Budget Bulletin: Major Commitment to Roads and Bridges

The government is making a major commitment to roads, bridges and ferries with $85.5 million in capital funding -- an increase of $32 million over 2001-02.

Nova Scotians recognize that our 23,000 kilometres of roads and highways support just about everything we do. That's why the provincial government has announced a significant increase in capital funding for improvements that will mean better, safer roads in our communities.

Fiscal 2002-03 marks the third consecutive year that the provincial government has increased capital funding for roads and bridges. It furthers a commitment to increase funding for road construction by $31 million over a three-year period. That's on top of the additional $10 million in annual maintenance funding for rural roads.

Still, Nova Scotia faces an uphill battle. The department's 10- year needs assessment suggests that significant investments must be made over the next decade to bring our roads and bridges to acceptable standards.

While we continue to make strategic investments in our transportation system, we will also seek more substantial long- term funding from the federal government. Ottawa should contribute its fair share. Recent statistics show that the federal government reinvests less than three per cent of revenues from gasoline taxes it collects in Nova Scotia.

In the meantime, basic improvements cannot wait. The province is increasing its gasoline taxes by two cents per litre, effective midnight, April 4. The additional revenue will fund highway improvements such as 100-series construction, repaving routes and trunk highways that enhance local economic development and cost- shared paving of subdivision streets.

Higher revenues from new ticket and cash fares on the provincially-owned ferry system will also ensure that users pay a greater share of the cost of operating this service.

NOTE: For further 2002-03 budget information, visit the Department of Finance Web site at www.gov.ns.ca/finance .