PHIA News Digest – Vol. 6, No. 9
Registration fees, fuel tax eyed for increases as state struggles to fund its highways, bridges
Pennsylvania has the second highest gasoline tax in the U.S. after California and with more electric cars in the nation’s future, it means fewer funds will be available to pay for necessary highway and bridge maintenance, a Lycoming County transportation expert said.
Lawmakers working on bill to prevent PennDOT’s proposed tolling
When PennDOT announced they were considering tolling bridges, they did it without needing legislative approval. Business owners near the proposed tolling site say this could force them to close up shop for good.
Proposed bridge tolls could be the end of the road for the Pa. bus industry
The decision to toll bridges on the interstate system is one that the Pennsylvania Bus Association strongly disagrees with. Our industry already pays more than its fair share to operate on Pennsylvania roadways and additional tolls would only add to that increasing cost.
Bridge commission proposes system-wide toll hikes amid COVID-19 pandemic
The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission wants to hike E-ZPass tolls by 25 percent and cash tolls by 200 percent later this spring to boost revenues amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
PennDOT extends expiration dates on commercial driver licenses
PennDOT announced that expiration dates for commercial driver licenses and commercial learner’s permits will be extended for Pennsylvania residents in response to statewide COVID-19 mitigation efforts.
PennDOT details funding problems and possible fixes
During its annual budget hearing Tuesday, the commonwealth’s Department of Transportation told House lawmakers it’s mulling ways to fix short-term funding problems –– without asking for more state money.
Pennsylvania ranks 17th in U.S. in switching to electric vehicles
Pennsylvania ranks 17th among the 50 states and Washington, D.C., in transitioning from gas-fueled vehicles to electric vehicles, according to a study conducted by the American Council for Energy Efficient Economy.
