Key Issues - Transportation
ResourcesOn August 1, 2011, the Transportation Funding Advisory Commission appointed by Governor Corbett in April 2011 released its final report on long-term transportation funding options. The Transportation Funding Advisory Commission was formed to identify an additional $2 billion to $2.5 billion annually for the state’s transportation funding shortfall. In addition to a recommended funding package, the Commission also made numerous suggestions for modernizing transportation processes, operations, infrastructure and technology in the Commonwealth. With regard to funding, the report recommends capping and moving a portion of State Police costs from the Motor License Fund to the General Fund; indexing vehicle and driver fees to the Consumer Price Index; uncapping the average wholesale price of gas and diesel fuel for purposes of the Oil Company Franchise Tax; and, redirecting Act 44 contributions from the Pennsylvania Turnpike currently used for highways and bridges to transit purposes. A copy of the Advisory Commission’s report can be found here. On August 23, 2010, Governor Rendell and Transportation Secretary Allen Biehler presented the Administration’s proposal to finance the Commonwealth’s transportation infrastructure needs to a joint, bipartisan meeting of legislators. Among other provisions, the proposal calls for an eight percent tax on the gross profits of oil companies doing business in Pennsylvania and an increase in a variety of license, registration and vehicle registration fees. To view a copy of the Administration’s presentation, click here. Additional information about Pennsylvania’s transportation infrastructure and its funding needs can be found here. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) represents more than 144,000 members of the civil engineering profession worldwide and is America's oldest national engineering society. In addition to providing services to its membership, the organization advocates for infrastructure improvement and environmental stewardship. The group also periodically publishes a report card on the nation’s critical infrastructure. The 2009 Report Card for America's Infrastructure graded the nation's infrastructure systems a "D" and noted a five-year investment need of $2.2 trillion. Additional information about the ASCE can be found here. The Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, including report cards for the individual states, is available by clicking here. The Road to Prosperity: 21st Century Transportation Infrastructure by the Pennsylvania Highway Information Association focuses on the connection between transportation infrastructure and future prosperity in Pennsylvania. The report contains data and information from a wide range of sources The FY 2008-09 Public Transportation Annual Performance Report released by PennDOT in April 2010 provides detailed data for every local public transportation system in Pennsylvania, including performance trends, as well as information on various program highlights and technical assistance. On March 16, 2009, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation released its final list of highway and bridge projects to be completed using the transportation infrastructure funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Click here to view a map of the Transportation Projects broken down by region which will be undertaken using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds and state and federal highway funds. Funding Transportation Needs (2008 Policy Office Issue Brief) Click here to view the Transportation Funding and Reform Commission’s final report issued in November 2006. The Innovative State Transportation Funding and Financing: Options for States report, released on January 15, 2009, outlines the challenges states face in funding transportation needs, and details a number of near- and longer-term policy solutions that states can examine to address these challenges. The report was prepared by the National Governors Association’s Center for Best Practices. The Road to Prosperity: 21st Century Transportation Infrastructure a publication recently released by the Pennsylvania Highway Information Association focuses on the connection between transportation infrastructure and future prosperity in Pennsylvania. The organization has compiled data and information from a wide array of sources to create a foundation from which transportation professionals, policy makers and business leaders can address this serious problem in search of a long term, comprehensive solution. In February 2009, the Council of State Governments released its study entitled Transportation & Infrastructure Finance. The report examines the transportation funding issues states are facing, the finance options available to them and how states can decide which options best fit their transportation plans. The Transportation & Infrastructure Finance report (February 2009) released by the Council of State Governments examines the vehicle miles traveled (VMT) concept, the proliferation of public-private partnerships in transportation, and efforts to assess vehicles for the costs they impose on society through congestion pricing. The report also looks at fuel taxes, other tax and fee mechanisms, various forms of debt financing, and state infrastructure banks. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials website provides information on transportation funding needs and state highway and bridge programs. AASHTO advocates on behalf of transportation-related policies and provides technical services to support states in their efforts to efficiently and safely move people and goods. The Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association website provides links to the transit systems located throughout the Commonwealth. The American Public Transportation Association website includes the publication, The 2008 Public Transportation Fact Book, public transportation ridership statistics and other information about public transit systems and issues. The National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission was established by Congress to analyze future highway and transit needs, the finances of the Highway Trust Fund and to make recommendations regarding alternative approaches to financing transportation infrastructure. The Commission released its final report Paying Our Way: A New Framework for Transportation Finance on February 26, 2009. The Public Private Partnership page maintained by the Federal Highway Administration provides information and resources on state transportation public private partnerships . The Bureau of Transportation Statistics in the Research and Innovative Technology Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation compiles national and state statistics on travel and transportation infrastructure. The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission Transportation page includes information on planning and public decision-making regarding transportation issues in southwestern Pennsylvania. The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission is the regional planning agency for the Pittsburgh 10-county area. The Transportation Planning Division of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission is responsible for coordinating the transportation planning process conducted in its nine-county region. The Transportation Division’s responsibilities include collecting and providing data for regional studies, conducting research, and developing the long range transportation plan and the short-term transportation improvement program for the region. The DVRPC serves nine counties: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia in Pennsylvania; and Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Mercer in New Jersey. State Gas Tax Rates can be found on the Tax Foundation’s website.
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