Jackson Free Press

Transportation Commissioner Dick Hall posted this on Facebook: "Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree."

The Martin Luther quote resonates with Hall, who represents the Central District. His father, while he was in his 60s, planted trees that would take decades to mature.

"You'll never live to see this," Hall said. "No, but my grandchildren will," his father replied.

"What we build today will be used for the next 50 years," Hall said.

He points to highway improvements in Mississippi over the past 20 years and stresses a need for planning.

"We have the 16th best highway system in the U.S.," Hall said, referring to a 2010 report from the libertarian Reason Foundation. He said that's because in 1987, the Legislature passed a highway-construction program that led to improving or building 1,000 miles of highway at a cost of $3 billion.

"It's all paid for," Hall said. "It was pay-as-you-go."

Now that the state has a good highway system, maintaining it is critical, Hall said.

Mississippi has three elected transportation commissioners: one for the north, one for the south and one for the central part of the state. The commission hires a director.

Hall, a Republican, faces Democrat Marshand Crisler in the November election. Hall is from Vicksburg, is a 1960 graduate of Mississippi State University and is married to Jennifer Hall. He is now serving his third term as commissioner. Before becoming a commissioner in 1999, he served 24 years in the Legislature.

Over the years, some Mississippians questioned why transportation commissioners are elected instead of appointed. Why do you think this system works?
I could have argued both sides. Now that I've been on both sides, I think that Joe Citizen has someone he can appeal to. It takes a lot of decisions out of the hands of bureaucrats.

Tell me what you have accomplished so far in this position.
Adding a lane in each direction on Interstate 20 in Rankin County. In Ridgeland and Madison, we added a lane each way on Interstate 55 and frontage roads. That was an $83 million project.

What is the next big highway project you would like to happen?
If I had a billion dollars, I couldn't do it all. (The priorities) are decided by projected traffic counts. I would like to see another route across the Pearl River.

Where would that go?
High Street. I'm looking at a possibility of getting across the river from Jackson to the airport.

The Transportation Commission oversees more than highways. You also oversee ports, railroads and airports, right?
We have some involvement. We don't really oversee. We are the funnel that federal funds come through. (A project) has to meet our approval. We are very involved in trying to create intermodal transportation. Put something on a truck, offload it at a railroad or offload to a plane. ... It's seamless. Mississippi is very fortunate in that we have all of those modes of transportation.

What about high-speed rail in Mississippi?
We are part of a multi-state compact looking at high-speed rail on the Gulf Coast. Also, there's some planning for an Atlanta to Meridian to New Orleans high-speed line.

It would bypass Jackson?

 It would bypass Jackson for now, but doesn't rule it out in the future.

I saw your quote about trees. Cutting trees down in highway medians is controversial, such as when contractors harvest trees.
That's a good question. We have a forester who deals with that. Any revenue (from harvested trees) comes to us. The other question is, do you cut the trees? A commissioner in south Mississippi (Wayne Brown) believes strongly that we need to cut trees, that they are dangerous. I feel strongly about not only not cutting, but planting. As far as trees being dangerous, I say stay on the highway. I'm very sincere in wanting to make this infrastructure attractive.

Is there anything else you would like to stress?
Yes, the fuel tax--I want to assure everyone this tax they pay funds our future. If you don't have a modern transportation system, you have nothing.