Authorizing City Council's Transportation and Public Utilities Committee to hold hearings to examine the Pennsylvania state budget's impact on transportation infrastructure, SEPTA and Philadelphia's economy.

WHEREAS, Philadelphia's economy relies on a safe, efficient, interdependent and multimodal network of roadways, bridges, transit, freight rail, aviation, ports and intercity passenger rail; and

WHEREAS, According to a 2010 report of the Pennsylvania State Transportation Advisory Committee, annual transportation infrastructure requirements exceed the Commonwealth's funding available to meet those needs by some $3.5 billion, and without action, the statewide need has grown and will continue to grow by nearly $1 million each day; and

Whereas, The transportation infrastructure that carries SEPTA's one million daily riders requires approximately $5 billion in order to bring the system into a state of good repair; and

WHEREAS, In 2011, the Governor's Transportation Funding Advisory Commission concluded that Pennsylvania's transportation infrastructure requires immediate action to address “decades of under-investment”; and

WHEREAS, Infrastructure investment not only enhances the mobility and quality of life of all Pennsylvania citizens, but also creates and sustains thousands of lasting jobs critical to the Commonwealth's economy; and

WHEREAS, Without sufficient funding, Pennsylvania's already aging infrastructure will fall into disrepair and services will decline. Neglected transportation and infrastructure could cause safety concerns, hinder economic growth, reduce reliability in transit systems, and impact the environment; and

Whereas, The restoration of the Commonwealth's aging transportation infrastructure is essential to promoting a 21st Century economy; and

WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's elected officials have advocated for initiatives aimed at improving transportation infrastructure throughout the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Philadelphia should encourage Pennsylvania's elected officials to seize this moment and implement sufficient, comprehensive, statewide legislation which will meet the daily transportation needs of all Philadelphia residents, and Pennsylvanians in general; now therefore,

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, The Transportation and Public Utilities Committee is hereby authorized to hold hearings to examine the Pennsylvania state budget's impact on transportation infrastructure, SEPTA and Philadelphia's economy.

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