Politics & Government

Sound Off: State's New Plan to Raise Gas Taxes and Fees

Are in favor of the increases to help pay for improving area roadways?

Gov. Tom Corbett recently assembled a transportation advisory commission that recommended the state raise the gasoline tax and increase the price of driver’s license and registration fees. How do you feel about the condition of state and local roads, and would you be in favor of paying more for transportation if it improved area roadways? Read the story below and offer your opinions in the comments section.

With Pennsylvania needing to raise billions in new revenue to fix the state’s deteriorating roads and bridges, an advisory panel assembled by Gov. Tom Corbett is suggesting raising the gasoline tax, increasing other license and registration fees and boosting other revenue.

If fully implemented, the plan could raise $2.4 billion annually by the fifth year. Meanwhile, the average driver would be paying $132 more each year.

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The panel’s recommendation technically wouldn’t raise the gasoline tax, but rather increase the cap at which taxes are applied to motorists. Currently, the cap on the gasoline tax ends at $1.25, which puts it more in line with the price of fuel in the late 1990s than today. If uncapped, the state expects drivers would be paying about 14 cents more per gallon, which could raise up to $1.36 billion in its fifth year.

Other adjustments could include increasing registration fees from $36 per year to $49. Also, the cost for a four-year driver’s license would increase by $5 to $34.50. The panel also is suggesting consolidating some driver’s license centers, which could impact Chartiers Valley Shopping Center.

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“There is no magic wand that can eliminate the challenges that lie ahead in building better roads and bridges and keeping our transportation system safe and efficient,” said PennDOT Secretary Barry Schoch. “This report is a good starting point in developing responsible ways to fund our roads and bridges, public transit, aviation, rail and ports.”

The need for a commission became apparent four years after Act 44, which called for either leasing the Pennsylvania Turnpike or tolling Interstate 80, in 2007. The plan would have raised billions to repair structurally deficient bidges and roads, but the General Assembly balked at leasing the Turnpike and the federal government rejected proposals to toll I-80. Those results left a gaping hole of nearly $500 million per year in the state’s transportation funding.

Schoch, new transportation secretary, now thinks the newest plan will help Pennsylvania fix its infrastructure that is in disrepair. The 40-member advisory panel spent four months discussing proposals before formally presenting the plan to the governor on Monday.

To read the commission’s full report, go to www.tfac.pa.gov.

This article originally appeared on Chartiers Valley Patch.


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