Our highways, bridges, mass transit, and rail systems must promote safety and economic growth. Innovative funding sources must be secured to maintain, modernize and build new infrastructure./P>

The Chamber recognizes that a modern, safe and efficient transportation infrastructure is necessary for the free flow of goods and commerce and the mobility of its citizens for business and recreational activities./P>

The Chamber also supports the following concepts that are vital to the creation and maintenance of Pennsylvania's transportation infrastructure:

• Funds generated from all liquid fuels taxes be placed in a dedicated revenue account – the Motor License Fund - and be used solely for highway-related transportation improvements.
• Pennsylvania's mass transit system, which consists of roughly 70 different systems within the Commonwealth, is critical to business operations in Pennsylvania by providing bus and rail service to the workforce. The Chamber is open to considering secure funding streams for these systems. However, the first step should be to pursue greater efficiencies in those systems, including, but not limited to, the exploration of public/private partnerships and/or other privatization efforts.
• Tolling of newly created highways as an additional funding mechanism to maintain roadways and bridges. However, the Chamber continues to oppose tolling existing I-80.
• The continuation of the auto emissions testing program that is a vital component to the preservation of the federal highway dollars that Pennsylvania receives each year. The Chamber opposes any such measure to either expand the program beyond federal requirements.
• Streamlining the PennDOT permit approval process to expedite infrastructure modernization which will result in short term job creation and the stimulation of economic development.
• Increasing government and private funding for freight rail expansions.