The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recently increased the Mississippi Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) access to additional federal funding and the department’s federal obligation authority.
“We work very hard to manage our federal highway program as efficiently as possible in order to best use our highway and bridge money,” MDOT Executive Director Brad White said. “In looking at federal funding obligations over the last couple of fiscal years, Mississippi has seen a steady increase, which I believe is a direct indicator of our success in managing our overall program.”
MDOT will now receive $926 million in federal funds for federal fiscal year 2023, a more than $100 million increase from the previous year.
FHWA’s Financial Management Information System cited MDOT’s efficiency and commitment to improving the state’s transportation infrastructure as the reason for the increase.
Additional federal funding will enable MDOT to address critical needs, boost the state’s economic growth and invest in infrastructure. Infrastructure improvements include bridge upgrades, expansion projects, road rehabilitation, and technological advancements.
“The legislature has allowed MDOT to operate with an earmark-free federal program for the last two years, and it’s making a positive difference,” White said. “A well-maintained and efficient transportation system is vital for a state’s economic prosperity and by working together with our state leadership we are accomplishing this goal.”