Solobay: Transportation Bill Needed to Sustain Economy

Senate leaders on Wednesday hailed Senate passage of a comprehensive proposal to fund Pennsylvania’s transportation needs, saying the measure is vital to public safety and economic development. 

The bill was approved by a vote of 45 to 5 and now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Sponsored by Senate Transportation Committee Chairman John Rafferty (R-44), Senate Bill 1 will invest more than $2.5 billion in the Commonwealth’s highways and bridges, transit agencies, railways, airports and ports. 

It follows the major recommendations made by the Governor’s Transportation Funding Advisory Commission.

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25) praised Transportation Secretary Barry Schoch for his efforts to gain passage of the bill. “Senate Bill 1 takes a crucial step towards solving the current demand to fund our rapidly deteriorating roads and bridges across Pennsylvania,” Scarnati stated.  “Secretary Schoch’s advocacy and determination to find a fair and well-thought-out funding plan was instrumental to the passage of this bill.”

Sen. Tim Solobay, D-Canonsburg, voted yes on the bill.

“It has been nearly six years since the I-35 bridge collapse in Minneapolis that touched off a frantic bridge inspection effort nationwide. Since then, Pennsylvania has heard and ignored the advice of transportation funding experts under two consecutive governors.," he said.            

He then cited an incident that occurred recently.

"Last week, an oversized truck carrying drilling equipment collapsed a functionally obsolete bridge in Mount Vernon, Washington. That news hit home. In my district, drivers take more than one million trips a day across  structurally deficient or functionally obsolete bridges," the senator said. "Energy exploration has brought jobs and money, but it has also added to the traffic. It’s time to stop tempting fate."

And he said he was "grateful that so many of my colleagues faced the fact that we can no longer duck the tough task of rebuilding Pennsylvania’s worn-down and underfunded transportation infrastructure."

And Solobay added that an investment in infrastructure is an investment in jobs.

"The job of sustaining the recent economic growth in the southwestern part of Pennsylvania can’t be done without the transportation infrastructure to attract the companies and the jobs," he said. "Studies have shown that billions of dollars are being wasted in unnecessary repairs, fuel and lost productivity as commuters sit in traffic or drive over dilapidated and outdated roads. In the short term, this transportation funding package is necessary to protect the safety of Pennsylvania drivers."

Bigger picture?

"In the long term, it is necessary to restore our economy and prepare us for the challenges of the 21st century,” Solobay said.

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