Though local governments own about 75 percent of the nation’s roads, they receive only about 16 percent of federal transportation funding.

But there may be some good news in sight. On February 9, the Bridges and Safety Infrastructure for Community Success Act, (BASICS) was introduced in Congress with bipartisan backing. It’s got a long way to go until potential passage of course, but it has the potential to help local governments access more federal resources to repair and rebuild roads and bridges.

“Specifically, this bill would increase funding for vital transportation programs, continue robust federal investments in bridges, give local communities access to annual bridge and safety funds, and increase funding for planning and design in urban and rural areas,” according to a press release.

“In Michigan, we know all too well the difference it makes to drive on safe, well-paved roads. However, local governments that cannot fund necessary upgrades by themselves are too often stuck at the back of the line for federal funding programs, forced to choose between crumbling roads and bridges or massive debt,” reported Congressperson McDonald Rivet, a democrat, and one of the bill’s sponsors.

Added the bills co-sponsor, republican Congressperson Rob Bresnahan, “Local infrastructure has fallen behind, and when projects are planned, communities wait years for the federal funding needed to break ground and get to work on new roads and bridges.

One of the issues the Act is intended to address is by helping smaller and rural communities to get their fair share. Right now, federal funding tends to go to large cities. 

According to the release, “The BASICS Act is supported by organizations representing the nation’s local and regional governments as well as transportation planning organizations, engineers and public works leaders – including the National League of Cities, the National Association of Counties, the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations, the National Association of Development Organizations, the National Association of Regional Councils, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the American Public Works Association, and the National Association of County Engineers.

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