Chattanooga Losing Millions in Federal Transportation Funds

With the expiration of a federal highway funding act, the federal government has rescinded $190 million in transportation funding to the state.

Metropolitan-area projects in Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga are losing about $30 million. Another $31 million was intended for projects in 57 towns and cities across the state. The remainder of the money was intended for road safety, air quality and enhancement projects like greenways.     

Tennessee Department of Transportation Chief Engineer Paul Degges told The Commercial Appeal the state did not lose any money from its major programs - bridges, interstates and highways.     

The federal government has rescinded some state transportation funds every year since 2002, which Degges said that makes it difficult to plan efficiently.

Meanwhile the federal government sent Tennessee $572 million in economic recovery money earlier this year to fast-track highway projects.