Dear KTFC Members & Friends:
APC’s Bob Latham has been busy lately, hitting the public affairs talk show circuit in support of his association’s initiative to restore the equivalent of 11 cents per gallon to the state fund that pays for highway and bridge improvements instead of diverting it to subsidize State Police operations.
The initiative would redirect some $700 million dollars a year to be used for transportation, as it was intended, and the state could then use a portion of the more than $7 billion in federal stimulus funds to back-fill the State Police budget. This short-term fix would give policymakers two years to develop longer-term funding plans that would meet the needs of PennDOT and the State Police.
One of Bob’s appearances was on WITF Radio’s “Smart Talk” program, a live call-in segment of about 25 minutes hosted by Scott Lamar. The result was a concise, informative chat summarizing the current transportation funding issues facing the Commonwealth. You can hear it at this link.
Be of Good Cheer,
TRANSPORTATION ISSUE UPDATE
- PhilaPort isn’t the only Philadelphia ‘port looking to capitalize on moving cargo. Philadelphia International Airport also has big plans.
- PA Senate Transportation Chair Wayne Langerholc continued pitching his multimodal transportation funding ideas, collectively known as the Drive Smart Act.
- Three recent work zone accidents, in which motorists crashed into PennDOT vehicles in northwest PA, have PennDOT worried about drivers either speeding or being distracted. Officials issued reminders this week of the need to drive carefully through construction zones.
- Philly Schools are beginning to convert the current diesel bus fleet to cleaner electric vehicles, changing out 4% of the diesel vehicles per year on the way toward a 20% goal in a few short years.
- PA Turnpike officials have some ideas for addressing the growing issue of truck parking.
- Johnstown officials are seeking $24.4 million in federal funding for train station upgrades.