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Madigan Responds to Governor's Transit Bailout
HARRISBURG -- Senate
Transportation Committee chairman Senator Roger A. Madigan (R-Bradford) reacted
Tuesday to Gov. Ed Rendell’s proposal to redirect up to $412 million in federal
funding for highways to solve the fiscal crisis in public transportation.
“It sounds like great public relations but horrible
public policy,” said Madigan.
Gov. Rendell announced Monday he would move $68
million from federal highway funding to fund the operating deficits of transit
agencies in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh through the end of the current fiscal
year on June 30. Such a move is consistent with the position of Republican
legislative leaders who are actively involved in developing a solution to the
transit funding problem, while seeking additional consideration for highway and
bridge funding.
The problem, said Madigan, lies in the governor’s
commitment to hold up to $360 million of additional federal highway funding in
escrow to fund transit operating budgets statewide.
“This maneuver will further compound the poor
condition of our highway and bridge network and leaves us with an enormous hole
in the funding for public transportation in less than two years” said Madigan.
“The long-term reliance on federal highway dollars,
which are derived from fuel taxes, breaks the promise to Pennsylvania motorists
that the cost of taxes on their fuel goes directly back into improving the road
and bridge network they depend on. Anyone who drives a truck, car, tractor
trailer or bus in this commonwealth should be outraged that Governor Rendell is
holding them hostage to avoid making the tough decisions necessary to properly
fund transportation in Pennsylvania,” Madigan said.
Senator Madigan said he would continue to push for a
comprehensive funding solution that recognizes the relative importance of each
transportation mode to the economic and social well-being of the commonwealth.
He looks forward to finding consensus on this issue prior to the adoption of the
budget this summer.
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