PHIA News Digest – Vol. 8, No. 15
How Gov. Shapiro wants to fund PA State Police
In his first budget proposal as governor, Democrat Josh Shapiro aims to resolve a longstanding fiscal conundrum: funding the Pennsylvania State Police without taking money away from bridge and road repairs.
Crash deaths up across U.S. with Pa. keeping pace
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, nearly 43,000 people died in U.S. traffic crashes in 2021, the highest since 2005, with deaths due to speeding and impaired driving on the rise.
PennDOT announces new license plates to help grow and sustain plants
PennDOT announced that vehicle owners will now be able to purchase a ‘Pollinator’ license plate. Sixty-five percent of the proceeds from the license plate will be deposited into the Pollinator Habitat Program Fund.
Editorial: Make E-ZPass easier for low-income drivers
The Pennsylvania Turnpike was created under a simple concept: Drivers would pay tolls, and the revenue would be used to pay for operations, construction and maintenance.
Sen. Casey, PennDOT show infrastructure money at work
Federal infrastructure money is helping cover repaving work on Interstate 81 in Cumberland County, which will cost around $23.3 million.
House committee chairs back plan to cease using gas tax dollars for State Police
The majority and minority chairs of the House Transportation Committee say they will introduce legislation to reduce the amount of money siphoned out of the Motor License Fund to pay for state police operations and establish a special designated fund for state police.
Revenue Department releases March collections
In addition to the General Fund collections, the Motor License Fund received $244.2 million for the month, $16.8 million above estimate. Fiscal year-to-date collections for the fund – which include the commonly known gas and diesel taxes, as well as other license, fine and fee revenues – total $2.1 billion, which is $70.5 million, or 3.4 percent, above estimate.
Fuel tax rate changes addressed in five statehouses
Fuel tax rates are a trending transportation topic at statehouses from Utah to Pennsylvania. Advocates for trimming fuel tax collection at the state level say the time is right for the move. They cite new federal dollars for transportation purposes, higher fuel costs, and budget surpluses that could cover reductions in fuel tax collections.
