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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Joseph F. Markosek
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Markosek calls on state lawmakers to work together to find a solution for state's transportation funding shortfall
HARRISBURG, April 6 – House Transportation Committee Chairman Joseph Markosek called on his colleagues to work together to find a solution to fill the state's transportation budget shortfall after today's decision by the U.S. Department of Transportation to deny Pennsylvania's application to raise revenue by tolling Interstate 80.
"All options are on the table," said Markosek, D-Allegheny/Westmoreland. "Anyone who thinks this will be easy or painless is wrong because we have an aging transportation infrastructure with vast needs. Those of us who are disappointed and those of us who are euphoric with today's decision must quickly put their emotions aside and proceed arm-in-arm to find adequate and sustainable major funding sources."
Markosek was the author of Act 44, which was approved by the General Assembly in 2007 with a bipartisan vote and signed into law by the governor. The law called for an increase in tolls on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and the tolling of I-80. The increase in tolls is providing an extra $900 million this year to fund work in all 67 counties in Pennsylvania. That figure will drop to $450 million on July 1 because of today's rejection under the law.
Markosek said he supports the governor's decision to address this issue with a special legislative session.
"Pennsylvania's transportation system impacts every resident, business and visitor," Markosek said. "The significant backlog of critical projects hinders the state’s economic competitiveness, threatens our safety and impacts our people, businesses, and environment."
Markosek said the crisis the state faces results from the sheer size of the state's transportation infrastructure compounded by existing ways of raising money becoming outdated by changes in technology, vehicle efficiency and soaring construction material costs.
"We have to shift away from outdated methods of generating transportation revenue toward methods that are more predictable, equitable and in sync with inflation," Markosek said.
Markosek said having a well-maintained, adequately funded transportation system is important to the future of the state. "Insufficient transportation systems will equate to an insufficient economy," he said.
Although disappointed with the decision, Markosek said he is not discouraged. "Now is the time for strong bipartisan leadership to solve this pressing problem," he said.
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