Pay Now or Pay Later

Legislators are now studying whether to allow private investment in the highway system due to funding gaps at PennDOT. The idea is one that has been debated at the Transportation Funding and Reform Commission hearings that have taken place around the Commonwealth.

Even the "esteemed" Father of Interstate 99, the former Representative Bud Shuster, chimed in saying "billions and billions of dollars can be raised by public-private partnerships'' on transportation projects. One of which he cited is the Mon-Fayette Expressway which is $2 billion short of funding.

The commission is due to issue a report on November 15 recommending new taxes or increases in existing ones like the 6% sales tax, 31.5¢/gallon gasoline tax, or the $36/year vehicle registration fee. The new revenue would be used to improve highways and 47% structurally deficient bridges across the Commonwealth, and PAT and SEPTA in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia respectively.

I am for the private investment if it means improving the highway system, but not for the taxes. The gasoline tax is already one of the highest in the country, and even though gas prices are low as of this blog entry, it doesn't mean prices will continue to stay low. The vehicle registration fee should be on a scale depending on the weight of the vehicle, similar to how the Turnpike Commission calculates tolls. The more your vehicle weights, the more your registration which seems only fair. An SUV puts a greater strain on the highways due to its weight than a motorcycle.

Maybe if the judges who repealed the legislature's pay raise, but upheld their own pay raise, would donate a portion back to PennDOT we wouldn't have to worry. Although, without improvements to the system, they'll be deserving of the raises hearing all of those lawsuits against the state from families of those who died in bridge collapses.

Lawmakers Study Private Investment For Roads - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette