The Senate Transportation Committee Tuesday overwhelmingly approved Senate Bill 1 (Rafferty- R-Montgomery), a comprehensive transportation funding plan which raises about $2.5 billion in annual funding by FY 2017-18, according to Sen. John Rafferty, Majority Chair of the Committee.

The bill follows the major recommendations made by the Governor’s Transportation Funding Advisory Commission.

“Providing a safe and reliable transportation network is crucial to public safety and economic development,” Sen. Rafferty said.  “We can’t put off projects – the time to address our infrastructure needs is now.”

Pennsylvania has more structurally deficient bridges – nearly 4,400 – than any other state in the nation, and 23 percent of its 44,000 miles of state-owned roads are in poor condition.

Senate Bill 1 will raise the needed revenue through a number of sources including adjusting outdated vehicle and driver fees for inflation, surcharging fines for drivers who violate traffic laws, uncapping the Oil Company Franchise Tax over three years, and achieving significant cost savings by modernizing many PennDOT services.

“This legislation offers a strategic and long-term solution to funding transportation projects that are vital to our state’s future,” Sen. Rafferty said. “I’m pleased at the bipartisan support that the bill received in this committee and look forward to bringing it up for a full Senate vote.”

NewsClips:

$2.5 Billion Transportation Bill Passes Senate Committee

Senate Committee Approves $2.5 Billion Transportation Plan

Senate Committee Passes $2.5 Billion For Roads, Transit

Senate Panel OKs Transportation Funding Bill

5/13/2013