Federal, State and local leaders are calling attention to the need to fund failing roadways. The push is part of National Infrastructure Day.
Auditor General Eugene DePasquale says, “Everyday we wait is a day you’re adding on to the cost of fixing it.”
DePasquale joined former Governor Ed Rendell at the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association Transit Conference. They suggest raising the gas tax to ten cents per gallon costing the average driver less than $100 per year.
Rendell says, “Ronald Reagan raised the gas tax and said why put off doing something now about our roads and bridges when in 5 years from now it will be twice as expensive?”
Many of the problems are rooted from underneath the roads, causing sinkholes like one on North Marshall Street, in Lancaster. Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray is looking to address those problems as they directly impact the residents.
Mayor Gray says, "5 years from now you could have damage that could injure somebody, but more so, if it's repaired 5 or 10 years from now, it's going to cost more."
Gray says the city is constantly repairing water main breaks and sewage problems. He says now is the time to fix crumbling infrastructure.
Mayor Gray says, "We have to maintain what we have and continue to improve it too, that's the message."
