Bridges are again the focus of conversation at many diners, restaurants and coffee shops across Pennsylvania. Earlier this year, Transportation for America ranked the Keystone State's bridges as the worst in the nation with more than one in four, 26.5 percent, receiving a grade of structurally deficient. The easy solution to the problem would be too simple renovate, repair, or replace the troubled structures, but one key ingredient is lacking from the equation: money.
With a total price tag to complete all the repairs approaching the $9 billion mark according to PennDOT, bridge outages and warnings will be something many Pennsylvania residents will have to get used to. Already 42 bridges are closed to traffic, and almost 670 are posted with warnings. The resulting traffic difficulties can be difficult for folks just trying to get to work, let alone local business with need for large truck traffic.
Funding for bridge repair in the state increased every year from 2008 to 2010, but this year the total amount is going to drop. Recently, the Transportation Funding Advisory Commission outlined almost 100 ideas to raise funds to address the problems associated with Pennsylvania's troubled bridges.
All told, the recommendations would raise $3 billion over five years. The proposals include a number of cost saving moves and revenue increasing programs including: renewing vehicle registrations every two years, raising registration fees, raising some traffic citations, and even consolidating driver's license centers.
While the Commission can only outline ideas and raise suggestions, the real pressure to alleviate the sagging infrastructure in the state will rest with state lawmakers and Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett. The state legislature is predicted to address the bridge problems sometime during the fall session. Since the session will also include issues related to the Marcellus Shale fees, it should be a busy time in Harrisburg.
Of course, bridges are not the only problem facing Pennsylvania residents. The roadways across the state were ranked eighth-worst in the nation. The state will have to get serious about raising funds to address the infrastructure problems, as every year these issues go underfunded is just another year these assets sit exposed to the weather and traffic and worsening in condition.
Jason Gallagher is a former travel professional and long-time Pennsylvania resident. These experiences give him a first-hand look at developing situations in the state and everything included in the travel industry from technology to trends.
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