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NDDOT questions Grow America highway funding bill

North Dakota’s Department of Transportation has some concerns about a new federal funding bill for highways.

It’s called the Grow America Act. And it’s being promoted as a measure to increase federal funding for highways and other transportation projects. North Dakota DOT officials have looked at the proposal.

"We're a little concerned that there may be a shift from formula funding to non-formula programs," said DOT transportation programs director Steve Salwei. "Formula funding is basically a guarantee to each state, that they will get a certain percentage of the funding. Non-formula programs are the competitive programs, where a state is not necessarily guaranteed funding."

Salwei says North Dakota normally doesn’t do very well in those competitive grant applications.

"When we are competing against the New Yorks, the Chicagos, small North Dakota doesn't fare very well," said Salwei.

Salwei says there will likely be a number of changes to that proposal – before Congress approves it.

Right now, the state gets $240 million in federal highway funds.

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