The House and Senate this week gave final approval to House Bill 1060 (Pyle-R-Armstrong) that would raise $2.3 billion in transportation funding by FY 2017-18-- $1.3 billion for highways and bridges, at least $480 million for mass transit and $144 million for a new Multimodal Transportation Fund.

The bill is now on the Governor’s desk and he announced plans to sign the bill next week.

The plan uncaps the Oil Company Franchise Tax in steps over five years which is estimated at current prices to increase gasoline prices by 25 to 28 cents per gallon. Vehicle registration fees and driver’s license fees are increased.  A surcharge is imposed on traffic tickets and certain fines are increased.

The new Intermodal Fund will provide $2 million annually for bicycle and pedestrian facilities, among other purposes.  The bill includes a provision consolidating PennDOT deputates and creates a Deputy Secretary for Multimodal Transportation.

The plan includes a $30 million increase to the Dirt and Gravel Road Program bringing the total funding to $35 million annually-- $28 million to the State Conservation Commission and $7 million to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

The Fish and Boat Commission will receive funds from the Oil Company Franchise Tax based on the amount of fuel used by power motorboats.

The plan also establishes a new $2/sticker fee for vehicles exempt from the vehicle emissions testing program which drive fewer than 5,000 miles a year.

The amendment also included a limited reform of the prevailing wage increasing the threshold for projects it applies to $100,000 from $25,000.

A House Fiscal Note (better one) and Senate Fiscal Note summary of the bill are available.

NewsClips:

Tea Party Vows To Torpedo Transportation Funding Bill

Transportation Funding Action Prompted By Congressional Inaction

Transportation Funding Gets Final OK, Heads To Corbett

House Passes $2.4 Billion Transportation Funding Bill

House Sends Transportation Funding Plan To Corbett

Corbett Lauds Democratic Help In $2.5B Transportation Funding Bill

House Sends $2.3 Billion Transit Bill To Governor

Foes Claim Corbett Highway Funding Requires Tax Increase

What Transportation Funding Bill Will Cost You

Transportation Funding Passes Senate, 1 More House Vote

Senate Passes Transportation Funding Plan 47-7

Major Roads Measure Passes Senate By Wide Margin

Consumers Would Pay More At Pump To Fund Transportation

Transportation Bill Tradeoff: Safer Journeys For Higher Pump Prices

House Reverses Course, OKs Transportation Funding Amendment

In Reversal, House Passes Transportation Funding Amendment

House Regroups, OKs $2.3B Transportation Funding

House Approves $23B Transportation Package Amendment

House Passes Transportation Funding Amending

One Day Later, Transit Funding Amendment Passes

House Approves $2.3  Billion Transportation Plan

Agency Casts Gloomy Financial Forecast For State

House Defeats Major Corbett-Backed Transportation Funding Bill

House Rejects $2.3 Billion Transportation Bill

House Shoots Down Funding For Transportation

House Rejects New Transportation Proposal

House Votes Down Transportation Spending Bill

Corbett Calls On Lawmakers To Vote On Transportation Funding

Transportation Funding Bill Shows There’s No Free Pothole Patch

Corbett, Rendell, Schweiker, Ridge Call For Highway Funding

Corbett, Predecessors Plea For Transportation Funding

Prevailing Wage Has Been A Roadblock In Legislature

Editorial: Most Lawmakers Voted In Favor Of PA Transportation

Editorial: Highway Bill For Long Haul

Editorial: Transportation Bill, Redefining Prosperity

Editorial: Pass A Transportation Funding Bill Now

Editorial: Legislature Unsafe At Any Speed

11/25/2013