Pennsylvania, like many states, is facing staggering transportation investment needs due to aging infrastructure and rising construction costs. The Pennsylvania Transportation Funding & Reform Commissionestimated the annual needs at $1.7 billion.
Funding Challenges Nationwide
Transportation funding needs have reached a critical point at all levels of government.
The Federal Highway Trust Fund is projected to show a $3.2 billion deficit in its highway account next year.
The federal government has mandated a 40% increase in automobile fuel economy (CAFE Standards) which will lead to a corresponding decrease in gas tax revenue. (CAFE Standards are included in Title V, “Improving Automotive Efficiency,” of the “Energy Policy Conservation Act,” enacted into law by Congress in 1975. This law, while admired for its energy conservation benefits and reduction in reliance on imported fuels, will adversely affect transportation revenue.)
There has been a 43% increase in cost of highway construction materials since 2003. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
