PA State Transportation Funding is at Stake

You've seen the closed bridges, faded bike lanes and crosswalks, the potholes, the overcrowded roads during rush hour. It's no secret that Pennsylvania's transportation system is in dire shape. Governor Corbett has proposed raising new revenue to make much-needed investments to repair our roads, bridges and transit systems. But some legislators in Harrisburg do not see the wisdom of investing in infrastructure and they need to hear from you!

Harrisburg needs to fund transportation!

TAKE ACTION TO SUPPORT TRANSPORTATION FUNDING IN PENNSYLVANIA

In 2010, the state's transportation funding gap was calculated at $3.5 billion. And because putting off repairs only makes them more expensive, the cost of fixing our transportation system is growing by $1 million for each day we do not pass a transportation funding bill.

When transportation is under-funded, not only do bicyclists and pedestrians suffer from the poor quality of our roads and bridges but fewer dedicated facilities are built or striped.

Governor Corbett proposes to raise $1.8 billion over five years by uncapping the Oil Company Franchise Tax. The Governor's proposal also includes a multi-modal fund that will be a dedicated funding source for non-highway modes, including biking and walking.

As part of the Keystone Transportation Funding Coalition, we asked Governor Corbett to make proposals to better fund transportation needs. Now that he has, your elected officials need to hear from you that you support a comprehensive transportation bill. Please take action today by writing a quick email to your state reps and then placing a call to their offices.

Better streets mean safer, better transportation
for all. Photo credit: Complete Streets

A comprehensive new transportation bill offers an opportunity for Pennsylvania to support communities that want to make bicycling and walking safer. PA Walks and Bikes and others who support biking and walking are asking for three commitments from the state:

1. Create a Bicycle Pedestrian Office within PennDOT.

2. Ensure that the new Multi-Modal fund allocates sufficient funds to bicycle and walking projects.

3. Eliminate the Bicycle Occupancy Permit (which prevents smaller communities from building bicycle infrastructure).

You can read more about our suggestions for improving biking and walking in Pennsylvania in this handout.

PA's Hit and Run Loophole Mostly Closed

As reported late last year in the wake of a hit and run crash that killed Gregory Loper on Lehigh Avenue, Pennsylvania state law perversely encouraged drivers who hit and killed someone to flee the scene. This was due to the penalty for a fatal DUI being greater than the penalty for a fatal hit and run. We encouraged people to contact their state representative or senator to support HB 208, a bill written specifically to eliminate that discrepancy.

HB 208 passed in the final hours of the State legislature in Harrisburg late last week and the Governor is expected to sign it this week. The bill makes a fatal hit and run a 2nd degree felony (it is currently a 3rd degree felony as compared to a fatal DUI that incurs a 2nd degree felony). While it keeps the current mandatory minimum sentence at 1 year (the original House bill had made it a 3 year mandatory minimum), it allows for "sentencing enhancement." The sentencing enhancement makes it more likely that a defendant will receive a substantial period of jail time. In some instances, the sentencing enhancement may actually go beyond what the original bill would have provided, according to House staff in correspondence with the Bicycle Coalition.

BCGP Welcomes The Pennsylvania's Newest Bicycle Coalition

Over the past two years The Lebanon Valley Bicycle Club has become an active bicycle advocacy organization in Lebanon County as well as the State level and has officially changed its name to the Lebanon Valley Bicycle Coalition. Despite the name change LVBC will continue to run its extensive bicycle club ride program.

LVBC joins the BCGP, Bike Pittsburgh, The Centre Region Bike Coalition and the Coalition for Appropriate Transportation, WalkBikeBerks, PA Walks and Bikes and the Bicycle Access Council.

Although not all the above organizations agree on everything that needs to be done to improve bicycling in Pennsylvania we are all united in our effort for the State Legislature to pass bicycle friendly legislation. Currently House Bills HB 1109 and HB 1110 remain in committee.

HB 1109 would expand the language for "reckless endangerment" an operator of a motor vehicle who knowingly maneuvers the vehicle to intimidate or harass a pedestrian or pedalcyclist; or an operator or occupant of a motor vehicle who knowingly directs threatening gestures or language at a pedestrian or pedalcyclist on a highway.
Very relevant to the current situation here in Philadelphia.

HB 1110 calls would require that motorists allow 4 feet when passing a bicyclist and a provision protecting cyclists from the dreaded “right hook,” where a motorist passes a cyclist on the left and turns right into the bike’s path.

You can write in support of the legislation to your representative by clicking here and entering your zip code in the "Find Members By" box.