THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY GEIST, BOYD, CARROLL, J. EVANS, GINGRICH, GROVE, HESS, KILLION, MARSICO, MILLER, PETRI, SAYLOR, SIPTROTH AND WATSON, SEPTEMBER 16, 2010

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, SEPTEMBER 16, 2010  

A RESOLUTION

Urging the State Transportation Advisory Committee to study

alternatives to the liquid fuels tax for purposes of funding

the Commonwealth's transportation infrastructure and to

report its findings to the General Assembly.

WHEREAS, An efficient transportation system is critical for

Pennsylvania's economy and quality of life; and

WHEREAS, The revenues currently available for highways and

local roads are inadequate to preserve and maintain existing

infrastructure and to provide funds for improvements that would

reduce congestion and improve service; and

WHEREAS, The 2006 report of the Transportation Funding and

Reform Commission stated that the Commonwealth's highway and

bridge program is not keeping pace with growing investment needs

due to infrastructure size, age and dramatically escalating

maintenance and construction costs for items such as steel,

cement and petroleum; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Transportation has lost

approximately $350 million of its purchasing power due to

inflation since the last increase in State highway and bridge

funding in 1997; and

WHEREAS, The Transportation Funding and Reform Commission has

recommended that the Commonwealth provide additional funding in

the amount of $900 million per year for the State's highways and

bridges; and

WHEREAS, The liquid fuels tax will become a less effective

mechanism for meeting Pennsylvania's long-term revenue needs due

to proposed enhanced Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards

and the creation of fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles; and

WHEREAS, The State of Oregon has a pilot program in place to

test a mileage-based user fee in an effort to replace the state

gas tax by requiring participants to install mileage recording

and global positioning systems in their vehicles to track miles

driven inside and outside state borders; and

WHEREAS, The General Assembly must begin to examine

alternatives to using liquid fuels tax revenues to adequately

fund the Commonwealth's transportation infrastructure; therefore

be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge the State

Transportation Advisory Committee to study alternatives to the

liquid fuels tax for purpose of funding the Commonwealth's

transportation infrastructure, which study shall include actions

taken by other states to eliminate reliance on liquid fuels tax

revenues to fund transportation infrastructures; and be it

further

RESOLVED, That the State Transportation Advisory Committee

report its findings to the House of Representatives no later

than June 30, 2011.