State Sen. Jim Tracy is launching his own statewide tour this week to discuss highway funding.
Tracy, who leads the Tennessee Senate's Transportation Committee, is planning nine town halls from Kingsport to Memphis. The first will be Thursday in Nashville.
Gov. Bill Haslam just wrapped up a similar tour. Haslamhas said an increase to the state's tax on gasoline should beconsidered to pay for roads, though he hasn't committed to the idea.
Tracy,R-Shelbyville, told the Associated Press two weeks ago that he doesn't think a gas tax increase is "doable" when the legislature reconvenes in 2016. But he said Monday that he's hitting the road with an open mind.
"We haven't got that far yet, so my thinking is I want to hear from citizens," said Tracy. "Maybe there's other solutions that we can do."
Tracy's tour will run until the end of October.
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