Pa Lawmakers to Make Transportation Bill Decision

Pennsylvania state lawmakers are back in Harrisburg, facing a decision on a major transportation funding bill.

The state House returns to session Monday afternoon with plans to determine which proposal, if any, can garner enough support to make it out of the chamber.
 
The Republican majority has produced competing approaches, one that would eventually generate more than $2.3 billion annually, the other a scaled down, $1 billion-a-year proposal.
 
House Democrats have an alternative that's nearly identical to the $2.3 billion amendment but doesn't include its new limits on the types of local road projects subject to "prevailing wage" minimum pay requirements for public works contracts.
 
Last week, Pa. Lawmakers failed to vote on the bill that would fund repairs to area roads and bridges. 

One such bridge in desperate need of repair is the one next to the Aston-Beechwood Fire Station in Delaware County.

New weight restrictions imposed two months ago due to lack of repair funds mean that firetricks can't cross, adding an additional three to four minutes to emergency response time.

"Three or four minutes can mean the difference in life and death," said Aston-Beechwood Fire Department Deputy Chief Jeff Kane.

Republican Gov. Tom Corbett is pressing for action on transportation funding, and the state Senate this summer voted overwhelmingly for a $2.5 billion-a-year approach.

 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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