The road system we deserve

Everyone benefits from a system of roads that provides for efficient, safe and reliable transportation. Not everyone agrees with any particular method of paying for the roads that they want and need.

In Linn County, voters have felt strongly enough about providing proper funding of roads to set aside a portion of local-option sales tax to invest in quality roads and bridges and their maintenance. This funding has been used by the Linn County to build more than one hundred miles of paving to strengthen and modernize our secondary roads.

The county has built and rehabilitated bridges and culverts throughout the secondary road system. Many cities and towns within Linn County have set aside funding for roads and bridges, as well.

All this work is done because taxpayers saw a need, a benefit and a responsibility to each other to contribute to the common good. It appears that in 2015 there may be an opportunity for the legislature and governor to participate in this effort to make the needed investment in our transportation system.

What's needed is a significant and stable funding source for Iowa's roads. The Iowa Legislature attempted to do this in 1925 with the establishment of the gas tax, a dedicated source of revenue that is protected by the Iowa Constitution to be solely used for road purposes. Despite changes in every other part of our lives, the tax on a gallon of fuel has not changed since 1989. We pay much more for a gallon of gas than we did then. We pay more for nearly every part of our lives. We should see this same increase in investment in our roads and bridges.

A quality, efficient transportation system reduces cost for the things that we buy and reduces our cost of travel. This return comes to us in less vehicle maintenance, in greater safety, in allowing more choice in where we live, in creating jobs, in more enjoyable travel and in improving Iowa to retain residents and encourage others to move here.

The sales tax in Linn County has proved effective at making significant improvements to county roads, but it is not the stable, committed funding source we need for the long term. It has not helped solve infrastructure needs for our neighboring counties or for the state.

It will take creativity and cooperation to change the fuel tax mechanism and reduce the effort it takes to keep a stable fund dedicated to building and maintaining the road system that we want. We are capable of this effort. Adjusting the fuel tax is needed. It needs to take place soon in order to once again become the stable, committed funding source it was intended to be.

We also must find a way for additional road users to help fund the transportation system that they use, for example, through registration fees or mileage fees.

Once we agree that we need to fund the road system we all benefit from, we start to overcome our differences in approach. We deserve a quality road system that is well maintained. If we make these investments, we will have that quality system. If we don't, we deserve the transportation system we are left with.

' Steve Gannon is Linn County Engineer. Comments: steve.gannon@linn-county.org