Mississippi lawmakers approve more road funds, truck weight increase

Efforts to fund transportation work and address truck weights are nearing the end of the road at the Mississippi statehouse.

Multiple bills offered during this year’s regular session have focused on a projected $400 million annual shortfall to cover costs of road and bridge work.

The Magnolia State relies on about $1 billion each year in federal funds and from state sources, including the 18-cent fuel excise tax and truck fees.

Both chambers of the state Legislature have approved differing versions of one bill to raise $1 billion for transportation over five years.

As approved by the Senate, SB3046 calls for borrowing $150 million this year and tapping funds typically earmarked for other budgets to pay for roads, bridges and other infrastructure. The governor would effectively control the money.

About 60 percent of the revenue would be routed for state needs. The rest would be divvied up between city and county projects.

House lawmakers, however, approved a version of the bill to divert a portion of use-tax collections to cities and counties for road and bridge maintenance. Use tax is collected from sales tax charged on any out-of-state purchases, including online sales.

Cities and counties would receive 35 percent, or about $108 million annually, for road and bridge repair.

The House version also would authorize $100 million in general obligation bonds for projects throughout the state. The state’s three elected transportation commissioners would control the fund.

“Our plan uses real money, without growth triggers, to address this pressing issue faced over the entire state,” House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, said in prepared remarks.

SB3046 awaits consideration in a conference committee made up of select lawmakers from both chambers. If the group is able to reach an agreement, the final version of the bill would need to pass House and Senate floor votes before advancing to the governor’s desk.

Weight limits
A separate bill headed to Gov. Phil Bryant’s desk would increase the weight limit for hauling timber and other farm products on many roads.

Commercial vehicles already are permitted to weigh 80,000 pounds while traveling on all roadways. Vehicles with state-issued harvest permits are permitted to top out at 84,000 pounds because of a 5 percent tolerance on the front and back end. Affected loads include sand, gravel, wood chips and agricultural products.

SB2418 would increase the weight limit tolerance to 10 percent for harvest permit vehicles and vehicles loading and unloading at state ports. The changes would not apply to roads designated low weight.

Speaking on the Senate floor, Sen. Jenifer Branning, R-Philadelphia, tried to calm concerns from her counterparts about authorizing heavier loads on state roadways.

“The bill allows an axle tolerance increase. This is not a weight increase. I want to be very, very clear … this is a weight shift, not a weight increase,” Branning said.

She touted the change as taking 20,000 trucks off state roads annually.

Branning added that the new law would make the state more competitive with neighboring Louisiana and Alabama. She described the states as being “looser” with their weight limits.

The Mississippi Department of Transportation opposes the bill. Dick Hall, the agency’s chairman, has voiced concern about adding more pressure on the state’s bridges.

To view other legislative activities of interest for Mississippi, click here.