Governor Tom Wolf says he wants to phase out Pennsylvania’s gas tax, because it is becoming an unreliable source for funding Pennsylvania’s vast transportation network. To make this possible and to further address the state’s transportation funding needs, the governor has also signed an Executive Order establishing the Transportation Revenue Options Commission, which will develop comprehensive funding recommendations for Pennsylvania’s large and aging infrastructure. Pennsylvania has one of the largest state-owned transportation networks in the country, with nearly 40,000 miles of roads and over 25,400 bridges. PennDOT also oversees aviation, rail freight, public transportation, ports, pedestrian and bicycle programs. PennDOT’s latest assessment places the annual gap of its needs in all modes and facilities at $9.3 billion, growing to an annual $14.5 billion gap by 2030. Further, as more fuel-efficient cars and technologies are created, reliance on the gas tax for state revenue is seen as being less and less dependable.
