Alabama State Representative Rex Reynolds (R-Huntsville), District 21 of Madison County, has been appointed to the Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement program committee (ATRIP-II).
Reynolds is filling a position vacated by State Rep. Bill Poole (R-Tuscaloosa), who resigned from the Alabama House to become the state finance director under Gov. Kay Ivey.
The purpose of the Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program-II (ATRIP-II) is to rehabilitate and improve transportation infrastructure by funding projects of local interest, proposed by one or more local governments, related to the state-maintained highway system. Projects may include local roads and bridges essential to such projects.
Reynolds is one of eight legislators appointed to the ATRIP II committee, which controls the spending that is being generated from the recent gas tax. Appointments to the committee are made by the governor, the speaker of the Alabama House, president pro tem of the Alabama Senate as well as the majority and minority leaders in both chambers.
“Every region in the state of Alabama needs and deserves representation on the ATRIP II board but it is perhaps more important for north Alabama in order to keep up with the fast-paced growth the region is experiencing,” Reynolds said. “This appointment will give north Alabama a seat at the table when it comes to how these critical dollars are being spent.”
The timing is also fortuitous as ATRIP-II board members soon will be reviewing requests for the 2022 budget cycle. Request forms are expected be mailed this week. The 2022 budget has seen an increase of $10 million over 2021, according to Tony Harris with the Alabama Department of Transportation. Projects funded in 2020 totaled $30 million and $30 million in 2021. That number will be $40 million in 2022.
The most visible Madison County project funded thus far includes improvements for Alabama Highway 53.
Reynolds is in his first term in the Alabama Legislature having been elected to the Alabama House in 2018. He is a member of the Ethics and Campaign Finance committee, Public Safety and Homeland Security, and the House Ways and Means General Fund committee.
Reynolds is seeking reelection to his seat for 2022.
Ray Garner is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News.
