New Plan Provides $500 Million for Highways

Extra money addresses most urgent transportation needs

Today the Senate approved a comprehensive transportation plan that will provide $500 million annually for highway and bridge maintenance work, according to Senator Don White, R-41st District.

"The allocated funds are essential and will be of assistance, but still falls short of what the Commonwealth needs to keep up with the maintenance needs of our highway system according to the determinations made by PENNDOT and the Governor's transportation reform commission," Senator White said.

Of the $500 million, nearly $73 million will go directly for work in the Southwestern Pennsylvania Region, which will add numerous additional projects to the state Transportation Improvement Plan. Under provisions of HB 1590, funding for roads, bridges and transit will increase annually by approximately 2.5 percent.

An additional $35 million will go to municipalities and counties for local highway improvements, according to Senator White.

"This money should begin to chip away at the significant backlog of highway and bridge improvements needed to maintain our existing infrastructure," Senator White said. "However, it needs to be clear that HB 1590 does not provide funding to advance major projects to increase capacity."

The plan also includes several hundred million in funding for mass transit, as well as requirements that those agencies conduct performance audits and study privatization opportunities.

"We were able to add these additional dollars to our transportation needs without increasing taxes on oil and gas as proposed by Governor Rendell," Senator White said. "By tolling Interstate 80 we are making sure those who use our infrastructure – particularly those from out of state – pay their fair share. Such an approach is a much better alternative than raising the gas tax on all motorists."

In February, Governor Rendell proposed raising over $1.8 billion in funding for highways and mass transit though privatization of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and by increasing the oil and stock and franchise tax by over 6 percent. The provisions of HB 1590 provide half of the funding requested by the Governor, while avoiding a tax increase and deferring the privatization proposal.

Contact:

Joe Pittman
(717) 787-8724 Cell (724) 541-0552