By 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania

With Pennsylvania at a crossroads in its transportation investment strategy, the anticipated release on Monday of the Transportation Funding and Reform Commission's report will further the consensus that there is a real, immediate need for additional investments to restore Pennsylvania's roads, bridges, and other existing public transportation infrastructure.

However, equally important to the needed new funds to address the growing transportation, land use and infrastructure problems across Pennsylvania will be the reform of the decision-making of transportation investments so that spending is consistent with future goals of economic growth and development throughout the Commonwealth.

The 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania's Campaign to Renew Pennsylvania is encouraging our leaders to employ smart growth principles, including:

· Pennsylvania must make investment in our existing infrastructure and communities our number one priority;

· Pennsylvania must adequately and sustainably fund public transportation authorities;

· Pennsylvania must employ smart growth principles that link land use and transportation funding. Local and regional planning organizations should be incentivized to invest in projects that support existing infrastructure; and

· By planning and designing projects in our communities more efficiently and supporting those designs with infrastructure investments, Pennsylvania can reshape current trends and provide for smart economic growth for the future.

For more information, visit the 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania website.

Links: Report Calls for Multi-Pronged Approach to Transportation/Transit Funding

Growth, Resource Conservation Principles Released by Rendell Administration

Rendell to Call Special Mass Transit Session of General Assembly (2004)

11/10/2006