Page 62 - ATR 5 2020 digital

THE LAST WORD

A Case for Issue 1

Originally published in Arkansas
Democrat-Gazette that $10 million would overlay 200 There are those who would argue
miles of highway in 1998. In 2018, the against Issue 1. They might propose the
same amount covers only 90 miles. privatization of roads supported by tolls.
By Dr. Doug Voss The future of our roadway infra- Arkansas doesn’t have the population to
Guest Writer structure is at hand. In the upcoming support tolling on any appreciable scale
election we have the opportunity to and, with few exceptions, states are
Arkansas needs good roads, and vote yes on Issue 1 and provide our cit- barred from tolling existing interstates.
that’s not changing in the foreseeable ies, counties, and state with sustainable Opponents may argue that Arkansas
future. Without roads, more than 86 resources dedicated to road and bridge has too many roads to maintain. I
percent of Arkansas communities would construction and maintenance. Issue might wish the road I’m on had fewer
have no reliable means to receive gro- 1 will not raise your taxes. It asks vot- potholes, but I’ve never wished it would
ceries or ship goods produced by local ers to reauthorize a half cent sales tax go away completely. Some say Issue
factories and farms. Roads are critically that has been in place since 2012 and 1 won’t provide money for public and
important to business owners large and is scheduled to expire in 2023. The alternative transportation. Mass transit
small, farmers hauling grain to the revenue will be dedicated solely to the is not very popular in the middle of a
elevator, commuters who need to get to construction and maintenance of our pandemic, and bikes don’t haul soy-
work on time, and parents who need to state’s highways, county roads, and beans very efficiently. Wouldn’t reduc-
safely get their kids to school. municipal streets. ing taxes improve Arkansas’ business
However, financing roads has Issue 1 will have an $8.2 billion environment too? Absolutely! I would
always been a sticky widget. To over- economic impact on Arkansas’ economy support any number of ways to curtail
come this issue, in the early 1900s, in the next decade and help provide government spending but reducing road
able-bodied Arkansans between the over 3,600 jobs every year. From funding by voting against Issue 1 is
ages of 21 and 45 were required to Texarkana to Jonesboro, Pine Bluff to cutting your nose off to spite your face.
spend five days per year working on Bentonville, and all points in between; Simply stated, roads are not the place to
roads or contribute the monetary every Arkansas city and county will cut government.
equivalent of their labor. I’m 44 and receive road funding from Issue 1 and Roads are a long-term investment
teach 21 year olds. You don’t want the amounts are significant. Voting that pay dividends for decades to come.
us rookies building your roads by no on Issue 1 will cost Miller County Roads built in sufficient quantity and
hand, and I doubt many in the audi- $579,553 in projected 2024 funding, maintained properly support jobs and
ence strongly desire to take our place. Craighead County would lose $930,422, improve safety by fixing bridges, reduc-
Therefore, our state relies on tax dol- Benton County would be short ing traffic congestion, and removing
lars and professional engineering crews $1,788,052, Jefferson County would potholes along with other roadway haz-
to build and maintain our roads and have to make up $840,100, and Pulaski ards. Roads are important to all of us.
bridges. Road revenue primarily comes County would have to fill a $2,661,999 Let’s vote for roads. Vote for Issue 1.
from fuel taxes. As our vehicles have hole in their road budget. If you doubt
become more fuel efficient, the fuel the importance of Issue 1 to your com- Dr. Doug Voss is a professor of logistics
and supply chain management at the
tax revenue used to fund our roads has munity, I would encourage you to speak University of Central Arkansas. Voss
stagnated while the cost of road con- with your local leaders and ask how also serves on the Arkansas Trucking
struction has increased. The Arkansas much road money is at stake or visit Association Board of Directors.
Department of Transportation reports map.voteforroads.com.

Opinions expressed on this page may not reflect official policies or opinions of the Arkansas Trucking Association or the American Trucking Associations.

62 Issue 5 2020 | ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT