Pa. Gubernatorial Candidates: What They Say About Transportation Funding and Policy
Here’s what PenTrans asked of all the candidates:
In the closing months of the current legislative session, we are faced with drastic cuts to road, bridge and transit budgets – threatening the state’s already uncertain economic recovery. We are eager to learn how you would address transportation funding and related policy issues if you are elected.
PenTrans sent a questionnaire to Pennsylvania’s six major gubernatorial candidates: Tom Corbett, Joe Hoeffel, Dan Onorato, Sam Rohrer, Jack Wagner and Anthony Williams.
Now you can see this presentation right here.
"Congestion Pricing and Transit: The Virtuous Cycle" by Patrick DeCorla-Souza
Forum on Transportation Funding
Pennsylvanians for Transportation Solutions
Philadelphia, PA
October 15, 2009
Now you can see this presentation right here.
"High Speed Trains - A National Vision" by Al Engel
At the PenTrans Annual Membership meeting May 28, 2009, high speed rail expert Al Engel presented his take on this vision statement from the United States Department of Transportation:
“Transform the nation’s transportation system by rebuilding existing rail infrastructure while launching new high speed passenger rail services in 100 – 600 mile corridors that connect US communities. Similar to how interstate highways and US aviation systems were developed in 20th Century: partnership between public sector and private industry, including strong Federal leadership that provided a national vision.”
Now you can see this presentation right here.
Ed Tennyson, Former Pennsylvania Deputy Secretary for Transportation:
Years ago I was City Transit Engineer for Philadelphia, then Deputy Commissioner for Transit Engineering. I went to Harrisburg as Deputy Secretary of Transportation for 7.5 years where I funded the South Busway in Pittsburgh, a big mistake, and the Sixth Avenue subway for Light Rail, which increased patronage by 50 %. (More...)
A PenTrans Agenda for Better Transportation in Pa.
Thoughts from Jeremy Alvarez, PenTrans Advisory Group. Actively support an increase in the motor fuel tax. It appears likely that legislation to increase the tax will be put forward under some 'growing greener' umbrella, and this new label should be supportive of transit interests. Motor fuel taxes are relatively easy to change (speaking administratively) are generally perceived as fair, if annoying, and apply to all motor vehicle users, so are somewhat democratic. (More...)
"Smart Transportation Economic Stimulation: Infrastructure Investments That Support Strategic Planning Objectives Provide True Economic Development" (www.vtpi.org/econ_stim.pdf)
Feb. 5, 2009. Summary: This timely new report discusses factors to consider when evaluating transportation economic stimulation strategies. Transportation investments can have large long-term economic, social and environmental impacts. Expanding urban highways tends to stimulate motor vehicle travel and sprawl, exacerbating future transport problems and threatening future economic productivity. (More...)
The Great Trolley Car Conspiracy: Yes It Was
Andy Singer. "The Great Trolley Conspiracy that Wasn't" has some inaccurate information. National City Lines was reorganized as a holding company in 1936 ...but it actually dated from 1920 and GM was involved much earlier. In 1923, General Motors president Alfred Sloan, said, "[the leveling of demand for new cars] means a change from easy selling to hard selling ... [it is necessary to do nothing less than] reorder society, to alter the environment in which automobiles are sold." (More...)
Response to “Guilty as Hell; GM and the Death of the American Streetcar.”
David E. Wohlwill, Pittsburgh, PA. The December 4, 2008 edition of PenTrans Update has a link to an article titled “Guilty as Hell; GM and the Death of the American Streetcar.” The author, Al Mankoff, like many others, overstated the role of National City Lines (NCL) and its corporate partners, General Motors, Standard Oil, and Firestone in the decline of transit. The article’s details about the formation of National City Lines and its acquisition of electric urban and interurban rail properties overlook other factors which were major contributors to the decline in urban transportation during the twentieth century. (More...)
What Makes a Good Secretary of Transportation?
To stimulate the economy, President-elect Obama and congressional Democrats plan to spend billions of dollars on infrastructure. Much of this money will be channeled into transportation. For the last 60 years, “transportation” in the U.S. has meant “cars.” The transportation sector in the United States is the largest consumer of petroleum and largest producer of greenhouse gases and air pollution. As such, from an environmental, energy policy or foreign policy perspective, Secretary of Transportation is one of the most important cabinet appointments that Barack Obama will make. (More...)
Transportation Funding Law Demands Our Support
Jack Weber, Chairman of SCCOOT. The blue and white buses in Chester County represent a trip off the welfare rolls for hundreds of lower income workers. Thanks to a new transportation funding law, Act 44, signed by Governor Rendell last July, they will stay off. (More...)
August 14, 2007 - It's Transportation Policy, Stupid!
Thoughtful "PenTrans Update" reader Andy Singer writes: The problem with America's infrastructure isn't taxes. It's the lack of an imposed "Fix it first" policy for state DOTs, the FHA and the Army Corps of Engineers. All three agencies have lots of brand new projects that they are building even as they ignore maintenance on their existing infrastructure. The Minnesota DOT had at least a dozen brand new highway and bridge projects under construction in the state even as they let existing bridges and roads rot and collapse. This is because there's more money and jobs (long term) in expansion than there is in maintenance-- so big agencies will always focus on expansion even if it means deferring much needed maintenance. (More...)
June 21, 2007 - A Look From Inside the Beltway and Beyond the Next Authorization Bill
By Jeffrey F. Boothe, Holland and Knight. A bold new view that finally places transportation reform at the heart of a fundamental shift in national policy, this thoroughly documented PowerPoint is just as relevant to Pennsylvania's transportation situation and needs. Jeff Boothe represents public transit agencies and metropolitan areas in obtaining Federal Transit Administration project approval. Transportation policy, legislative and regulatory affairs as well as transit oriented development are all within his scope. (More...)
Jan. 26, 2006 - Transportation for Livable Communities Testimony
The Transportation for Livable Communities Project seeks in 2006 to build a unified and broadly supported agenda based upon the past efforts of several civic and business sector organizations. The goal of this effort is to develop a stable and reliable source of funding to maintain and expand the Commonwealth’s transportation system per the following guidelines... (More...)
"Below is a list of attributes that we at the Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA) think Pennsylvania’s public transportation assistance program needs to include. Rather than “putting another layer on the cake” of transit funding, the current programs need to be set aside in favor of a whole new approach that is..." (More...)
Investing
in Public Transportation
Investing in better public transportation for Pennsylvanians is crucial for fostering economic development and more livable communities. Yet for six of the last eight years, while inflation and other factors have driven up costs, state funding has been essentially flat. Now the proposed state budget calls for a 6 percent drop in funding. (More...)
Here in the U.S. and in Pennsylvania, we're great believers in justice for all. But right now Pennsylvania and much of the country has a transportation policy that is more like injustice for all. (More...)