Transportation officials warn of bridge costs, flat revenues; push grants and targeted upgrades

Joel Jent, cabinet secretary for the South Dakota Department of Transportation, told lawmakers the department’s long‑term construction plans face pressure from flat or declining gas‑tax receipts and rising bid prices.

Jent said the State Highway Fund likely peaked in 2024 and is projected to flatten, and noted large replacement costs are coming due for several long‑span Missouri River bridges. He cited estimated replacement costs of roughly $50 million for one bridge, about $250 million for the Platte‑Winter structure and approximately $400 million for the Gettysburg crossing. “These bridges are going to cost a lot of money,” Jent said, adding that the department is seeking federal discretionary grant opportunities but may need other funding sources if grants do not materialize.

The department described investments in safety countermeasures, such as centerline rumble strips and high‑friction surfacing, and a statewide strategy to reduce serious crashes that emphasizes safer road design, speed management and post‑crash care. Jent pointed to a variable speed limits pilot (authorized under 2020’s Senate Bill 21) and said two corridors are targeted for implementation this winter and in a subsequent project: a Brookings area and a corridor near Sturgis/Rapid City. He said variable signs are not being rolled out statewide but installed where weather‑related crashes and closures are concentrated.

Jent outlined ongoing automation and software projects — such as an e‑construction system and a maintenance‑equipment management replacement — and said those IT projects will take two to three years to implement. He asked the committee for modest increases to cover winter salts, cutting edges and diesel, and said planned fee or federal matches will be used to cover forensic or lab‑style testing increases where appropriate.

On rail and airports, the department described continued work on state‑owned rail lines, including a Rapid City–Pierre–Eastern rehabilitation funded in part by a prior $20 million state appropriation. Jent said airport funding is improving with federal aid and described an Aeronautics fund that the Aeronautics Commission uses to match FAA grants; he noted the commission historically limits state aid for airport terminal projects to $200,000 per project and said a separate legislative airport terminal appropriation (Senate Bill 144) provided targeted support.

Committee members asked about road‑user charging (RUC) pilots, electric vehicle registration (a $50 annual fee in current law) and the state’s ability to respond if federal reimbursements pause. Jent said DOT is monitoring federal action and has worked to accelerate invoices where possible; he also described 5‑1‑1 and county sign‑up options for localized road reports and urged caution about privacy in any future mileage‑based revenue options.

Ending: Jent urged the committee to consider federal discretionary grant opportunities and to note an upcoming need for large‑scale bridge funding; no appropriation action was taken during the hearing.