PRINTER'S NO. 1141
No. 66 Session of 1987
INTRODUCED BY GEIST, VEON, NOYE, LANGTRY, KUKOVICH, MERRY,
CORRIGAN, DISTLER, JOHNSON, WOGAN, LASHINGER, FOX, TIGUE,
BOWSER, ROBBINS, PETRONE, MICHLOVIC, SEVENTY, SEMMEL,
DIETTERICK, BATTISTO, HESS, HAYDEN, HERSHEY, COLAFELLA,
OLASZ, CIVERA, LINTON, HAYES, PETRARCA, HUTCHINSON AND
WOZNIAK, APRIL 6, 1987
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, APRIL 7, 1987
A RESOLUTION
1 Directing the Transportation Committee to investigate bridges
2 and tunnels in relation to the movement of twin stacked
3 containers on Pennsylvania's main Conrail line.
4 WHEREAS, A substantial portion of the freight transported to
5 Eastern seaports in twin stacked containers is carried by rail;
6 and
7 WHEREAS, Freight carried in twin stacked containers cannot be
8 transported through this Commonwealth on the main line of
9 Conrail because of insufficient clearance on a number of
10 Pennsylvania bridges and tunnels; and
11 WHEREAS, This clearance problem forces the shippers of such
12 freight to use the rail lines and ports to New York and Maryland
13 even when shipment through Pennsylvania to the port of
14 Philadelphia would otherwise be more advantageous; and
15 WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania main Conrail line and the port of
16 Philadelphia would become a more attractive alternative for many
1 shippers if this clearance problem could be corrected; and
2 WHEREAS, A Pennsylvania capture of a substantial share of the
3 market for the transportation and shipment of freight carried in
4 twin stacked containers would enhance the Pennsylvania economy
5 by creating new jobs, by encouraging the creation of new
6 businesses and the expansion of existing businesses, and by
7 bringing substantial amounts of commerce and revenue into the
8 Commonwealth; and
9 WHEREAS, There is a need to inventory and study the bridges
10 and tunnels that are responsible for this clearance problem and
11 to study the financial cost and the appropriate funding vehicles
12 for correcting this problem; and
13 WHEREAS, There is a need to determine the potential economic
14 benefit that could accrue to Pennsylvania if the bridges and
15 tunnels on the main line of Conrail could provide sufficient
16 clearance to permit the passage of freight carried in two stack
17 containers; therefore be it
18 RESOLVED, That the Transportation Committee of the House of
19 Representatives conduct a complete and thorough study of the
20 number of bridges and tunnels that lack sufficient clearance for
21 the passage of freight carried in twin stacked containers on
22 Pennsylvania's main Conrail line, the cost and appropriate
23 funding vehicles for correcting this clearance problem, and the
24 potential economic benefit that could accrue to Pennsylvania if
25 the bridges and tunnels on Conrail's main line were to afford
26 sufficient clearance for the transportation of freight in twin
27 stacked containers; and be it further
28 RESOLVED, That the committee may hold hearings, take
29 testimony and make its investigations at such places as it deems
30 necessary in this Commonwealth. Each member of the committee
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1 shall have power to administer oaths and affirmations to
2 witnesses appearing before the committee; and be it further
3 RESOLVED, That the committee shall make a report of its
4 findings to the House of Representatives as soon as its study
5 and investigation are completed together with its findings and
6 recommendations.
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