Passage of Act 40 in 2017 put South Carolina on the road to repair, and progress continues on the state’s 10-year plan. However, our growing state still faces challenges that Act 40 was not intended to address.
Fortunately, the legislature has a unique opportunity to make additional investments this year that will enable South Carolina to accelerate projects and enhance long-term plans to improve our transportation system for all modes and users.
One-time funding allocations can be used to accelerate projects. An immediate boost of funding will allow the state to essentially buy time and advance projects of statewide significance sooner than initially planned.
The SC House and Senate are currently working on allocating the state’s $2.5 billion in American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funding. To date, bills are pending in each chamber to allocate most of the ARPA funds to improve infrastructure across the state, including transportation infrastructure. An overview of the pending recommendations in each chamber is outlined below:
SC House: $1.76 Billion
Funds will be allocated across SCDOT, Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA), Office of Regulatory Staff (ORS), SC Office of Resiliency (SCOR), and the Department of Administration (DOA).
When it comes to SCDOT, the committee recommends allocating all of the “revenue loss” funds (approximately $453 million) to the agency. These dollars would be placed in a newly created “Transportation Infrastructure Acceleration Account” and used to expedite existing projects in the pipeline.
SC Senate: $1.75 Billion
Funds would be dispersed to the Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA), Office of Regulatory Staff (ORS) and SCDOT. An overview of the allocations is illustrated below.
When it comes to SCDOT, the committee recommends allocating all of the “revenue loss” funds (approximately $453 million) to the agency. These dollars would be placed in a newly created “Transportation Infrastructure Acceleration Account” and used to expedite existing projects in the pipeline.
SCFOR applauds the work of the House and Senate committees and fully supports the recommendation of allocating approximately $453 million to the SCDOT to advance projects in the pipeline.
We appreciate the willingness of legislators to make transportation infrastructure a priority. In addition to these one-time allocations, we encourage legislators to consider the need to match the additional federal funding coming to the state through the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA).
South Carolina will see an additional $250 million annually courtesy of the IIJA. These funds will bolster the state’s 10-year plan by filling gaps in critical areas, including programs to address non-interstate congestion, closed and load-restricted bridges, traffic safety, and much more.
However, in order to make this enhanced 10-year plan a reality, a minimum of $100 million (recurring allocation) is necessary to ensure that the state meets match requirements and does not leave any federal funding on the table.
One-time allocations are much appreciated, and recurring allocations are critical to the continued success of the state’s long-term plan. SCFOR encourages legislators to provide both one-time and recurring allocations this year to keep South Carolina moving forward.