Recent commentary and articles lay out the need for funding for our transportation system. One fact that is missing is that public transportation services have been diminishing since World War II.
Gone are the interurban trolleys. Passenger rail service has largely disappeared, with the exception of Amtrak. With each service cut comes diminished ridership, most of which will never come back.
The Pennsylvania House only recently passed a budget bill and submitted it to the Senate. In turn the Senate sent back a budget proposal without the increase in spending. The Senate plan keeps the budget at the previous level and is in alignment with state revenue.
To fund public transportation the Senate bill takes money from the transportation trust fund. Passing that bill would not increase the tax burden on Pennsylvania residents, and it solves the funding issue.
Why the delay? Who are the House representatives anticipating will pay the tax increase? It seems this could be solved without all the stress on commuters, school budgets and the good citizens of Pennsylvania. Pass the Senate version.
Thomas Powell
Greenwich Township
Source: Berkshire mont
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