Senator pumps gas tax, again

Sen. J. Doyle Corman's third proposal for a Pennsylvania gas tax to repair the state's highways, streets and roads was the main focus of the Rotary Club meeting last night.

The third time could be a charm for a proposed increase in the Pennsylvania gas tax, said state Sen. J. Doyle Corman, R-Centre last night in front of State College Rotarians.

"I think there are enough votes in the House and Senate to pass it this time," he said. "The problem is that it has never come up to a vote."

The political hot potato did not make the floor the first time Gov. Tom Ridge proposed it because many members were facing re-election, Corman said. Then, during the so-called sign or die session -- after election day but before adjournment -- no support was marshaled among Senate Democrats.

"It's a terrible thing, I have to stand up here in front of you and say I need more of your money," he said. "But I think it is a fair tax. It's a user fee."

The state needs to pump more revenue into the highway fund not only to build, but to maintain, he said. Pennsylvania maintains 44,309 miles of highways, not counting municipal streets and roads, which are also funded from the liquid fuels tax.

"You wonder why there are potholes," Corman said. "The answer lies in the work we have to do and the resources we have to do it with."

Where the money will go is the main concern of many Rotarians.

"I think it's more of concern that the money will be spent well rather than how much is spent," said Rotary Club member Joyce C. Haas.

While maintenance funds are in short supply, Corman said he feels Centre County gets its share of construction funds.

The first four years of Pennsylvania's 12-year plan have many area projects on the drawing boards or getting ready to be built, he said.

The plan includes a $630,160,000 project that will make the rest of U.S. Route 220 -- now called Interstate-99 -- four lanes wide from Bald Eagle to I-80 at Milesburg. The project will include bypasses at Bellefonte and Port Matilda.

That funding -- $230 billion of it federal -- is in place, Corman said.

"It costs a lot of money to build highways," Corman said. "And when we get it done we will need more pesos because the on-ramps at I-80 will need to be redone."

Whether the new highway would go through the valley, where it would disrupt agriculture and housing, or on top of the ridge was the controversial part of the plan, said Haas, a member of the Rt. 220 advisory committee.

The ridge route will cost more to build, but building in the valley will disrupt agriculture and housing in the area.

Corman said the highway will be on the ridge to bypass communities but will travel up some of the valley.

"The only time a highway project is popular is when you announce the funding and when you have the ribbon cutting," he said. "In between you are taking away peoples' homes and farms and dealing with environmental concerns."