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Talking Points for Commission Report Pennsylvania has suffered without a long term transportation funding plan for quite some time. Two state and two federal commissions have identified the need ($3.5 billion per year) and policy makers have agreed that we need to find a way to get there. The commission is delivering a comprehensive solution that includes funding for roads, local government, public transit, ports, airports, and freight rail. This will be of great benefit to all citizens of Pennsylvania whether you drive, depend on public transit, ride a bike, or even if you never leave your home. The recommendations are a responsible approach to solving this long-term problem without seriously impacting transportation users. The essential funding components of the plan simply adjust out dated fees for inflation or redirect money within existing funds where they can do the most good:
But this is not just about dollars in. You will see in the Commission report a whole series of government efficiency or ‘modernization” strategies along with a “decade of investment” spelling out what will be accomplished with the new funding strategy. The remarkable thing about this proposal is the cost to the average motorist. Over the past decade, fuel efficiency and inflation has decimated the buying power of our transportation user fees. So, adjusted for inflation, this would not increase the cost to the public compared with what they were paying 10 or 15 years ago, when the taxes and fees were last increased. In today’s dollars the cost to the average motorist starts at 70 cents per week and grows to $2.50 per week in five years. Motorists and the trucking industry were represented on the commission. Requests to phase in the inflation-adjusted license and registration fees were addressed. People will support for this plan by focusing on the benefits Pennsylvania residents will receive within the next decade:
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