Farming, Saturday, Novamlwr 3,1979
Multi-interest group asks state for highway funds
HARRISBURG - “Penn
sylvania’s aßlng roads and
bridges desperately need the
remaining $3O million in
highway repair funds now
stalemated in the
Legislature,” said the
Pennsylvania Rescue
Committee, Wednesday.
PRC is a coalition'Of 30
statewide and regional farm,
labor and industry
Driving
HARRISBURG - It is more
expensive to drive over
Pennsylvania’s deteroirati
ng and substandard roads
now than six months ago due
to increase in fuel costs and
inflation.
In an update of a study
first released last April, The
Road Information of
Washington, D.C., has found
that poor road conditions
now add $245 annually to the
average Keystone State
motorist’s driving expenses.
This is a $37, or 18 percent,
increase over the six-month
period.
“We can now see the ‘true’
cost of the recent gas price
increases and road repair
delays,” said Roy Cleveland,
president of the Penn
sylvania Highway In
formation Association.
State broiler placements
down 8 percent
HARKISBURG
Placements of broiler chicks
in the Commonwealth during
the week ending October 20
were 1,909,000, according to
the Pennsylvania Crop
Reporting Service.
The placements were eight
percent below the
corresponding week a year
earlier, but one percent
above the previous week.
Average placements during
the past nine weeks were one
percent above a year earlier.
Placements in the 21 key
poultry producing states
were 73,025,000, one percent
above the previous week and
five percent above the same
week a year ago. Average
organizations who assert the
need for the additional
money is “critical.”
Senate Bill 10, the
legislation pending,
provides, through added
truck fees, about $3O million;
contains provision for in
creasing weight limits for
trucks from the present
73,280 pounds to the federal
limit of 80,000 pounds; and
funds for local governments
costs more on rotten roads
The added expense has
been aggravated by a 45
percent jump in the price of
gas at Pennsylvania’s
pumps, as reported by the
American Automobile
Association, and a 10 percent
rate of inflation that has hit
the price of labor and
materials in the Com
monwealth in the last six
months.
The TRIP update noted the
nearly 31,000 miles of
Pennsylvania highways in
need of resurfacing
or reconstructing annually
add $532 million to the cost of
operating a vehicle for the
Commonwealth’s seven
millionmotorists.
This is an increase of $169
million - a jump of 46.6
placements during the past
nine weeks were eight
percent above a year ago.
Broiler-fryers slaughtered
in Pennsylvania under
Federal Inspection during
the week ending October 10
totaled 2,057,000, with an
average lightweight of 4.36
pounds.
Casein, a protein found
only in milk, comprises 78%
of the total proteins in milk.
'Because of its high quality, it
is used as a standard for
evaluating the protein of
other food.
to fix and maintain roa
under their jurisdiction.
William Gruver, executive
director of the committee,
pointed out that “both
Houses of the General
Assembly voted last spring
for a Department of Tran
sportation budget that in
cluded a minimum of $202
million as necessary to
alleviate worsened road and
bridge conditions throughout
the state.
percent - over the April
estimate of $363 million in
extra operating expenses.
This rise is due primarily to
the increase in the cost of a
gallon of regular-grade
gasoline - from 68.2 cents in
April to 99.2 cents in Sep
tember.
Additionally, vehicle
operating costs are driven
up by increased tire wear
and tiie cost of replacement
and deunage to brake,
steering and suspension
system.
The Commonwealth also
faces an annual need to
resurface some 4,200 miles
of its paved roads or watch
them deteriorate further.
Those roads would then need
to be rebuilt - at 4.5 times
the cost of resurfacing.
Half of that need is being
met, but each year the
remaining 2,000 miles are
not resurfaced and require
rebuilding at a cost of $1.25
billion, or $601,425 per mile.
This is an increase of $l2O
million in total and $55,000
per mile over the last six
months and reflects a 10
percent rate of inflation.
These roads could be
resurfaced for $277 million -
or $133,650 per mile - and a
saving of $973 million.
The total number of motor
vehicle accidents caused by
hazardous roads in Penn
sylvania has not varied over
the six-month period. The
57,500 accidents TRIP
estimates are caused each
year by obsolete roads result
in $2lB million in medical
expenses and payments to
survivors or victims.
TRIP estimates nearly 60
percent of Pennsylvania’s
paved road system is ob
solete for present traffic
demands. Built for fewer
On July 4th, the
Legislature enacted funds of
slightly more than half of
this amount.
“Due to a lack of funding
in the past, anything less
than the agreed-to minimum
can only take care of some of
Pennsylvania’s road and
bridge repair problems. At
the time of adjournment,
state Senate leaders said
and slower vehicles, the
roads are characterized by
their narrow lanes, lack of
shoulders, sharp curves,
steep rises and dips and poor
sight distances.
Each year the roads are
responsible for nearly 24
percent of the quarter of a
million accidents reported in
Pennsylvania.
TRIP’S update, noted
Cleveland, “reaffirms our
need to get things moving -
and moving efficiently.”
The report estimated that
the almost 400 million
gallons of gas wasted each
year over substandard roads
in Pennsylvania has jumped
in value from $258 million to
$378 million in the last six
months.
“Everyone who drives a
car knows about the ‘dollar
a-gallon’ gasoline, but that is
only tip of what is an in
creasingly expensive
iceberg,” Cleveland said.
Now you can handle more cows with fewer man hours
without adding stress to either cows or operators.
• Accurate sensing of milk flow
• True flotation parallel linkage
• Positive vacuum shut-off
• Prompt removal and retraction
• Attaches easily to high & low udders
• Adapts to high curbs
Whether you’re planning a new installation or remodel
ing your present parlor, the A.R.M. may be right for
you.
To really appreciate the advanced features of De Lav
al’s A.R.M., you must see it.
. 18. Zhnmeman & Sons
SALES & SERVICE
West of Blue Ball. PA on Rt. 23 ~ Phone (717)354-4955
that SBIO would be referred
to a joint House/Senate
Conference Committee. To
date that Bill, and the fun
ding it proposes, is shelved.”
Gruver said it was
regrettable this funding
should fall victim to a series
of political disputes between
some legislative leaders and
the Governor.
“Our roads should not be
Democratic or Republican.
They are used .by all high
way users and are paid for
by those users without
regard to politics. Highway
safety should not be held
hostage for political reasons.
“Another important
reason why this funding is
necessary is available
federal highway trust fund
monies in the amount of $945
million that, at present, are
not being used because of a
lack of sufficient state
matching money.
Pennsylvania has been
high on tile list of states have
have not used the major
portion of available federal
funds which represent
highway users’ contributions
to the trust fund through
federal gas tax.
This federal money, on an
average of an 80-20 ratio
(80% federal and 20% state)
would make it possible to
alleviate many of the more
critical road problems
throughout the state.
“In regard the Local
Government’s portion of
these remaining highway
funds, SRIO projects an
income of $115.2 million for
Local Government in 1981. If
SBIO is not enacted. Local
Government will only have
$91.9 million available for
highway needs. As a result,
state highway aid to Local
Government would drop
from 25% in 1976 to 20% in
1981.
“Time is running out to
take care of our battered
roads. We are facing still
another winter, and the
people who need and use our
roads may be denied the
guarantee of safe and ef
ficient travel. No one
quarrels with the facts about
our worn-out roads and
dangerous bridges.
However, the mention of new
or added funds_ for our
highways raises political
differences.
“We suggest that this
matter be resolved by the
means of a Conference
Committee where the merits
of additional funding can be_
aired in the open forum. To£
deny the open discussion
such an important matter is
a dis-service to the highway
users who pay for roads and
their upkeep. If SBIO is
unacceptable in its present
form, then we suggest that
some other legislation be
drafted that would provide
the money on an acceptable
basis to legislative leaders.
“The people of Penn
sylvania should not have to
fight for a basic service.
They are being taxed for the
road usage and getting only
part of what they need in
return. We urge the General
Assembly to make this road
fund need a major priority of
the remaining days of this
legislative session,” he s;
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