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PA State House Representative:
District
Rep.
PA State Senator:
District
Sen.
Dear [Name of Senator or Representative]:
Pennsylvanias transportation funding problems have been decades in the making. Finally, with the introduction of funding legislation in the General Assembly, we have an opportunity to achieve a comprehensive solution and begin to put this problem behind us.
A comprehensive, multimodal solution will improve safety, relieve congestion and provide considerable economic benefits, immediately and over the long term. For a typical transportation system user, it represents a modest investment that will provide significant returns on that investment over the years.
As a resident of your district, I urge you to support this funding plan as it moves through the legislative process. Please help assure that it remains comprehensive and multimodal, and that it retains the features that enable funding to increase with inflation. Thank you for your attention in this important matter.
Sincerely, [Sender's name and address]
Dear members of the General Assembly,
Pennsylvania's transportation funding problems have been decades in the making. Finally, with the introduction of funding legislation in the General Assembly, we have an opportunity to achieve a comprehensive solution and begin to put this problem behind us.
A comprehensive, multimodal solution will improve safety, relieve congestion and provide considerable economic benefits, immediately and over the long term. For a typical transportation system user, it represents a modest investment that will provide significant returns on that investment over the years.
As a resident of your district, I urge you to support this funding plan as it moves through the legislative process. Please help assure that it remains comprehensive and multimodal, and that it retains the features that enable funding to increase with inflation. Thank you for your attention in this important matter.
Concerned PA Citizen
Who We Are
BetterSaferRoads.com is presented by a coalition of the highway construction industry and allies who support a comprehensive solution to Pennsylvania's funding needs. The primary funding source is the APC Educational Trust Fund, a 501c4 organization.
For more information about transportation in Pennsylvania, please visit:
Featuring an interactive exercise in discussing transportation needs at the local level, as well as a collection of studies and reports. Visit www.ReConnectPA.org.
Get information regarding public transit in Pennsylvania. Visit the Pa. Public Transit Association at www.ppta.net.
Presenting transportation from a highway users' standpoint. Visit the Pa. Highway Information Association at http://pahighwayinfo.org.
View the recommendations of Governor Corbett's Transportation Funding Advisory Committee; visit www.tfac.pa.gov.
To identify and/or contact your state senator or representative, visit www.legis.state.pa.us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is transportation funding an important issue?
A: Our 50-year-old highway system requires major improvements, to enhance safety and relieve congestion. Doing so will improve the quality of life for all Pennsylvanians, in the short term by stimulating the economy and creating jobs, and in the long term by enabling the state to achieve its economic growth potential.
Q: How much will a good funding plan cost?
A: Surprisingly, the cost to many or most people would actually be less than the cost of doing nothing. The fuel you now waste because of traffic congestion and detours, along with the higher maintenance costs for driving on bad roads, can easily take $10 or more per week out of your pocket. The recommendations contained in the Transportation Funding Advisory Commission report would amount to about $2.50 per week.
Q: What is the Federal Government doing about transportation funding?
A: Very little. There is no consensus in Washington. Inflation has eaten away at the buying power of federal gasoline tax revenue, and tighter fuel efficiency standards are actually lessening the amount of revenue raised. Given the situation in Washington, it's clear that a funding solution can only be achieved at the state level.
Q: Can't this problem be solved simply by cutting waste and making government more efficient?
A: No. The magnitude of the funding gap - $3.5 billion annually - is far too large. Pennsylvania's transportation system has been significantly underfunded for many years. There must be more revenue dedicated to transportation. Additionally, PennDOT's modernization efforts have greatly improved the agency's efficiency and have helped assure that the additional revenue will be spent wisely.
Q: What guarantees that the money I pay in higher fees won't be used for something other than highways?
A: The state constitution. Revenue raised from license and registration fees and gasoline taxes is required to be placed into the Motor License Fund, and it cannot be used for anything other than bridge and highway purposes.
Q: What has happened to all the additional gas tax revenue resulting from the higher gasoline prices in the last several years?
A: The gas tax revenue remains flat, even though fuel prices have increased. The state gas tax rate hasn't been increase since 1997, and the federal tax since 1993. Higher fuel efficiency standards are actually reducing the revenue generated by fuel taxes.
Q: Is tolling part of the plan?
A: No. Tolling is a federal issue. Pennsylvania will reserve the ability to use tolling if the Federal Government would ever make that a bigger part of its transportation funding policy, but unlike the I-80 tolling plan, the money raised with tolls would remain with the highway corridors in which it is raised.
Q: How do I know the bulk of the revenue won't be sent to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh?
A: "Sending the money to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh" is probably the biggest myth in the entire transportation funding discussion. Residents of the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh areas contribute - by far - more in license and registration fees and gas taxes than they receive. If it weren't for the revenue from Philly and Pittsburgh, rural areas would be transportation-poor.