Inga Saffron Strikes Again Regarding Getting Rid of I-95 near Penns Landing

[Duke87]

I've encountered a couple projects where buildings were using ARRA money to change their lights out to be more energy efficient.

As stated, it wasn't all transportation.

[sammack]

Given their (government) track record with the stimulus money; the people have every right to hold their congressman's feet to the fire in regards to asking for even more money.

If gas prices weren't skyrocketing again; maybe a modest increase in the gas tax could actually be done.  But right now, I don't see it.  If it were to increase; I would almost say set the amount to a percentage of the wholesale price of gas rather than just a flat amount.  That way when prices go up, more money will automatically come in.  Note: a flat minimum amount would need to be placed in case prices fall lower

As others have said, stimulus $ was not dedicated to transportation 100%

Also and especially given the gas price situation any fuel tax inc is pretty much dead

Given the critical needs of all transportation, that is the reason I say tolling PA I-80 better the 50%

[jemacedo9]

This is a little off topic, but the sad thing in PA's attempt to toll I-80, is that some of the toll money was to be used to upgrade and rehab I-80 across the state, which major bridge replacements, interchange upgrades, etc.  There's enough work needed on I-80 that they could have said the tolls would be used for I-80, and then redirect the general PennDOT funding set aside for I-80 to other places. 

One place where toll funding was going to be used:  major upgrades and possible widening from I-380 east to the NJ line.

[qguy]

Forgive me for asking, but, uh, how did this thread about calls to remove I-95 through Philadelphia become a debate about tolling I-80?

[PAHighways]

Removing 95 through Center City has about the same chance of happening as tolls being put on 80.

I hate to  disagree with you, and I know this is a different subj, but I would give tolls on I-80, at some future point better then 50-50.

Tolling 80 has been discussed as long as it has been opened, and 42 years later, the only toll plaza on it is still at the Delaware Water Gap Bridge.  Something tells me talk of putting tolls on 80 will keep coming up for the next 42 years with the same result as the past 42.

[PAHighways]

Forgive me for asking, but, uh, how did this thread about calls to remove I-95 through Philadelphia become a debate about tolling I-80?

It's because I said this:

Removing 95 through Center City has about the same chance of happening as tolls being put on 80.

[KEVIN_224]

All this fuss for the little roadway pictured here? Sheesh!

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

No more so than this little freeway
http://g.co/maps/gavxk

[DeaconG]

^Touche!

[Anthony_JK]

First off...the 2009 stimulus package was not just transportation, and the limitation that only "shovel-ready" projects get preference greatly reduced the amount that went towards transportation projects.  Of course, there were some of us who thought that the stim was still way too small and that a much bigger bang was needed...but that's only us.

If I understand the rules correctly, even if the feds were going to approve tolling I-80 in Pennsylvania, the condition that any revenue being generated would go strictly to improvements on that highway would override any move to divert funding to other means (such as Philly mass transit).

I don't really think that most Americans are so opposed to a modest increase in the gas tax if it is used for serious construction of infrastructure. Of course, libertarian conservatives are opposed to public infrastructure to begin with, and the more Tea Party-oriented Republicans (and overly green-shaded Democrats) would for their own reasons want to see transportation funding diverted to other purposes than public highways. Let's see how the transportation bill evolves before making any conclusions.


Anthony

[PHLBOS]

Here's another article that covers last Thursday's meeting on the I-95/waterfront subject:

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/140389163.html

[cpzilliacus]

If I understand the rules correctly, even if the feds were going to approve tolling I-80 in Pennsylvania, the condition that any revenue being generated would go strictly to improvements on that highway would override any move to divert funding to other means (such as Philly mass transit).

You are absolutely correct. 

Pennsylvania's plan was to toll I-80, then divert most of the resulting revenues to PennDOT to (in turn) be used for highway projects having nothing to do with I-80 - and a large chunk of money was to be handed over to SEPTA and the Port Authority of Allegheny County (Pittsburgh) (and perhaps smaller Pennsylvania transit operators as well) to pay unionized transit workers (all of which also had nothing to do with I-80).

Like it or not, that's against the federal rules.

I don't really think that most Americans are so opposed to a modest increase in the gas tax if it is used for serious construction of infrastructure. Of course, libertarian conservatives are opposed to public infrastructure to begin with, and the more Tea Party-oriented Republicans (and overly green-shaded Democrats) would for their own reasons want to see transportation funding diverted to other purposes than public highways. Let's see how the transportation bill evolves before making any conclusions.

There are many that would like to see highways turned-over to the private sector entirely, or at least in the form of long-term concession agreements, like Indiana did with its Toll Roadl Chicago did with the Skyway and Ontario did with Highway 407 - and what France routinely does with large sections of its Autoroute network.

But frequently the very same Republicans that want this sort of thing (and in particular, no increase in motor fuel taxes) get very upset at the tolls that the private-sector highway operators charge.  My exhibit A is Va. 267, the Dulles Greenway, in Loudoun County, Virginia.  Many Republican elected officials have bitched and moaned about the tolls that the (private) concession owner charges drivers to use this road.

[qguy]

Here's a link to one of the more thoughtful (if still rather parochial) local articles I've seen on the topic, posted today. It seems as if no one, even any of the the reps from city hall, is thinking regionally. But that's certainly Philadelphia.

http://planphilly.com/eyesonthestreet/2012/02/28/on-beyond-i-95-nothing-lasts-forever/

Feel free to leave comments at the article.