Rendell authorizes $365 million for infrastructure

HARRISBURG — Governor Ed Rendell Monday signed legislation authorizing the commonwealth to invest an additional $350 million to speed the repair of 411 structurally deficient bridges statewide. The legislation also authorizes an additional $15 million to be spent on airport and rail projects. The list of 411 bridges is available at the PennDOT homepage, www.dot.state.pa.us, click on the Rebuild Pennsylvania button. “At a time when this region, the state and the nation are facing very tough economic conditions, Rebuild Pennsylvania will inject much needed stimulus into Pennsylvania’s aging transportation infrastructure,” the Governor said. “This is a step in the right direction in repairing Pennsylvania’s structurally deficient bridges and, although we still have a lot of work ahead of us, these additional dollars will help the commonwealth restore or replace vital transportation links.” Under Governor Rendell’s Rebuild Pennsylvania program, a combination of federal and state funds, including $350 million in bond funds, will underwrite bridge projects that will be included in the state transportation improvement program. The combined funding will allow PennDOT to start repairs on 411 bridges this year. “We still have a long way to go,” the Governor said. “Pennsylvania has more than 6,000 structurally deficient bridges - the most of any state and the price tag to fix all of those bridges is in excess of $11 billion. “I look forward to the legislature revisiting the transportation funding issue in the fall and considering the $12.8 billion bid we have received for the lease of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.”