Bridge funding draws opposition
When the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission puts the four-year transportation-spending plan to a vote later this month, as least two members from Fayette County intend to vote against it. “I will vote against it and urge the county commissioners to vote against it,” said SPC member Bob Schiffbauer.
Schiffbauer, a South Union Township supervisor, said because bridge projects have been inserted in the program for Fayette County at the expense of a couple highway projects, he would not vote for the plan.
At least one commissioner said he would vote for the plan.
Fayette County Commissioner Vincent A. Vicites said he doesn’t think voting against the plan is a good idea, adding that the county is seeking SPIKE, or discretionary money, to the tune of $44 million for a new Masontown Bridge. Vicites said voting against the Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) because of bridge projects and then asking for discretionary money for the Masontown Bridge sends a mixed message.
“The crux of the problem is we don’t have enough money for infrastructure. The Legislature only gives so much money,” Vicites said.
Although they hold different positions on the TIP, Schiffbauer and Vicites agree that the Legislature must provide additional money instead of shifting funding.
“It’s a plan that’s lacking common sense,” Schiffbauer said. “It’s something they have to take back to the workshop. Don’t take additional funds from highway; do your job, legislators,” Schiffbauer said.
He said if the Legislature had passed a gas tax years ago, it would have been forgotten about by now.
Vicites said because of a directive from the state Department of Transportation that began with Gov. Ed Rendell, the SPC has to approve the TIP. He said the Memorial Bridge in Connellsville and the Evans Manor Bridge in North Union Township are on the plan now, both of which are in dire need of attention. Vicites said he is absolutely in favor of upgrading New Salem Road, but pointed out that Matthew Drive, which also provides access to the Fayette County Business Park, is on the TIP.
“I think we need to take a cooperative approach,” Vicites said. “I think this TIP is going to pass, and by voting no and opposing it for bridges and then asking for SPIKE funding for the Masontown Bridge project, it sends a mixed message,” Vicites said.
“We have to look at the county as a whole,” Vicites said.
Schiffbauer said Rendell is screaming, “the sky is falling” when road issues right now have resulted in deaths.
“If they are not addressed now, people will be seriously injured,” Schiffbauer said. “We need to identify what we need to fix and not take a shotgun approach. Don’t rob Peter to pay Paul.”
He asked how many people have been injured or killed on bridges in Pennsylvania, adding that he doesn’t believe it has been many, if any. Schiffbauer said Rendell’s plan to make bridge repairs a priority includes obtaining a $200 million bond issue and shifting millions of dollars from highway improvement projects to bridge projects.
Schiffbauer serves as an appointed member to the commission, along with William E. Piper, who said he plans to vote against the plan on June 30 as well. The three county commissioners also serve on the SPC board.
The Transportation Improvement Plan for 2009-2012 spells out infrastructure projects that will receive funding for the next four years. Because Rendell has made bridge repair a priority, road projects on the TIP have been taken off in favor of bridge projects. PennDOT is advocating approval of the plan.
Piper said after review, he has decided that he will not vote for the plan.
One project both Schiffbauer and Piper mentioned is the planned New Salem Road improvement project, which has a price tag of about $5 million. The project, which includes improvements from Route 40 to Matthew Drive, was slated to go to construction next year.
“I consider that a missing link,” Piper said of the New Salem Road project.
Piper said the New Salem Road project was on the TIP but “now it’s gone.”
Instead of taking road projects off in favor of bridge projects, Piper said it might be better to finish what is on the TIP within reason, adding the New Salem Road project is only $5 million.
Piper, who retired from PennDOT in 2001 after 37 years, said he is afraid that once a project is taken off the program, it won’t come back on.
“In my experience, I’m not aware of too many projects going off and coming back on,” Piper said. “The environmental study is only good for three years. It’s now or never. We’re fighting for our survival.”
According to Piper, other projects that stand to be scrapped include an improvement project on Route 119 at Penn State, the Eberly Campus, and resurfacing projects on routes 21, 51 and 119 amounting to about $9 million.
“I’m voting against it. It just seems that PennDOT is taking a very hard stance that they are right and we are wrong,” Piper said.
The SPC is the region’s forum for collaboration, planning, and public decision-making. As the official Metropolitan Planning Organization for the 10-county region including the city of Pittsburgh and the counties of Allegheny
, Armstrong
, Beaver
, Butler
, Fayette
, Greene
, Indiana
, Lawrence
, Washington
, and Westmoreland
, SPC is responsible for planning and prioritizing the use of all state and federal transportation funds allocated to the region. The commission has the authority and responsibility to make decisions affecting the region.
Piper said for District 12 of PennDOT, which includes Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties, between $80 million and $100 million is being shifted away from highway projects to bridge projects.
Schiffbauer said South Union Township is a hot spot for development and there is a tremendous amount of potential for North Union Township as well, provided the upgrades on New Salem Road occur.
“One of the things developers look at is the state of highway systems,” Schiffbauer said. “Who needs economic development more than Fayette County? It could be done differently.”
Schiffbauer said the SPC is supposed to act in the best interests of the 10 counties and PennDOT. He said at the March SPC meeting a representative said the funding shift would have an insignificant impact on highway projects.
Piper disagreed with that assessment.
“It’s huge,” Piper said of the change.
Piper said construction projects costs continue to increase.
“The Legislature needs to come up with a formula,” Piper said.
He said the total 2009-2012 TIP is about $2.2 billion.
Seventy-one deteriorating bridges in Fayette, Greene and Washington counties slated for repair, replacement or demolition are among 1,145 state bridges being addressed in a statewide initiative by the governor to reduce the number of structurally deficient bridges.
County Commissioner Angela M. Zimmerlink declined comment on how she would vote but said she would attend the June 30 meeting. However, Zimmerlink said, as always, she would make her decision keeping the best interests of the entire county in mind.
Commissioners Chairman Vincent Zapotosky said he is attending the meeting but is undecided about how he will vote on the proposal. Although Zapotosky said he believes Schiffbauer’s and Piper’s points are well taken and he has “strong reservations” about the proposal, he is curious to see how the discussion goes at the meeting, and hasn’t decided whether or not he will vote for the plan.
Ultimately, Zapotosky said the legislators in Harrisburg must come up with more funding than what is available.