KDOT Projects In Limbo Over Gas Tax

A Kansas transportation official says if Congress doesn’t reauthorize a federal gasoline tax for highways, the state could be forced to halt, delay or cancel projects.

The 18.3 cent federal gasoline tax is set to expire on Sept. 30 unless Congress votes to renew it. The money is the main federal revenue source given to states to help pay for transportation projects.

Deputy Secretary Jerry Younger says Tuesday that Kansas had enough cash on hand in its highway program to keep existing projects going for 16 to 24 weeks. After that, the state would be forced halt work on projects, delay awarding bids for new projects or cancel them.

Many of the projects were part of a 10-year program that started in 2010.