Dire Financial Straits at the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

The Pennsylvania Turnpike, the state Liquid Fuels Tax, state police, municipal finances, public transit—all play a role in Pennsylvania's big transportation funding mess.

2 minute read

April 4, 2019, 5:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Toll Road

George Sheldon / Shutterstock

Mike Wereschagin reports that Pennsylvania transportation officials are raising alarms about the state of the state's infrastructure funding:

Despite having the highest gas tax in the country, PennDOT Secretary Leslie Richards has warned House appropriators that her agency is billions of dollars short of what’s needed to maintain one of the largest networks of roadways in the country.

More specifically:

More than a decade after the Legislature decided to squeeze billions of dollars from the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the superhighway network is on the brink of “catastrophe,” with a debt load that will eclipse the amount borrowed by all other state government agencies next year, Auditor General Eugene DePasquale has warned.

Wereschagin provides more details on the state's Liquid Fuels Tax, which is the highest in the country (even above California). According to Wereschagin, the state police agency is taking up a lot more of the revenue from that tax, doubling its budget from 2001-02 through 2016-17. "What had been a $570 million budget ballooned to $1.2 billion as an ever-growing number of municipalities abandoned the cost of local police departments and began relying on state troopers instead, according to a 2018 House budget briefing document."

The article also notes the incredible risk the state's transportation funding quagmire poses to public transit authorities in the state and describes the maintenance plan that can't keep up with the needs to repair existing highways.

Tuesday, April 2, 2019 in Lancaster Online

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Two yellow and white Dallas Area Rapid Transit light rail streetcars at station in Dallas, Texas.

North Texas Transit Leaders Tout Benefits of TOD for Growing Region

At a summit focused on transit-oriented development, policymakers discussed how North Texas’ expanded light rail system can serve as a tool for economic growth.

April 3, 2025 - KERA News

Rusty abandoned oil well and equipment with prickly pear cactus next to it in West Texas.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage

Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

March 31, 2025 - Pennsylvania State University

Green and white interstate freeway signs pointing to Hayward and San Mateo and Half Moon Bay exits in Northern California.

San Mateo Formally Opposes Freeway Project

The city council will send a letter to Caltrans urging the agency to reconsider a plan to expand the 101 through the city of San Mateo.

30 minutes ago - Streetsblog San Francisco

Kingsbridge Armory, large hangar-like brick building in the Bronx, New York City with brick lower floors and glass/metal curved roof..

A Bronx Community Fights to Have its Voice Heard

After organizing and giving input for decades, the community around the Kingsbridge Armory might actually see it redeveloped — and they want to continue to have a say in how it goes.

1 hour ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Close-up of white sign with black text; line drawing of bike and 'BIKE LANE'

Houston Mayor Promises Dedicated Austin Street Bike Lane After Public Backlash

Although the one-way bike lane won’t be protected by physical barriers, the proposal is an improvement over the mayor’s initial plan to only include sharrows on the Austin Street project.

2 hours ago - Houston Chronicle