Legislation recently introduced in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives would create a Transportation Reinvestment and Improvement Program and a Transportation Reinvestment and Improvement Program Fund.
House Bill 1177 would establish the Transportation Reinvestment and Improvement Program (TRI program) within the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). PennDOT would be required to select and fund up to 80 percent of all fees, costs, and expenses incident or arising from obtaining a highway occupancy permit for a qualified business.
This includes inspection costs and the cost related to highway improvements that increased traffic or surface drainage.
PennDOT would also be required to establish the qualifications for becoming a qualified business under the TRI program and applying.
Payments issued under the program would be required to be held in escrow unencumbered and maintained.
Reps. Aaron Kaufer (R-Luzerne), House Finance Tax Modernization and Reform Subcommittee chairman, and Mike Peifer (R-Pike/Wayne), of the House Finance Committee chairman, held an informational hearing on the bill on May 14.
“PennDOT regulations currently force developers to foot the entire bill to improve public infrastructure should they want to build a new commercial facility along a deficient state roadway,” Kaufer said.
Lawmakers believe the bill will boost job and economic growth.