transportation funding following the
federal government’s refusal to allow Pennsylvania to toll Interstate 80.

Today’s decision by the U.S. Department of Transportation to deny Pennsylvania’
s application to toll I-80 will significantly reduce transportation funding,
the Governor said.

“We have to deal with the fallout of this decision; there is no way that we can
just do nothing,” Governor Rendell said. “I’m going to call a special session
of the legislature to address our transportation challenges. We’ll look at
every option on the table. This is a dire situation with significant
consequences.”

Act 44 of 2007 called for the tolling of I-80 and additional revenue from the
Pennsylvania Turnpike to provide $532 million per year for road and bridge
repairs and $414 million per year for public transit agencies across the state.

Without I-80 toll revenues, funding for roads and bridges will be cut by about
$300 million per year. This means PennDOT will not be able to repair about 100
bridges and 300 miles of roads each year. Funding for 73 public transit systems
that provide more than 400 million rides a year to residents in all 67 counties
will drop by $160 million per year, resulting in service cuts and fewer capital
improvement projects.

Despite record state and federal investments in highways and bridges in the
past seven years, Pennsylvania still has approximately 5,600 structurally
deficient bridges — the highest number of any state — and approximately 6,000
miles of roads that are in need of repair.

“The people of Pennsylvania understand there is no free ride. They know what
happened in Minneapolis and New Orleans,” he added. “People understand that if
they want safe bridges, good roads, and potholes eliminated, you cannot wait
for the pothole fairy to do it – you’ve got to pay for it.”

The Governor said a date for the special legislative session has not yet been
set.

Media Contact: Gary Tuma; 717-783-1116

FTA Announces $24.8 Million for Public Transportation

Visitors will have a greater number of options for getting around in America's national parks and on other public lands, thanks to $24.8 (Read more)

Electronic Crime and Digital Evidence Recovery Grant

The purpose of the National Institute of Justice Research, Evaluation, and Development Projects Grants program is to encourage and support research, development, and evaluation to improve criminal justice policy and practice in the United States. (Read more)

Why Hydraulic Hybrid Vehicles

This video explains the benefits of hydraulic hybrid vehicle or HHV technology. (Read more)