THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY WOZNIAK, SOLOBAY, M. WHITE, COSTA, D. WHITE, ALLOWAY, KASUNIC, WASHINGTON AND YUDICHAK, MARCH 11, 2011

REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION, MARCH 11, 2011  

A RESOLUTION

Memorializing the Congress of the United States to authorize a

provision which would permit states to use toll credits as

matching funds with Federal dollars to build highways such as

the Appalachian Development Highway System.

WHEREAS, Roadways are a key to a prosperous and free America;

and

WHEREAS, Infrastructure projects require a joint effort by

both the Federal and state governments; and

WHEREAS, Construction of the Appalachian Development Highway

System was authorized by the Appalachian Regional Development

Act of 1965 (Public Law 89-4) to ensure that Appalachia's

economic growth was no longer stifled by isolation from the

surrounding area; and

WHEREAS, The Appalachian Development Highway System is

currently authorized at 3,090 miles, traversing 13 states from

Mississippi through New York State; and

WHEREAS, By the end of fiscal year 2009, 2,694.6 miles,

approximately 87% of the miles authorized, were complete or

under construction; and

WHEREAS, Many of the remaining miles of the Appalachian

Development Highway System will be the most expensive to build;

and

WHEREAS, Previous Federal transportation bills, such as the

Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (Public Law

105-178), contained an important provision which allowed states

to use toll credits, earned by contributing money to improve

toll roads, as matching funds with Federal dollars to pay for

highway projects such as the Appalachian Development Highway

System; and

WHEREAS, Due to the economic downturn that has swept over the

country, states' budgets have been severely cut, resulting in

limited resources; and

WHEREAS, The current transportation bill does not contain a

provision that would allow toll credits to be used as matching

funds with Federal dollars to pay for highway projects; and

WHEREAS, Without the provision allowing states to use toll

credits as matching funds with Federal dollars to pay for

highway projects, many states cannot meet the funding

requirements necessary to build highways; and

WHEREAS, For example, construction on part of Route 219

running from Somerset to Meyersdale, part of the Appalachian

Development Highway System, is at an impasse due to a $35

million State funding shortfall; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of Pennsylvania memorialize the

Congress of the United States to reauthorize a provision which

would permit states to use toll credits as matching funds with

Federal dollars to build highways such as the Appalachian

Development Highway System; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to

the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each

member of Congress from Pennsylvania.