Report: Tennessee needs $54.8B for infrastructure needs

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee's annual estimated cost for needed public infrastructure improvements is at least $54.8 billion. The Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations report says the estimate is up by $4.8 billion - or around 9.7% - from last year. Transportation and utilities needs are the most expensive at $29.6 billion for projects that need to be in some development stage from July 2018 through June 2023, an increase of more than $3.7 billion. The second largest is $14.2 billion needed for education infrastructure. The report says funding for about two-thirds of the estimated costs of needed improvements were unavailable when conducting the inventory.