The Arkansas Highway Commission plans to let contracts during the next two years with all work completed within five years. Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater has urged his fellow Arkansans to take advantage of this concept and plans to actively support the bond issue. The bond market never has been more favorable for such a major issue.
Interest rates are low.
The economy is strong. This plan will allow us to dedicate money from the three-cent gasoline tax increase to rural highways in Arkansas. Cities and counties will receive 15 percent each from both the diesel fuel tax increase and the gasoline tax increase. The longer we wait, the more difficult and expensive it will be to repair our roads. Poor roads are dangerous, they slow commerce and they increase road user costs.