Last week we had one of those “just-when-you-think-you’ve-seen-everything” moments when we learned of South Carolina’s enactment of a gasoline tax increase…over the governor’s veto!
As you’ll see in the link below, the state legislature overrode Gov. Henry McMaster and enacted an eventual 12-cent-per-gallon increase to address the state’s highway needs. The override required a two-thirds majority in both houses of the legislature, and even McMaster’s fellow Republicans voiced criticism of his veto.
In raising revenue for transportation, South Carolina joined a growing number of states whose leaders have realized that 1) transportation is important and 2) waiting for the federal government to act appears to be a fool’s errand. It seems we’ve come a long way from 2013, when Pennsylvania passed Act 89.
Be of Good Cheer,
— The Wolff
Transportation Issue Update
- It’s hard to fathom a legislature overriding a governor’s veto to raise taxes, but South Carolina’s lawmakers obviously believe that transportation is pretty important.
- Governing Magazine pointed out that 22 other states have raised fuel taxes to fund transportation during the last five years.
- Meanwhile, some states are imposing fees on alternative fuel vehicles to assure that they pay their fair share for the wear and tear on roads and bridges.
- Back home in PA, Centre County commissioners enacted a $5 local vehicle registration fee to address the needs of local roads.
- Adaptive traffic signals are shortening drive times in the Pittsburgh area, much to the relief of commuters.
- A report by the PA Economy League pointing out the unfairness of the way the Commonwealth funds State Police operations drew attention around the state.
- Governor Wolf and PennDOT continued to make the rounds to announce local road and bridge projects that will be underway during this construction season. Here are the plans for PennDOT District 9.
- Rebuilding the Capital Beltway around Harrisburg is expected to take at least the next decade, according to PennLive/the Patriot News.
- The Central Susquehanna Valley Thruway project is reaching a milestone as draft designs for the southern section are revealed this month.