States may tap funds for snow removal

Feb. 25, 2003
Many Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern states, buried last week under two feet of snow from the Blizzard of '03, are looking to divert funds allocated for road construction and maintenance to cover snow removal costs. According to The Washington Post, the Commonwealth of Virginia hopes to shift $63 million from the $2.2 billion in gas and sales taxes earmarked for the state transportation fund. The State
Many Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern states, buried last week under two feet of snow from the Blizzard of '03, are looking to divert funds allocated for road construction and maintenance to cover snow removal costs.

According to The Washington Post, the Commonwealth of Virginia hopes to shift $63 million from the $2.2 billion in gas and sales taxes earmarked for the state transportation fund.

The State of Maryland, which is facing $20 million in snow cleanup costs, wants to divert up to $300 million from its $2 billion transportation fund both to cover the cost of snow removal.

Under Maryland's plan, road construction would not be affected, but 63 road maintenance programs would be put on hold and local governments would lose $204 million in state funding for transportation projects.

New York governor George Pataki has declared New York City and 14 other counties disaster areas so they can request federal funding to help defray snow and ice cleanup costs. New York mayor Michael Bloomberg said that the city spent $20 million to remove the snow and ice from its roads last week.

New York state's legislature is also debating a bill that would allow local municipalities to issue snow bonds to defray the cost of snow removal over a five year period without cutting into its current budgets.

About the Author

Sean Kilcarr | Editor in Chief

Sean reports and comments on trends affecting the many different strata of the trucking industry -- light and medium duty fleets up through over-the-road truckload, less-than-truckload, and private fleet operations Also be sure to visit Sean's blog Trucks at Work where he offers analysis on a variety of different topics inside the trucking industry.

Sponsored Recommendations

Tackling the Tech Shortage: Lessons in Recruiting Talent and Reducing Turnover

Discover innovative strategies for recruiting and retaining tech talent in the trucking industry at our April 16th webinar, where experts will share insights on competitive pay...

Stop Sweating Temperature Excursions

Advanced chemical indicators give you the peace of mind that comes from reliable insights into your supply chains. Compromised shipments can be identified the moment they arrive...

Stop Sweating Temperature Excursions

Advanced chemical indicators give you the peace of mind that comes from reliable insights into your supply chains. Compromised shipments can be identified the moment they arrive...

How Electric Vehicles Help You Prolong the Life of Your Fleet

Before adopting electric vehicles for commercial/government fleets, prioritize cost inquiries. Maintenance is essential; understand the upkeep of EV fleets. Here’s what you need...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!