Transportation Funding & Reform Commission Proposes Solutions for Highways, Bridges, and Public Transit Needs

The long-awaited 16-month study of Governor Rendell’s Transportation Funding and Reform Commission was released yesterday, with a recommendation that $900 million is needed for the Commonwealth’s roads and bridges and $760 million is to be targeted for public transit funding.

The highway and bridge investment would:

• Eliminate poor ride quality in five years on all highways carrying more than 2,000 vehicles a day and on 50 percent of highways with lower traffic volumes.
• Reduce the percentage of structurally deficient bridges to the national average within 17 years.
• Implement safety features targeted to reduce fatalities by 25 a year
• Modernize two-thirds of all traffic signals over 10 years.
• Install real time traffic information and management systems in major urban areas.
• Add targeted capacity expansion projects.

The commission recommended the following steps to raise the $900 million:

• Adjust the percentage and the ceiling of the Oil Company Franchise Tax, equivalent to about 11.5 cents per gallon.
  
• Raise various motor vehicle registration and license fees by $150 million.

The complete report may be viewed on the Transportation Funding and Reform Commission website - click here.