NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Transportation Commissioner John Schroer says the state won't be able to start any new highway projects if it loses federal funding next year.
Gov. Bill Haslam wrapped up his annual budget hearings with the department at the state Capitol on Monday.
Schroer told Haslam that money from a measure President Barack Obama signed in 2012 to extend federal highway and transit funding will end on Oct. 1, 2014. If Congress doesn't extend it, then that would mean a loss of over a billion dollars for Tennessee.
Schroer said the state would likely be able to maintain current construction projects but not take on new ones.
And despite sluggish revenue reports for the state, the commissioner says it's still too early to discuss ways to increase revenue.
