Pa. roads and transit are being neglected
The legislature has approved a plan that would allow public-private partnerships to propose new highway projects, but lawmakers and Gov. Corbett still haven't agreed on how to pay for a dangerous backlog in transportation maintenance projects. Corbett's own advisory commission proposed increasing motor-vehicle registration and license fees, and raising a component of the gasoline tax, to produce $2.5 billion a year for highways, bridges, and mass transit. But Corbett, who took the Grover Norquist pledge not to raise any taxes, instead submitted a budget that cut transportation funding.
The legislature has approved a plan that would allow public-private partnerships to propose new highway projects, but lawmakers and Gov. Corbett still haven't agreed on how to pay for a dangerous backlog in transportation maintenance projects.
Corbett's own advisory commission proposed increasing motor-vehicle registration and license fees, and raising a component of the gasoline tax, to produce $2.5 billion a year for highways, bridges, and mass transit. But Corbett, who took the Grover Norquist pledge not to raise any taxes, instead submitted a budget that cut transportation funding.
Corbett said the state's transportation problems are too big to be handled in the annual budget, but he has yet to offer any other solutions. He has turned a blind eye to Pennsylvania's more than 5,000 structurally deficient bridges — more than in any other state. He is ignoring the 416 million passengers who use the commonwealth's 74 transit systems, including SEPTA, which is projecting a $38 million deficit.
This is an especially opportune time to invest in mass transit. Gas prices have led to SEPTA's largest increase in ridership in 22 years. With better funding, it can attract even more customers while reducing traffic and pollution.
It's unfortunate that former Gov. Ed Rendell's long-range plan to bolster transportation funding in part by tolling Interstate 80 failed to get federal approval. As a result, transportation funding remains a huge problem. But Corbett keeps ignoring bipartisan calls for a comprehensive transportation funding bill. To continue delaying bridge repairs risks a tragic accident.
Both labor and business groups want Harrisburg to tackle the transportation monster, but Corbett remains tied to his politically expedient no-new-taxes pledge. Meanwhile, 8,000 miles of the state's roads need to be repaired.
Congress has finally passed a transportation bill, after 27 months of debate, so Pennsylvania stands to receive nearly $3.2 billion for projects over the next two years. But that doesn't cover all the state's road and transit needs.
Any transportation-related improvements in Philadelphia in the past few years have been largely paid for by federal grants, including a recently announced $12.8 million grant to renovate an aging power substation that generates electricity for SEPTA's Regional Rail system. Now it's time for the state to step up.