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I have heard from many people recently regarding their concerns with transportation funding and mass transit funding. As you are likely aware, the Senate Transportation Committee (of which I am a member) is holding ongoing hearings with a variety of stakeholders to identify transportation needs and to discuss funding options as well. I hope that, if you have the opportunity, you will read the written testimony or listen to the testimony and weigh in with your thoughts. I will post information on the website as it is available.
The Senate Transportation is working to identify a comprehensive solution to provide a dedicated source of funding to help mass transit and improve our roads and bridges. Each of these pieces needs to be funded in order for our infrastructure to remain strong. Following are some of the suggestions that we have received thus far:
- Authorizing Public-Private Partnerships where some roads/bridges would be managed by private entities that have long-term leases
- Installing cameras to capture license plates to determine whether drivers are insured, as required by law
- Creating an oil company excess profit tax that would put protections in place to ensure that consumers do not pay for it at the pump
- Raising the sales tax
- Removing the cap from the tax on oil company franchises (currently set at $1.25 per gallon, although wholesale price is currently at $2.15 per gallon)
- Increasing the gas tax to index it by inflation (would be approximately 4 cents/gallon)
- Increasing the driver’s license fees
- Increasing vehicle registration fees, including those for trucks
- Provide counties and municipalities with the ability (tax options) to raise and invest more funds for mass transit
The funding derived from each of these recommendations would be dedicated solely to transportation. It would not be placed into the General Fund. What would you be willing to support for transportation funding? I look forward to your thoughts on the proposals and other suggestions that you may have for us to consider - and thank those of you who have already proposed solutions. Click here to contact me.
In my district, much of the concern is with the service cuts announced by the Port Authority and many of the requests have been for the state to do more. For your reference, mass transit is already receiving the bulk of the funding from Act 44 - more so than our bridges and roads. Across the nation, transit systems are typically funded by a 1/3 - 1/3 - 1/3 formula. One-third of their funding comes from the local government, 1/3 comes from the riders and 1/3 comes from the state. In Pennsylvania, we provide over 60% of the funding to our local Port Authority. I voted to fund transit through Act 44, but because the federal government did not allow tolling of I-80, we are now facing this issue. With a lean economy and a tight budget, it is amazing that we are able to provide as much to transit, but we are struggling to do any more.
That is not to say that we’ve given up, but the decisions that the Port Authority are making are not something that the state has a role in. Because the Port Authority of Allegheny County is an authority of the County, you should contact your County Council member on this issue (the County appoints members to the Board) - or attend one of the Port Authority’s hearings, or submit testimony or comment. While we have been notified of the changes that are under consideration, the state has no role in determining which ones become reality and cannot make any changes to them. Only the board can do so.
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August 4, 2010 - State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today announced the implementation of a new program that enables uninsured individuals with pre-existing conditions to receive first-rate healthcare through the Pennsylvania Insurance Department. » Read More » Visit Official Website
Pittsburgh, July 29, 2010 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today announced a community meeting for Wednesday, August 11th at 7 p.m. in Beechview to introduce residents of the community to their new grocer.
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Pittsburgh, July 16, 2010 – Responding to inquiries from community residents, State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today said that negotiations are underway to bring a grocery store to the Beechview neighborhood of the City of Pittsburgh, but cautioned that any premature discussions on the project could jeopardize a positive outcome of the ongoing talks. » Read More |
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