For Immediate Release
April 7, 2010
Contact: Nathan Flood
717-787-4420
Back

A Conversation with Senator Brubaker

Denial of I-80 Tolling Proposal Leaves Hole in State Transportation Plan

The Federal Highway Administration recently denied Pennsylvania's application to levy tolls on Interstate 80. Toll revenue from I-80 was one of the largest components of Act 44 of 2007, legislation designed to provide additional funding to repair the state's highways and bridges. The federal government's denial of Pennsylvania's application will result in a nearly $500 million hole in the state transportation funding plan for next year.

The state transportation funding plan assumed that the state would receive more than $922 million from the Turnpike to fund road and bridge repairs and support mass transit agencies. As a result of the federal government's decision this week, the state will receive just $450 million. The loss in funding will mean that the state will have $300 million less to spend on road and bridge repairs and $150 million less for mass transit.

The denial of Pennsylvania's application is certain to place additional stress on the state budget. A decline in state revenues is expected to create a budget deficit of nearly $750 million this year, and the governor's proposed budget next year relies on approximately $800 million in federal welfare funds that have not been approved by Congress.

A large number of the state's roads are in serious need of repair, and Pennsylvania currently leads the nation in the number of structurally deficient bridges with more than 5,600 bridges in need of repairs. Transportation is a vital part of our state and local economy, and we must ensure that these transportation needs are met. The governor recently announced that he will call a special session of the Legislature to address transportation needs. I am hopeful that this special session will bring added focus to the issue, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to reach a bipartisan solution that will allow us to improve the state's ailing transportation infrastructure. 

LCCTC Offers Career Training Programs for High School Students, Adult Learners

Each year, the Lancaster County Career and Technology Center (LCCTC) provides high school seniors, young adults and adult learners with the training they need to obtain quality local jobs. Having a skilled and educated workforce will be one of the most important factors to help pull our state and region out of the current recession, and we are fortunate to have a remarkable institution here in Lancaster County to provide career training for local residents.

LCCTC provides both full-time and part-time programs that typically take less than two years to complete. Local campuses offer courses in high-demand careers, such as health care, practical nursing, commercial truck driving, advanced manufacturing, construction technologies, culinary arts, information technologies, protective services, visual communications and a number of other fields. Approximately 1,500 young adults and 3,000 adult learners graduate from LCCTC programs each year.

More information on LCCTC programs is available online at www.lcctc.org or by calling (717) 859-5100 (Brownstown campus), (717) 653-3000 (Mount Joy campus) or (717) 464- 7050 (Willow Street campus). I would encourage district residents who are considering a career change or looking to expand their educational horizons to contact the school for more information. 

For more information on issues of importance to Lancaster and Chester County residents, please visit my website at senatorbrubaker.com.