Philadelphia projects waiting for Harrisburg dollars

Transit and highway plans are on hold while Governor Ed Rendell and the Pennsylvania Legislature try to work out a deal.

A transportation and transit funding crisis in Harrisburg could hit hard in the Philadelphia region. Many important projects are stalled because of a lack of funding.

SEPTA has over $100 million worth of projects on hold because of the struggle for state transit funding. SEPTA spokesman Richard Maloney says a new fare collection system can’t be implemented without dollars from Harrisburg.

“We are I believe the only system in the United States that is still using tokens, if you talk to any of our customers on any of our systems our fare collection system is antiquated and needs to be completely redone.”

On the transportation side, Chuck Davies, who is a regional administrator at PennDot says there are major bridges that will not be rebuilt because state funding has dried up.

“Rehabilitation of the Wayne Avenue Viaduct, US 422 from Park Drive to Porter road and Norfolk Southern and other local streets over the Vine Street Expressway.”

Governor Rendell and legislative leaders have yet to find a solution to get the funding flowing again.