North Dakota’s new long-range transportation plan prioritizes maintaining existing roads and bridges before additional expansion as the state faces a multibillion-dollar funding gap.
The Department of Transportation finalized its Transportation Connection 2050 plan Monday. The federally required document will guide decisions involving highways, bridges, railroads, airports, public transportation and walking and biking infrastructure during the next 25 years.
A separate NDDOT funding analysis estimates maintaining current transportation services will require $24.6 billion during the next 20 years. Existing revenue sources are projected to provide about $10 billion, leaving a $14.6 billion shortfall.
North Dakota’s 23-cent-per-gallon state fuel tax has not changed since 2005. The federal fuel tax has remained at 18.4 cents since 1993. NDDOT says costs for construction materials, equipment and services have increased 415% since that last tax increase in 2005. Travel on North Dakota roads has grown nearly 35% during that time.
Public feedback leaned heavily toward preserving what is already in place. Thirty percent of respondents identified additional maintenance as their most useful transportation investment. Improving rural roads and bridges received 17 percent, while new construction projects received 12 percent.
NDDOT says it will now develop an internal implementation plan, establish performance measurements and update its public reporting system. Officials say they will pursue federal grants and finding sustainable funding. They did not specifically recommend increased taxes or new fees.
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