Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre/Mifflin, recognizes the monetary deficit repairs on roads and bridges in Pennsylvania have created, but the local representative said he's up for the challenge his recent appointment to the House Republican Committee's Infrastructure Task Force poses.

"It's a daunting task, considering the economic outlook in Pennsylvania and the nation," Benninghoff said. "There are lots of people excited, but I caution a lot of municipalities -- this isn't Santa Claus coming to town. We'll always have more demand for money and projects than money to fund it."

In his committee appointment announcement, Benninghoff specifically pointed to Interstate 80, saying the proposed tolling plan is "unfair."

Centre County Board of Commissioners Chairman Jon Eich said having a local on the task force is important, particularly because of current road and bridge issues in the county.

"We have a need to find a way to fund large projects like the 322 project and I-80," he said. "Right now Centre County gets about $70 million for improvements over four years, but we have several projects that would cost more than we are allowed, and I think the policy will need to tackle how to fund those projects."

Benninghoff, one of 12 House members to be appointed to the task force, attributes Pennsylvania's lack of funds for road and bridge repair to sheer numbers, saying the state has more highway miles than New Jersey and all the New England states combined.

The case for bridges is the same. Benninghoff estimates Pennsylvania to have about 20,000 bridges and other states to have about 6,000, calling this a "significant difference."

"Over 50 percent of our bridges are 6 years old," he said. "That's a lot of demand and it puts PA in a very complex situation just trying to maintain all of our structures and highways."

The task force will look at different proposals and models other states have used. Public-private partnerships are also under consideration, Benninghoff said.

"We're really reevaluating where we are, where we need to go and what different resources to use," he said. "We'll have to be really creative to address current funding needs and future funding needs."

Reduced traffic on roads through the use of railways is another goal, Benninghoff said.

"For every railcar, you get about four tractor-trailers off the road," he said. "That's a lot less wear-and-tear."

Benninghoff said changes in transportation habits over the past few years have also cost the state a lot in funding.

"Last year with gas prices the way they were, we saw billions of less miles traveled, meaning less gasoline," he said. "It's good for the environment, but it's really hurting us from an economic prospective, as it is our primary funding source."