Speakers portray funding solution prospects as mixed

Those who attended the PHIA Transportation Conference and Annual Meeting came away with a combination of good and bad news related to the likelihood of transportation funding solutions.  

Sec. Schoch

PennDOT Secretary Barry Schoch said he remains optimistic that the General Assembly and administration will begin tackling the funding issue, perhaps as soon as May, and that he believes that whatever policymakers support, it will include the most important elements among the recommendations of the Transportation Funding Advisory Commission.

Schoch said he and Governor Corbett plan to meet with legislative leaders at the end of April to determine a course of action.

Sen. Jake Corman also delivered a pep talk, urging attendees to continue the push and keep the faith.  Corman, who introduced legislation in the Senate that mirrored the TFAC recommendations, said he believes the Senate is ready to address the issue and has the votes to advance the issue.

Sen. Corman

Corman made an interesting point countering the notion that legislators will have a difficult time with gasoline hovering at $4 per gallon.  He noted that the oil companies price their product by region based on what the markets will bear, and because of the current price may actually absorb a greater portion of any Oil Company Franchise Tax increase instead of passing it along to motorists.

Schoch and Corman both spoke of the “cost of doing nothing,” noting that Pennsylvanians can either pay to fix the problem, or pay to continue to have the problem.  Congested roads, rough pavement and weight-restricted or closed bridges increase the cost of fuel and maintenance, as well as for products that move through the Commonwealth.

Rep. Shuster

As for a solution at the federal level, Congressman Bill Shuster’s keynote address was not as cheery.  There is no appetite in Washington increase the federal fuel taxes, he said, nor is there enough support for expanded tolling at present.

Shuster said he has been tasked with “selling” the House Republican’s proposed five-year funding bill before the latest funding extension – the ninth since the most recent funding measure expired 2 ½ years ago – expires at the end of June.

PHIA wishes to thank the speakers, as well as attendees, for a successful event.

Anyone who has ideas or comments regarding the event is welcome to email Managing Director Jason Wagner at jwagner@PaHighwayInfo.org.

Reaction to Gov. Corbett’s budget address

Gov. Tom Corbett made prominent mention of transportation funding in his budget address on Tuesday.  While asserting that transportation funding transcends the budget process, he said the issue is one of his top priorities.  The Keystone Transportation Funding Coalition, of which PHIA is a member, issued this reaction.  Click here to read the statement.

Road & Bridge Safety Awards now open to PA Boroughs

Each year the Pennsylvania Highway Information Association (PHIA) and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) team with various state organizations to recognize the best road safety or bridge improvement projects undertaken across the state.   Eligible projects are those in which most or all of the safety improvements were completed in 2011.  The competition recognizes not only major, high-cost projects, but any improvements that have increased public safety.   

The 2012 program is now open to those members of the PA State Association of Boroughs (PSAB).  The progam will recognize boroughs use of highway user fees for needed community safety improvements, culminating in a presentation to the winners at PSAB’s annual conference at Seven Springs Resort on May 2, 2012.  Click HERE to download a copy of the entry brochure.  The entry deadline is March 16, 2012. 

For more information on other municipal organization’s Road and Bridge Safety Award programs, click here.

Iowa legislators stepping up on transportation

While we haven’t forgotten that the “P” in PHIA stands for “Pennsylvania,” from time to time it’s worth noting how other states are dealing with transportation funding issues.  News reports from Iowa suggest that legislators from both parties are coalescing toward a proposal to raise user fees in order to address the Hawkeye State’s transportation needs.  The effort is being advanced by legislators and is based on recommendations of the governor’s transportation advisory commission.  Sound familiar?

For a news account, click here.

To read a copy of the PA’s Transportation Funding Advisory Commission Report, click here.

Transportation funding goes bipartisan, bicameral

Support for a transportation funding solution broadened considerably this week as three leaders of Pennsylvania’s House Democratic caucus introduced legislation that mirrors the bills introduced last fall by a Senate Republican. The House and Senate versions are both patterned after the recommendations of Gov. Tom Corbett’s Transportation Funding Advisory Commission.

State Rep. Mike Hanna (D-Clinton), the minority whip, described the initiative as “extending an olive branch” to Republicans and Governor Corbett, signaling bipartisan support for a major policy issue at a time when school vouchers, privatization of state liquor stores and a Marcellus Shale drilling fee have languished in partisan disagreement.

At a Capitol news conference, several reporters expressed skepticism that legislators could muster the political will to address the problem in an election year. However, recent public opinion polls show that a majority of voters believe transportation funding is the most important issue currently facing Pennsylvania, and the TFAC’s proposed solution might actually save a typical motorist more than it costs in wasted gasoline and vehicle maintenance.

To view an excerpt of the news conference, click below: 

To see Associated Pennsylvania Constructors’ response, click here.

PennDOT ends 2011 with $1.8 billion in lettings

PennDOT lets $263 million in projects in December

The state Department of Transportation (PennDOT) bid just over $263.7 million in projects in December bringing the final year-to-date total to $1.812 billion.  In 2010, PennDOT ended the year with $2.119 billion in lettings.

PennDOT initially forecast the 2011 year to see $1.7 billion in lettings, which was the level of the program back in 2006-07.  While PennDOT slightly exceeded its forecast, the total still represents a flat construction program.  PennDOT made a 2012 construction year forecast at $1.5 billion due to a decrease in state funding and stagnant federal funding.  For more information regarding the department’s forecast you can view Dep. Secretary Scott Christie’s presentation at the annual APC Fall Seminar by going here.

It is important to note that just a few years ago, PennDOT’s 2009 lettings were $2.8 billion due to the billion dollars in economic stimulus funds, which have been completely spent.

To view the full report and year comparisons, click the link below.

• December Letting Report* (PDF)

*The report lists the total contracts awarded at each letting date, a comparison to the same period in the previous calendar year, and letting adjustments made since the previous month. PHIA staff will track PennDOT lettings throughout the year and provide monthly updates.

2011 in review: Still no transportation funding

If your holiday wish is to see some action on the transportation funding issue, I’m afraid you should expect coal under your tree this year. Below is commentary provided by PHIA on the transportation funding effort as 2011 closes with an industry facing an uncertain future.

Veterans of the transportation construction industry are not exaggerating when they tell you that efforts to establish steady, sustainable, comprehensive funding sources for highways and public transit have been underway for decades.

A year ago, there were reasons for great optimism that 2011 was shaping up to be the year that a comprehensive funding solution, finally, could occur: Read more

Poll shows broad support for addressing funding problem

A Franklin & Marshall College Poll shows that a majority of Pennsylvania voters rate the transportation funding issue as either the most important or one of the most important issues now facing the Commonwealth.

The issue outpolled the Marcellus Shale tax, school vouchers, liquor store privatization and electoral vote distribution in terms of importance. Perhaps of even greater significance is that only 8 percent of those surveyed said the transportation finding issue is not important.

The Associated Pennsylvania Constructors commented on the poll results in a news release distributed earlier this week. To view the news release, click here.

Leading business organization joins transportation funding chorus

The Pennsylvania Business Council (PBC) joined a growing list of business and economic development organizations in support of the Transportation Funding Advisory Commission recommendations. The PBC represents some of the largest employers in the state and issued a policy statement supporting the recommendations of the Commission, which was appointment at the direction of Gov. Tom Corbett earlier this year. The PBC also applauded Sen. Jake Corman for his earlier announcement that he would introduce legislation to enact those recommendations outlined in the report, which was released on Aug. 1. Read more

Joint transportation committee hears TFAC update

Members of the Pennsylvania House and Senate transportation committees opened a joint hearing Tuesday to be briefed on the recommendations of Gov. Tom Corbett’s Transportation Funding Advisory Commission (TFAC).

PennDOT Secretary Barry Schoch opened with an update on the damage caused by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, then followed with a summary of the TFAC report. Much of his focus was on various “modernization” initiatives that PennDOT already has begun to undertake.

He also laid out the reasoning behind the recommended lifting of the cap on the Oil Company Franchise Tax, explaining that unlike some previous funding proposals all transportation system users, including those who are not Pennsylvania residents, would share the burden equitably. Read more