Pennsylvania officials unveil transportation funding plan

Earlier this week, Pennsylvania Senate Transportation Committee Chairman John Rafferty Jr. joined Transportation Secretary Barry Schoch and other chairmen of the state's Senate and House transportation committees to unveil a proposal to fund Pennsylvania's transportation needs.

The proposal, which would increase Pennsylvania's annual transportation investment by $2.5 billion, follows recent recommendations made by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett's Transportation Funding Advisory Commission, according to a press release issued by Rafferty's office.

The plan proposes several ways to raise revenue, including increasing vehicle and driver fees, surcharging fines for drivers who break traffic laws, uncapping an oil company franchise tax over three years and saving money by "modernizing" Pennsylvania Department of Transportation services.

"Pennsylvania is at a crossroads and we must take action now," said Rafferty. "Our roads and bridges continue to crumble, our mass transit systems lack the funds needed to meet continued demand, and our railways, airports and ports struggle to be economic generators for the 21st century."