Funding short for highway needs
Although $31 billion is needed to keep bridges and highways throughout the 10-county southwestern Pennsylvania region up to date through 2035, less than $15 billion in funding is available, according to Ken Flack of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission. Speaking Wednesday during a meeting of the Fayette County Public Participation Panel, Flack said less than $15 billion is available and about half of that allocation will be used for bridges.
“The needs are $31 billion so we have less than half the money we need to keep current highways and bridges in place,” Flack said. He was referring to the 2035 Long-Range Transportation and Development Plan, dubbed “Project Region,” set for adoption in June, which outlines projects and funding sources. The plan covers an area encompassing 7,000 square miles and is home to 2.6 million people. The SPC area includes 25,000 miles and 6,800 bridges.
Members of the SPC presented a slide show outlining the plan, which includes projects for the counties of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene Indiana, Lawrence, Washington and Westmoreland and the city of Pittsburgh. The SPC is responsible for planning and prioritizing the use of all state and federal transportation funds allocated to the region.
The 10 counties in southwestern Pennsylvania as well as the city of Pittsburgh all had input into the plan, which recognizes the diversity of the area, from the downtown area of Pittsburgh, to the very rural sites throughout the region.
The plan identifies the importance of upgrading existing water and sewerage lines, as well as the need for economic development. According to the plan, between 2002 and 2007, southwestern Pennsylvania was granted $567 million from PennVEST, mostly in the form of low interest loans for infrastructure project.
On the economic development side, 156 projects are identified for completion under the plan.
During discussion about needs specific to Fayette County, a Connellsville woman said while projects are occurring in and near Uniontown, development needs to stretch into other areas of the county as well.
Sara Walfoort, transportation planning manager for SPC, said many times market forces determine development. She said development is so important that if a developer approaches any area in southwestern Pennsylvania, local officials will likely do all they can to facilitate that development.
A.J. Boni, a Perry Township Supervisor, expressed disappointment that the SPC has voted to “flex” millions of dollars to help transit authorities in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia pay bus drivers $100,000 a year salaries, when there are so many local road projects that need completed. He said the liquid fuel formula needs updated.
Flack said the formula for liquid fuels funding was probably enacted in 1919, and hasn’t been changed since. Flack said the last time money was shifted to help the transit authorities it came from money that had been “held back” from a large increase in gasoline prices. However, Flack said if any additional money were flexed, it would have to come from current projects.
Walfoort said people are starting to think “creatively” about funding.
Several individuals at the meeting complained about specific areas, such as the plans for the Route 21 expansion in South Union Township and the need for an additional truck lane on route 711.
The long-range plan is one of five documents currently out for public review. Walfoort said the documents are available to view at www.spcregion.org