Over the past three weeks, we, as chairmen of the State House Transportation Committee, have conducted seven public hearings across Pennsylvania focusing on the staggering shortfall in funding for the Commonwealth’s transportation infrastructure. Joined by the House Republican and Democrat Policy committees, we heard testimony from PennDOT district executives, planning organizations, mass transit officials, construction industry professionals, chambers of commerce, county commissioners and transportation advocacy coalitions.

From Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, and everywhere in between, there has been a resounding refrain: It’s time to invest in infrastructure and we will support the tough decisions that must be made to sufficiently fund a safe and efficient transportation system.

In other words, do something. Now.

We couldn’t agree more. Both of us have served on the House Transportation Committee for more than 20 years, and we can state unequivocally that Pennsylvania has underfunded its transportation infrastructure for far too long. The bill has come due and we cannot afford to ignore this problem any longer.

In May, the State Transportation Advisory Committee report estimated an additional $3.5 billion a year is needed to meet all existing and immediate transportation infrastructure needs. That’s double the estimated annual deficit calculated in 2006 by the governor’s Transportation Funding and Reform Commission.

Just how dire is the situation? Consider:

• Pennsylvania has 5,646 structurally deficient state-owned bridges, the most of any state in the nation and more than New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Virginia and Maryland combined. That doesn’t even include the 6,000 plus locally-owned bridges that are equally poor in condition and need immediate attention. 
• 7,000 miles, or about 18 percent, of state roads are listed in "very poor condition." The mileage of local roads in poor condition likely exceeds that number.  
• Effective July 1, overall transportation funding from Act 44 drops from $900 million a year to a fixed $450 million a year as a result of the federal government denying Pennsylvania’s proposal to toll Interstate 80. The tolling proposal had been an integral component of Act 44.

Plugging that $450 million hole would only provide a temporary fix. We cannot afford another temporary fix. It is time for Pennsylvania to address the big picture and find a long-term, comprehensive solution to our transportation problems.

We wholeheartedly endorse Gov. Rendell’s recent convening of a special legislative session on transportation funding because it presents a rare window of opportunity to deal with this problem now, in this calendar year, before the current general session expires.

As committee chairmen, we are taking a bipartisan approach to what is a nonpartisan issue. Roads and bridges aren’t Republican or Democratic. Transportation transcends politics. It affects every Pennsylvanian’s daily life. Pennsylvania’s economy is dependent on a reliable transportation infrastructure.

So, how does Pennsylvania pay for the massive job that needs to be done? To answer that critical question, the legislature will have to act on some or all of the revenue-raising options currently on the table. Those options include, but are not limited to:

• Uncapping or adjusting the Oil Company Franchise Tax, artificially capped in 1983, which would allow the rate to adjust as market conditions change. 
• Increasing the state gas tax, which has not been addressed for 13 years. 
• Raising the annual vehicle registration fee, currently one of the lowest in the nation. 
• Enabling Pennsylvania to enter into public-private partnerships, in which the private sector teams with government to help rebuild the infrastructure.  
• Giving local governments revenue-raising options to support mass transit or road and bridge projects in their areas.

Considerable political will is necessary to enact measures like these this year, in a tough economic climate and an even tougher political climate. But, as we have heard repeatedly, doing nothing is not an option. Ignoring the problem compromises the safety of Pennsylvanians, hinders the Commonwealth’s economy and passes off the problem to future generations. Neither of us is willing to accept those scenarios. After hearing from the public over the past three weeks, we are convinced Pennsylvanians don’t want to accept those scenarios either.

Ultimately, Pennsylvanians must realize that there is an extra cost to bear in order to maintain and improve the Commonwealth’s transportation infrastructure. It’s the price you pay to keep moving ahead.

State Rep. Joseph Markosek, D-Allegheny, is chairman of the state House Transportation Committee. State Rep. Rick Geist, R-Blair, is minority chairman of the House Transportation Committee. 

Rep. Richard A. Geist
79th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
(814) 946-7218
(717) 787-6419
Contact:  Raymond Smith
House Republican Public Relations
rsmith@pahousegop.com
(717) 705-1834
Member site: RickGeist.com
www.pahousegop.com