Another House vote on massive Pa. transportation bill likely

The leader of the Pennsylvania House Republicans plans to seek a floor vote on a transportation funding proposal passed by the Senate last May.

Majority Leader Mike Turzai, who doesn’t support the $2.5 billion proposal, said that since Democrats are clamoring for it and the governor has noted his support for it, the measure should be brought to a vote.

“If people think that $2.5 billion annually is the right investment, they should be able to stand up and stand behind it,” he said Monday. “We’re looking to see exactly if the governor is or is not behind the Senate bill.”

House Republicans couldn’t muster majority support to pass a smaller $2 billion plan in June because some from their party thought it too excessive, while Democrats considered it too low to fund roads, bridges, and mass transit.

The $2.5 billion proposal consists of a higher tax to be paid by gas stations as well as higher fees and fines that will be assessed to motorists.

Last month, the head of the state Transportation Department put new or additional weight restrictions on 1,000 bridges as a result of the Legislature’s failure to pass a transportation funding plan before summer.