Which Project Should be Built

Which project gets funding, and ultimately gets built? This is a classic problem transportation planners have faced, and are facing more frequently as a result of the fiscal constraints placed on project funding. Deciding which project to fund is not an easy decision to make, and the results can have long lasting impacts on a region. In the US 422 Corridor the list of “wants” far surpasses the available funds; even more difficult is that the list of “needs”, projects that are of highest priority, also exceed the available funds.

Industry-wide innovative financing models are being implemented to fill the funding gap for large expensive infrastructure projects. Methods, which primarily center privatization of an asset and assessing user fees to raise revenue, are being used throughout the nation, and world. This concept, known as a Public Private Partnership, or P3, has been met with varying degrees of success and carries its own set of advantages and disadvantages. In most cases however, one of the leading factors into the success of a P3 is placing high value, and thus a high priority on the improvements provided by the P3 and followed closely by a willingness to pay for the improvements.

What does this mean for the US 422 Corridor? It has been no secret that user fees are being explored as a method for raising revenue to make the necessary improvements on US 422. Collecting a nominal fee from the tens of thousands of daily trips on US 422 may provide the funds to complete such improvements as new and more efficient bridges, access ramps, and additional capacity on the highway mainline. This is not a new model for highway funding; anyone who has traveled on the PA Turnpike has experienced the benefits first hand.

If improvements are to be made on the US 422 Corridor, it is important that residents and business owners understand the current situation in funding infrastructure at both the state and federal level. The recent budget crisis in Harrisburg underscores the need to begin rethinking how projects are built. Funding from the Federal Highway Administration is not any brighter. For the second year the highway trust fund has required an emergency infusion of cash from Congress to keep it from going bankrupt. That situation is leaving major improvement projects like US 422 with little hope for a large influx of funds. Without question, it is time we begin to think differently about paying for our roads.

Without question improvements must be made to US 422. The highway is under capacity for the daily demand placed on it, the bridges need to be replaced, and the access ramps are not consistent with modern design standards. Improvements to US 422 will improve the quality of life for corridor residents, attract new businesses to the region, and create jobs and opportunities. The future economic competiveness for the US 422 Corridor should be top priority for all residents and businesses. Changing how we think about infrastructure funding is one mechanism to ensure success for the future. As always, to stay connected with this issue and the progress of the proposal visit www.422corridor.com.