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| Legislative Watch | 
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Pennsylvania |
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7/18/07-Gov. Ed Rendell signed a bill into law Wednesday, July 18, to increase transportation funding.
HB1590 earmarks about $950 million annually for roads, bridges and mass transit. The money will come from sources that include boosting tolls on the Pennsylvania Turnpike by 25 percent in 2009 and increasing the toll rate by 3 percent each year thereafter. It also allows I-80 to become a toll road.
Municipalities will be required to match 15 percent of state funding for mass transit systems. They could raise the money with taxes on income, sales, hotel rooms or vehicle rentals. On average, localities now are required to chip in 13 percent.
One potential stumbling block for charging vehicles to travel along the 313-mile east-west route is a requirement that the federal government authorize the state to convert the existing road into a “pay-as-you-go” route.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission would be authorized to erect 10 toll barriers along the route. Advocates say tolling would be set up to eliminate or minimize fees for local drivers. However, the bill doesn’t specify how that would work.
7/17/07-The House voted 124-79 to sign off on Senate changes to a bill intended to raise money for roads, bridges and mass transit. It now heads to Gov. Ed Rendell for his signature.
Revenues would come from borrowing against future tolls on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and turning Interstate 80 into a toll road. The federal government would need to authorize the state to convert the existing road into a “pay-as-you-go” route.
The transportation plan – HB1590 – also calls for increasing fares on the turnpike by 25 percent starting in 2009. The House version called for toll increases to take effect in 2010.
Another provision would require municipalities to match 15 percent of state funding for mass transit systems. They could raise the money with taxes on income, sales, hotel rooms or vehicle rentals. On average, localities now are required to chip in 13 percent.
For bill status, call (717) 787-6732.
7/5/07-The Senate Appropriations Committee voted 19-7 to modify a House-approved bill intended to raise money for roads, bridges and mass transit. Senators boosted the package from $700 million to $750 million.
Revenues would come from borrowing against future tolls on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and turning Interstate 80 into a toll road. The federal government would need to authorize the state to convert the existing road into a “pay-as-you-go” route.
The revised transportation plan also calls for increasing fares on the turnpike by 25 percent starting in 2009. The House version called for toll increases to take effect in 2010.
Another provision in the Senate version would require municipalities to match 15 percent of state funding for mass transit systems. They could raise the money with taxes on income, sales, hotel rooms or vehicle rentals. On average, localities now are required to chip in 13 percent. The House version called for increasing the local share to 20 percent.
HB1590 still must pass the full Senate and have House lawmakers agree to changes before it could move to Gov. Ed Rendell’s desk.
For bill status, call (717) 787-6732.
6/28/07-The House voted 105-96 to approve a $700 million transportation funding package for roads, bridges and mass transit. It now heads to the Senate.
HB1590 would allow tolls to be placed along Interstate 80. It also would authorize a study of putting tolls on Interstate 95 and bonding the Pennsylvania Turnpike, among other things. The federal government would need to authorize the state to convert the existing road into a “pay-as-you-go” route.
Another provision in the bill would require municipalities to match 20 percent of state funding for mass transit systems. They would be allowed to raise the money with income, sales, hotel room or vehicle rental taxes. Localities now are required to chip in 13 percent.
The bill is awaiting assignment to committee in the Senate. For bill status, call (717) 787-6732.
HB1590 earmarks about $950 million annually for roads, bridges and mass transit. The money will come from sources that include boosting tolls on the Pennsylvania Turnpike by 25 percent in 2009 and increasing the toll rate by 3 percent each year thereafter. It also allows I-80 to become a toll road.
Municipalities will be required to match 15 percent of state funding for mass transit systems. They could raise the money with taxes on income, sales, hotel rooms or vehicle rentals. On average, localities now are required to chip in 13 percent.
One potential stumbling block for charging vehicles to travel along the 313-mile east-west route is a requirement that the federal government authorize the state to convert the existing road into a “pay-as-you-go” route.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission would be authorized to erect 10 toll barriers along the route. Advocates say tolling would be set up to eliminate or minimize fees for local drivers. However, the bill doesn’t specify how that would work.
7/17/07-The House voted 124-79 to sign off on Senate changes to a bill intended to raise money for roads, bridges and mass transit. It now heads to Gov. Ed Rendell for his signature.
Revenues would come from borrowing against future tolls on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and turning Interstate 80 into a toll road. The federal government would need to authorize the state to convert the existing road into a “pay-as-you-go” route.
The transportation plan – HB1590 – also calls for increasing fares on the turnpike by 25 percent starting in 2009. The House version called for toll increases to take effect in 2010.
Another provision would require municipalities to match 15 percent of state funding for mass transit systems. They could raise the money with taxes on income, sales, hotel rooms or vehicle rentals. On average, localities now are required to chip in 13 percent.
For bill status, call (717) 787-6732.
7/5/07-The Senate Appropriations Committee voted 19-7 to modify a House-approved bill intended to raise money for roads, bridges and mass transit. Senators boosted the package from $700 million to $750 million.
Revenues would come from borrowing against future tolls on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and turning Interstate 80 into a toll road. The federal government would need to authorize the state to convert the existing road into a “pay-as-you-go” route.
The revised transportation plan also calls for increasing fares on the turnpike by 25 percent starting in 2009. The House version called for toll increases to take effect in 2010.
Another provision in the Senate version would require municipalities to match 15 percent of state funding for mass transit systems. They could raise the money with taxes on income, sales, hotel rooms or vehicle rentals. On average, localities now are required to chip in 13 percent. The House version called for increasing the local share to 20 percent.
HB1590 still must pass the full Senate and have House lawmakers agree to changes before it could move to Gov. Ed Rendell’s desk.
For bill status, call (717) 787-6732.
6/28/07-The House voted 105-96 to approve a $700 million transportation funding package for roads, bridges and mass transit. It now heads to the Senate.
HB1590 would allow tolls to be placed along Interstate 80. It also would authorize a study of putting tolls on Interstate 95 and bonding the Pennsylvania Turnpike, among other things. The federal government would need to authorize the state to convert the existing road into a “pay-as-you-go” route.
Another provision in the bill would require municipalities to match 20 percent of state funding for mass transit systems. They would be allowed to raise the money with income, sales, hotel room or vehicle rental taxes. Localities now are required to chip in 13 percent.
The bill is awaiting assignment to committee in the Senate. For bill status, call (717) 787-6732.