Final approval is expected within the next few days of a highway funding plan that will eliminate approximately half of the $1 billion annual gap.

The measure would eventually provide $500 million a year in additional funding for highways, short of the $965 million figure cited last fall by the Transportation Funding and Reform Commission. It also will provide $400 million a year for mass transit.

The funds will be generated by borrowing against future toll revenues, tolling Interstate 80 and raising tolls on the Turnpike by 25 percent in 2009, a year earlier than in an earlier plan approved by the House.

The Transportation Construction Industries had presented a proposal to the Senate Transportation Committee in April that would have eliminated the entire highway funding gap at a cost to a typical motorist of less than $8 per month. Legislative leaders said they felt raising taxes and user fees, even by a modest amount, would not be feasible politically.

“The General Assembly’s funding plan allows PennDOT to begin addressing the transportation crisis, particularly our substandard bridges and poorest quality roads,” said PHIA President Ron Drnevich. “However, key projects that are essential to the economic development are not funded in this legislation. As a result, any vitally needed increases in highway capacity are simply not going to occur without additional funding. For example, we still have to address the fact that truck traffic on our Interstates is projected to grow by 30 percent over the next 20 years. Nothing in this legislation begins to address this pending issue.”

He noted that the Senate plan contained several of the elements of the Pennsylvania Economy League study, including funding sources that grow over time.

“There are several positive aspects to the funding plan,” Drnevich said. “It can provide a basis on which to develop a long-term solution to the funding crisis. We believe Pennsylvanians will support a lasting solution to this problem once they understand the importance.”