U.S. Reps. Conor Lamb (D-PA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced legislation supporting funding for “off system” bridges.
The Support for Community Bridges Act would set aside 2.5 percent of federal highway aid to fund repairs and maintenance on bridges not on the National Highway System, or off system. Companion legislation was introduced in the Senate by Sens. Bob Casey (D-Penn.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.).
A 2019 study by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association found that 16.6 percent of Pennsylvania’s bridges – or 3,770 of the 22,727 bridges in the state – were structurally deficient. And, the study found, 90 percent of those structurally deficient bridges are off system bridges. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) most recent infrastructure report card, Pennsylvania’s bridges get a grade of D+.
“Pennsylvania has the second-highest number of structurally deficient bridges in the country, which is completely unacceptable,” said Lamb. “Western PA is home to hundreds of bridges that are critical to our transportation system, and far too many of them are in desperate need of repair. Congress must take action to fix these bridges and put federal dollars behind this effort.”
Under the legislation, off system bridges would receive an estimated $1.2 billion, up from nearly $776 million, from the highway trust fund and general treasury funds allocated to the highway aid program through congressional appropriations. As federal investment in infrastructure increases, off system bridge funding would increase too.
The legislation is supported by the National Association of Counties (NACO) and the National League of Cities.