New transport finance agency proposed to take over Penn Pike - Markosek House transport chair
Posted Wed, 2007-05-30 08:24
Pennsylvania House transport committee chair Joseph Markosek (Dem, Allegheny/Westmoreland) has proposed creation of a new public authority, the Pennsylvania Transportation Finance Authority (PTFA) to take over the Pennsylvania Turnpike and to finance and operate other tollroads in the state.
In an apparent break with Gov Edward Rendell's plan to do longterm lease concessions he said: "This authority would be charged with managing all of our toll roads with consistency, rather than a piecemeal network of agencies governing each toll road differently."
Markosek's prepared materials do not mention the Governor's proposal or what potential his plan has for raising funds for the $1.7b annual funding shortfall it is intended to address. Markosek was due to speak to the press and we'll ad in what we pick up from
that here later.
The transport committee chairman also proposes reorganizing PennDOT into three virtually autonomous regional organizations - western, central and eastern districts. Presently PennDOT has eleven districts and Markosek says this creates more district to district conflicts and is more expensive to administer. The proposal would likely face resistance from smaller towns and cities since they will see a three district department as dominated by urban interests in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Philadelphia.
His Turnpike proposal as released is:
"Pennsylvania Transportation Finance Authority (PTFA): Creation of a new Authority in the Commonwealth with the power to acquire, operate, manage, and maintain the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and/or existing or future toll roads, or toll transportation facilities.
"Similar in structure to the existing Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA), the PTFA would be authorized to issue, through a resolution adopted by the board, bonds, as well as incur indebtedness, for purposes of financing transportation infrastructure. The Board would be composed of three Members appointed by the Governor and four Members appointed by the General Assembly (one from each Caucus of the House and Senate). In addition, the following Members, or their designees, shall serve as an ex-officio/advisory capacity of the Board: the Majority and Minority Chair of the House and Senate Transportation Committees, the Secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development, The Secretary of Revenue, The State Treasurer."
COMMENT: The PTFA proposal is the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission renamed and refaced. Status quo.
TOLLROADSnews 2007-05-30
Pennsylvania House transport committee chair Joseph Markosek (Dem, Allegheny/Westmoreland) has proposed creation of a new public authority, the Pennsylvania Transportation Finance Authority (PTFA) to take over the Pennsylvania Turnpike and to finance and operate other tollroads in the state. In an apparent break with Gov Edward Rendell's plan to do longterm lease concessions he said: "This authority would be charged with managing all of our toll roads with consistency, rather than a piecemeal network of agencies governing each toll road differently."
Markosek's prepared materials do not mention the Governor's proposal or what potential his plan has for raising funds for the $1.7b annual funding shortfall it is intended to address. Markosek was due to speak to the press and we'll ad in what we pick up from
that here later.The transport committee chairman also proposes reorganizing PennDOT into three virtually autonomous regional organizations - western, central and eastern districts. Presently PennDOT has eleven districts and Markosek says this creates more district to district conflicts and is more expensive to administer. The proposal would likely face resistance from smaller towns and cities since they will see a three district department as dominated by urban interests in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Philadelphia.
His Turnpike proposal as released is:"Pennsylvania Transportation Finance Authority (PTFA): Creation of a new Authority in the Commonwealth with the power to acquire, operate, manage, and maintain the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and/or existing or future toll roads, or toll transportation facilities.
"Similar in structure to the existing Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA), the PTFA would be authorized to issue, through a resolution adopted by the board, bonds, as well as incur indebtedness, for purposes of financing transportation infrastructure. The Board would be composed of three Members appointed by the Governor and four Members appointed by the General Assembly (one from each Caucus of the House and Senate). In addition, the following Members, or their designees, shall serve as an ex-officio/advisory capacity of the Board: the Majority and Minority Chair of the House and Senate Transportation Committees, the Secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development, The Secretary of Revenue, The State Treasurer."
COMMENT: The PTFA proposal is the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission renamed and refaced. Status quo.
TOLLROADSnews 2007-05-30