Pennsylvania governor seeks to save transit systems

With the Port Authority of Allegheny County warning of deep service cuts ahead, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell on July 21 threatened to use federal highway money to bail out mass transit systems if lawmakers won't approve higher taxes and fees, the Pittsburgh Tribune Review reports.

Rendell told a Senate panel
that there’s a "distinct possibility" he would again tap into federal
money allocated to Pennsylvania highways, as he did to save transit in 2005. In
government jargon, raiding federal highway money is called "flexing."

"I would try to flex
as close as I could to what (Port Authority) would be losing," Rendell
told reporters.

At stake are reduced
transit routes, higher fares, or higher state taxes and worsening road
conditions.

The Port Authority faces a
$47 million deficit in 2011, and its officials predict they will have to reduce
service by 35 percent starting Jan. 1. That would include laying off 500
employees and reducing the number of bus routes from 163 to 85.

The state needs $475
million just to fill a gap caused by the government’s decision not to permit
tolls on Interstate 80, but Rendell said the actual need is more than $3
billion a year. The state’s transportation system has crumbling bridges and
poor road conditions in many areas, he said.

But if the Legislature in
an election year delays a decision about raising the gas tax or motorists’
registration and license fees, Rendell said, there is a strong chance he would
use federal highway funds.

Doing so would exacerbate
the state’s road and bridge needs, Rendell said. "You’re robbing Peter to
pay Paul, but that may be the only choice I’m left with."

Port Authority CEO Steve
Bland blamed the agency’s deficit on a 15 percent drop in state funding when
the government rejected I-80 tolls, which were to be the keystone of the Act 44
transportation bill passed in 2007.

"I have to tell
people, it’s not a scare tactic; it’s a reality," Bland said. "And if
Act 44’s issues are not addressed, it will be a recurring reality."

Lawmakers viewed Rendell’s
comments as threats from a crisis-oriented governor always looking for
leverage, a governor who leaves office in January.

"He’s not going to
intimidate me," said Rep. Paul Clymer, R-Bucks County. "He’s been
playing these hardball scenarios since he’s been in office."

"He’s freely willing
to bail out city systems while leaving rural Pennsylvania behind," said
Rep. David Reed, R-Indiana. "He’s proven time and time again he’ll do what
he wants, not what’s been agreed upon by legislators from all areas of
Pennsylvania."

About 90 communities —
from city neighborhoods to suburbs — would be affected by the cuts, authority
spokesman Jim Ritchie said. Fifty would lose transit service entirely, and 40
would face a "severe reduction" in service, he said.

"We’re in a
Catch-22," said Rep. Bill Kortz, D-Dravosburg. "I understand why the
governor wants to do this. PAT is going to have to cut tremendously. It’s going
to be the deepest cut in 54 years. How are people going to get to work and
school? We’re going to have a problem."

On the other hand,
"that money is really needed for the roads and bridges," Kortz said.

But, said Sen. John
Eichelberger, R-Altoona, "I don’t think (Rendell) should be making
decisions as he’s walking out the door." Eichelberger believes the issue
should be addressed after a new governor takes office in January.

Rendell "wants a quick
a fix; he wants to raise money and spend it," Eichelberger said. "…
We can recall lots of stories the governor has used to threaten the people of
this state. I haven’t seen many of them actually happen."