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Earlier this month, the Pennsylvania Transportation Commission updated the state's 12-year transportation program, which now budgets more than $34 billion for freight-rail, transit, highway, bridge and aviation projects.

Taking effect Oct. 1 and expiring in 2016, the new program sets aside $7.4 billion for highways and bridges, $5.1 billion for public transit projects, $544 million for aviation and $163 million for freight-rail projects during the next four years.

Comprising 10 appointed private citizens, and the majority and minority chairmen of the state's House and Senate transportation committees, the commission is mandated by state law to update the program every two years.

"Despite the uncertainty over the final look of the next federal transportation funding law, we are confident we have a responsible program and the money to underwrite it," said Allen Biehler, commission chairman and state transportation secretary, in a prepared statement.