A Senate committee today (April 20) approved a measure introduced by Senator Scott Hutchinson (R-21) that would ease the financial burden imposed on smaller municipalities to maintain drainage facilities associated with state highways. Video Audio
The Senate Transportation Committee approved Senate Bill 283, which amends the State Highway Law to require that PENNDOT maintain all surface and subsurface drainage facilities connected with the state highways within boroughs and incorporated towns with populations equal to or less than 2,500 people.
The bill now goes to the full Senate for consideration.
“When the State Highway Law was originally passed, townships were small and boroughs and towns were where people lived outside of cities,” said Senator Hutchinson, who serves as the Chairman of the Local Government Commission. “In the more than 50 years since the State Highway Law was passed, the population distribution in Pennsylvania has changed dramatically. Boroughs have seen a decline in population over the years with people moving to townships or cities.
“This leaves the boroughs and towns with less tax base to maintain the subsurface of the state highways in their boundary,” Senator Hutchinson continued. “This maintenance then results in a financial strain on boroughs and towns, causing them to either cut services or increase taxes on an already shrinking and strained population.”
Contact: Justin Leventry jleventry@pasen.gov
Video of the full Committee meeting.