PENNLIVE / AP: hile other states struggle to pay the upkeep on their highway systems, Pennsylvania is implementing a multifaceted, multibillion-dollar blueprint designed to accelerate road and bridge projects, improve mass transit systems and increase subsidies to local governments.
The higher taxes, fees and fines approved in 2013 are being phased in over five years to generate $2.3 billion annually — mostly for roads and bridges, and additional millions in inter-modal grants for railroads, seaports and airports. There’s even $35 million earmarked for improving gravel and dirt roads.
“We finally have money to do things,” said Sen. John Rafferty, R-Montgomery, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, who helped lead the protracted campaign to sell the proposal in the Legislature… (more)
