITH CONSTITUENTS AND LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS
· The original ATRIP program was introduced in 2012 as a bold infrastructure initiative to improve Alabama ' s declining local roads and bridges.
· Over 200 new road projects have been completed under ATRIP, but Alabama ' s remaining infrastructure is still in rapid deterioration.
· October 2017 is the deadline for all projects to be submitted under ATRIP. Many engineers fear the momentum gained under the program will come to a halt, when there is still much work to be done.
· A recent study by TRIP( a transportation research firm) estimates that the average American driver pay an extra $ 523 per year in vehicle maintenance costs from driving over potholes and cracked roads.
· The bond issue, known as ATRIP-2, would help offset some of that cost, while continuing the positive economic impact and safety improvements of ATRIP.
· The original ATRIP program was primarily funded with federal dollars, which limited the eligible roads for improvements to those with high traffic volumes.
· ATRIP-2 will include roads that are not eligible for federal funds, as well as the more than 1000 bridges that cannot support the weight of a school bus.
· The $ 1.2 billion investment will put Alabamians to work, and many of the projects will be let to contract before the end of 2017.
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