TACIR approves $68 billion statewide public infrastructure needs inventory

The Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations approved its final annual public infrastructure needs inventory, which TACIR staff said catalogs publicly reported projects in conceptual planning through construction for a five'year period.

Research manager Tyler Carpenter told commissioners the inventory identified a total reported need of $68,000,000,000, an increase of about $5,000,000,000 over the previous year. Carpenter said health, safety and welfare needs rose by about $2,000,000,000 (driven largely by water and wastewater projects, including a $506,000,000 project in Davidson County), education needs rose roughly $2,000,000,000, and transportation remained the single largest category with about $35,000,000,000 in reported needs.

Carpenter noted the inventory reflects needs reported as of July 1, 2022, and that reported funding availability increased slightly compared with the prior inventory year as projects moved from conceptual stages into planning and design. After brief questions about methodology and inflation adjustments, the commission voted by voice to approve the annual inventory report (motion by Mayor Frank; second by Representative Williams).