Bind bill revision would fund route 301, pay for sports betting appeal

Jan 27, 2010 — Dover Post

Doug Denison

Dover, Del. -

The Senate today approved a revision to this year's bond bill that will authorize $125 million in financing for improvements to U.S. Route 301 in New Castle County.

Also included in the legislation is a provision that solidifies a commitment from the state's three casinos to pay the costs of a U.S. Supreme battle over sports betting.

The amendment authorizes a one-time reimbursement from the casinos not to exceed $250,000.

Earlier this month, the state retained a law firm to prepare a petition asking the high court to reconsider a lower court's ruling that limited sports betting in Delaware to parlays on NFL games only. Chicago based law firm Sidley Austin agreed to a flat fee of $50,000 to prepare the filing, which the casinos have said they'll pay.

Amendments to the bond bill, passed last June 30 alongside the fiscal year 2010 budget, are common and usually reflect the acquisition new funding avenues for state projects.

Transportation Secretary Carolann Wicks explained that the new funds for route 301 will come from federal GARVEE bonds, which essentially are loans taken out against the state's future federal highway funding.

Wicks said two dozen states already use GARVEE bonds for federally eligible highway projects and the funding stream is considered stable, since federal highway dollars fluctuate very little from year to year.

The bonds will be used to pay for additional rights of way and design work on the corridor, which stretches from the Maryland line to the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. They also will be used to begin funding construction of a bypass south of the Summit Bridge, where there currently exists a tight and treacherous curve in the two-lane roadway.