Rendell asks lawmakers to find money for roads, transit
HARRISBURG - Gov. Rendell on Tuesday urged a special session of the state legislature to raise enough money to fix the state's crumbling highways and bridges and underfunded mass transit agencies.
Rendell said lawmakers needed to find at least $500 million a year to replace anticipated funds that were blocked by a federal rejection of a state plan to place tolls on I-80.
The governor said the legislature should be much more ambitious and raise about $3.5 billion a year to pay for broader transportation needs.
But, faced with a growing deficit in the state's general budget, many legislators were skeptical that sweeping new taxes or fees for transportation could win approval in this election year.
Rendell said an increase in the state's gas tax was "one of the most obvious options" for the legislature to consider. He also suggested increasing the oil company franchise tax, which would mean a higher bill at the gas pump, too.
Other possibilities include increases in motor vehicle related fees for cars and trucks.
Rendell called the special legislative session, the state's 40th, after the Federal Highway Administration rejected the state's application to toll I-80 to raise about $472 million a year for highways, bridges and mass transit projects around the state.
