The Pennsylvania Transportation Revenue Options Commission (TROC) recently submitted a report to Gov. Tom Wolf and the General Assembly on transportation funding options.
The commission, which Wolf established in March under an executive order, was tasked with developing comprehensive funding recommendations for the state’s transportation network.
The commission was comprised of transportation, economic, and community stakeholders from the public and private sectors. It was divided into eight workgroups related to a specific revenue need or potential option.
TROC’s report presents an overview of transportation funding and outlines several potential revenue sources, including road user charges, tolling, redirection of funding, fees, and taxes. Analysis of each option includes potential revenue that a given solution could bring the commonwealth, concerns raised by commission members relating to each option, and suggested next steps.
“I wholeheartedly thank the members of TROC for their hard work and engagement,” Yassmin Gramian, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation secretary and TROC chairwoman, said. “Throughout this process, we have had thoughtful and productive discussions, and we are now presenting the governor and the General Assembly with a host of well-researched options for consideration.”
The annual gap of needs at state-level modes and facilities is $9.3 billion, according to the department, and will grow to an annual gap of $14.5 billion by 2030
Infrastructure maintained by local governments faces an annual shortfall of nearly $4 billion.