Transportation Funding

With summer vacation travel in full swing and students throughout the state returning to school at month’s end, hundreds of thousands of travelers will be utilizing Pennsylvania roadways. Residents and visitors alike deserve a safe and reliable transportation infrastructure system. We have a responsibility to prevent a catastrophic event from occurring which is why a comprehensive transportation funding plan must be the priority when the Legislature returns to session this fall. Improvements to transportation infrastructure is an issue, where we can all agree, that needs to be addressed and allowing politics to get in the way of a sustainable transportation funding proposal is completely unacceptable.

The Pennsylvania Senate passed Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) with overwhelming bi-partisan support.  However, several members of the majority in the House felt that the need for a significant allocation for public transportation was unnecessary.  With so many residents relying on what’s left of limited mass transit services or everyday activities like getting to and from work, the grocery store or doctor appointments, how can we leave this essential means of transportation out of a funding package?  

As elected officials, we have a responsibility to provide residents with services to protect the health, safety and welfare of the people.  In July, a Senate Transportation Committee hearing took place where the Secretary of Transportation announced that over the next several weeks, new weight restrictions will be placed on thousands of state and locally owned bridges across Pennsylvania to guarantee safety.  In Allegheny County, 43 restrictions will be put in place on “structurally deficient” bridges resulting in longer commute times for residents due to these limitations.  As a consequence, children will be riding buses even longer to get to and from school and emergency services could be received in a less efficient manner. 

Secretary Schoch also stated that not passing a comprehensive transportation funding plan will have a significant economic impact on our state that will be felt for many months to come.  For example, these weight restrictions will put Pennsylvania at a competitive disadvantage with other states because many trucks will be forced to choose an alternative route on our already burdensome roadways due to these weight limits.  These vehicles may also not be able to carry the maximum quantity of product or material thus making the commute not as profitable for both the trucking company and the business that will be receiving the product.  This will result in creating additional demands for goods and services throughout the state. 

Spin-off industries will also be negatively impacted by the trickledown effect with Pennsylvania’s inability to pass a transportation plan.  Industries that create road and bridge material as well as the money people such as construction workers would spend from their paychecks for everyday needs at the local grocery store, restaurants or other services like haircuts and car maintenance will be scaled back and not invested into local economies. 

According to an analysis conducted by the American Roads and Transportation Builders Association, Pennsylvania could lose nearly $1.25 billion annually in economic activity and almost 9,600 people would be unemployed if significant funding is not allocated towards a transportation plan.   Furthermore, the Association cites that nearly 2,500 jobs in retail, administrative and health care industries could be at risk. 

It’s been two years now since the Transportation Funding Advisory Commission recommended raising $2.5 billion for our aging bridges, miles of unsafe roadways and underfunded public transportation system.  Passing a comprehensive transportation funding plan is not only essential for a safe and reliable means to travel throughout the state, but also an economic driver for so many industries located in the Commonwealth.  

At a time where we are trying to rebuild our local market base, a new infusion of money will go directly back to our residents in the form of employment, improved access to goods and services and, most importantly, safe and reliable transportation systems.  In the mean time, more and more essential services and the means to get to these places are quickly being cut or eliminated.  Add to that the nearly $9.4 billion annually it is costing our state’s taxpayers in operating costs, congestion delays and traffic accidents. It’s just too costly and irresponsible to continue to sit back and allow our transportation infrastructure to continue to crumble before our eyes.