Opinion

WV, nation benefit from action on highway funding

An editorial from The Exponent Telegram 

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — After 10 years of stalemate, the U.S. Congress took the appropriate action in passing a $305 billion federal highway bill, paving the way for states to fix and repair miles and miles of inter- and intra-state roadways.

The bill, named the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, or FAST Act, continued the gasoline tax rate at 18.4 cents per gallon.

 Efforts to increase the tax created some delay in passage, and there were other issues to be ironed out. Ultimately, Congress did the right thing by finally cementing some certainty into the funding process.

The tradeoffs included agreements to outsource some tax collection efforts, changes to customs fees and using some dividends from the Federal Reserve Bank.

Undoubtedly, there are flaws with the funding bill. Seldom — if ever — does legislation make its way through the system without some elements that someone will disagree with.

But 10 years is a long time to wait for much needed infrastructure funding…

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