Students driving home for Thanksgiving might give consideration that, in about a year, the cost of a journey may increase due to a state commission.

The bipartisan Transportation Funding and Reform Commission created by Gov. Ed Rendell issued a report last week containing recommendations for improving the state's transportation infrastructure that if implemented could include several new taxes.

The commission recommended raising a total of $1.66 billion to fund the improvement of highways, bridges and public transit, according to a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) press release.

PennDOT spokesman Rich Kirkpatrick said the transportation revitalization plan is still in early stages, and he is unsure how it will affect road projects such as the construction on Route 322.

"This report was looking at the big transportation picture," he said. "It's not to the point where the commission was making recommendations for specific projects."

Rendell spokeswoman Kate Phillips also emphasized the fact that not all of the recommendations may be accepted.

"Neither the governor nor the legislature is bound by those recommendations," she said. "Over the next year, you'll hear a lot about this."

The commission recommended increasing the wholesale gas tax by 11.5 cents per gallon and raising vehicle registration and driver license fees to fund transportation improvements, Kirkpatrick said.

He noted that much of these costs would likely be transferred to the consumer if the measures were adopted.

Jon Weidner (senior-mechanical engineering) said he was concerned about the idea of more financial strains for Pennsylvanians.

"It's unfortunate for college students and families on fixed budgets without much of a disposable income," he said.

Weidner said he does, however, support plans to improve the state's road systems.

"Since Pennsylvania is the Keystone State, that implies that it is a hub for transportation for various states," he said. "We're always doing road construction and stuff like that."

College Republicans President Todd Taylor said he thought transportation in the state needed improvement but disapproved of Rendell's recommendation to do so.

"If you go on 322, some of the bridges are falling apart," he said. "I think we need to improve our infrastructure, but I don't think we need to improve taxes in order to do it."

Taylor said he was particularly against an increase in the gas tax proposed by the commission.

"I think it's a bad idea raising taxes on anything the way tuition is going," he said. "That's all we need... a gas tax when gas is over $2."

The lease of the Pennsylvania Turnpike to a private company might also be a way to increase revenue for the transportation system, Kirkpatrick said.

"The attractiveness of that kind of arrangement is that it involves a private entity paying large a lump sum in return for ability to charge tolls," he said.

Taylor said that he felt such a plan would have to include considerable follow-up.

"We all would approve of getting a large sum of money," he said. "It's nice to have the private donor build it, but what about the maintenance of the property?"

Lauren Graham (sophomore-division of undergraduate studies) said she was unsure how the proposed transportation changes would impact her use of state roads.

"I don't think it will affect me driving home because I don't drive home that often," she said. "Often, it's just for the holidays."