SB180 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Gerald O. Dial

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Transportation Safety Fund, established in State Treasury, distribution of certain funds and redistribution to state, counties, and municipalities, use of funds and restrictions on use of funds

Summary

Establishes the Alabama Transportation Safety Fund to collect designated revenues and distribute them to state, counties, and municipalities for road and bridge maintenance, improvements, and construction, with reporting and project-publicity requirements.

What This Bill Does

Creates the Alabama Transportation Safety Fund in the State Treasury and directs 65.9% of designated revenues to the Department of Transportation and 34.1% to local governments (counties and municipalities). Funds may be used for maintenance, improvement, replacement, and construction of roads and bridges, as well as paying debt on road projects or providing matching funds for federal projects. The bill imposes usage restrictions, requires public announcements of new projects each fiscal year, and mandates regular reporting on ongoing projects and annual expenditures. It also requires audits and public accessibility of project information through the department and local governments.

Who It Affects

• State and local governments (Department of Transportation, 67 counties, and municipalities) would receive designated funds, follow allocation formulas, and face new reporting and planning requirements.
• Residents and road users would benefit from improved roads and bridges and have access to public information about project funding and progress.

Key Provisions

• Creation of the Alabama Transportation Safety Fund in the State Treasury with a distribution of 65.9% to the Department of Transportation and 34.1% to counties and municipalities for road and bridge work.
• Local distribution formula: 45.45% of the local share to be allocated equally among all counties; 55.55% based on each county's population relative to the state's population, with monthly allocations; 10% of the county share to be passed to municipalities within the county based on municipal population.
• Department of Transportation may use the fund for maintenance, improvement, replacement, and construction of roads/bridges, debt payments for such projects, or as matching funds for federally funded projects; restrictions include no funding for most salaries, non-project equipment, or non-road buildings.
• Counties may use funds for county roads/bridges, debt payments, federal matching, and with municipal consent for municipal roads; design standards differ by traffic level (low-volume roads vs. state standards) and require annual Transportation Safety Fund Plans and annual reporting.
• Municipalities may use funds for municipal roads/bridges, federal project matching, debt payments, and with county consent for county roads within municipal limits; design standards align with department standards; annual Municipal Transportation Safety Fund Plans and annual reporting are required.
• Public disclosures requirements include annual project announcements by October 1, quarterly progress reports, and public posting of plans and expenditures; funds audited by Examiners of Public Accounts; reports to the Legislature on expenditures.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Transportation Department