Harrisburg, PA—PennEnvironment applauded the passage of a
transportation funding package (House Bill 1590) through the state
House this morning as a victory for Pennsylvania’s environment that
will give a much-needed financial boost to public transportation
agencies across the state.
While the legislation’s estimated $250 million in initial annual
funding for public transportation falls well short of what was deemed
necessary by a recent state report, it is a significant improvement
over the current funding system. The legislation now moves to the
state Senate, where PennEnvironment is calling for an increase in the
funding level for public transportation and a vote before the summer
recess.
“Vibrant public transportation systems are absolutely critical to
Pennsylvania’s fight against air pollution and global warming,” said
Nathan Willcox, Energy and Clean Air Advocate for PennEnvironment.
“This legislation is a big step in the right direction for public
transportation in Pennsylvania, and PennEnvironment urges the state
Senate to improve upon and pass this important legislation before the
summer recess.”
The state House passed the legislation by a vote of 105-96 this
morning. The legislation relies mainly on new bonds and the tolling of
Interstate 80 to provide roughly $700 million in initial funding for
the state’s transportation needs, roughly $250 of which will be
allotted for public transportation. Both of these amounts would
increase in subsequent years.
Public transportation’s benefits for Pennsylvania’s environment stem
from avoided air pollution from car trips not taken. A 2002 Federal
Highway Administration study concluded that “Public transportation
produces about 90 percent less volatile organic compounds… and almost
50 percent less nitrogen oxides [the main ingredients in smog
pollution] and carbon dioxide [the primary global warming pollutant]
than private vehicles that transport the same number of people.”
Already, Pennsylvania creates more global warming pollution than every
state besides Texas and California, and our cars and trucks are a big
part of the problem. In addition, pollution from cars and trucks helps
to create the smog pollution that triggers over 300,000 asthma attack
each year in Pennsylvania.
“Global warming is the most pressing environmental problem facing
Pennsylvania and the planet, and steep reductions in global warming
pollution from our transportation sector will be critical to tackling
this problem,” said Willcox. “Our public transportation systems are an
essential tool in making these pollution reductions a reality.”
The state’s Transportation Funding & Reform Commission found last
year that the state’s public transportation systems were in need of
$760 million annually in dedicated funding. Accordingly,
PennEnvironment is urging the state Senate to increase the funding
level for public transportation within the legislation before passing
the legislation prior to the summer recess.
“Pennsylvania’s public transportation systems deserve a bigger boost in
funding than the legislation’s current language provides, but this is
nonetheless a big step in the right direction,” said Willcox.
