The company we look to for vacation reservations, auto insurance and highway assistance is lobbying for improvements in Pennsylvania’s roads and bridges. Central Penn AAA says the only source of new money for needed work is to raise taxes.
Calls to find new dollars to repair the state’s deficient roads and bridges have come from politicians, PennDOT, newspaper editorials and now the AAA. The company says it will work for a responsible, fair and equitable solution.
Shawn Kaup, Marketing and PR Director, AAA Central Pennsylvania:
We’ve all felt our teeth rattle when we hit that pothole. Roadways are cracking., bridges are beginning to show some wear and deficient roads and bridges are far more of a serious issue than just cosmetics. In fact, many of the problems might not be visible to the eye. Probably half, according to AAA, are unsafe to a certain degree.
Kaup:“According to a recent study, we have more than half highway fatalities are the result of deteriorating roads. Moreover it’s costing Pennsylvanians about $3.2 billion dollars, that’s about $373 dollars per person a year, in operating and maintenance costs and repairs. There is a major deficit now in terms of funding.”
Roads and brides are being ignored to the point that the deficit is $3.2 billion dollars. If nothing is done by 2020, the price tag for repairs and replacement will reach an estimated $6.8 billion dollars. The Governor has proposed an increase in the oil franchise tax to raise money for the improvements.AAA surveyed 3,000,000 of its members in Pennsylvania. The results indicated that 77% are willing to pay more in taxes for highway and bridge repair. The question is how much more.