Report on funding options for repairs to Pa. roads, bridges still under review

With both Pennsylvania legislative chambers back in Harrisburg after their summer recess, Gov. Tom Corbett’s office is still quiet on one of the governor’s top priorities.

When it comes to solving the state’s transportation funding problems, all roads point to the governor. He is still reviewing a report of recommendations for how to find money for roads and bridges.

There’s a $3.5 billion annual gap in Pennsylvania’s budget for roads and bridges. Many of the suggestions on how to address that gap would require new law, according to Dennis Buterbaugh, a PennDOT spokesman.

But he says it’s pointless to start working with legislators at this point.

“We really have to see what the governor thinks he’s going to want to go forward with, what he thinks is appropriate before we even talk about legislation and what’s going to happen down the road,” Buterbaugh said Friday.

The recommendations include lifting the cap on the wholesale gas tax, as well as higher fees for driver’s licenses and vehicle inspections.