News & Notes November 2003

ACTION ALERT
Increased Funding for Dirt and Gravel Roads Program

There is currently a move afloat in Pennsylvania to increase funding for transportation programs of all types. A coalition, called the Keystone State Transportation Funding Coalition, has been formed by organizations that have an interest in and are seeking additional funding for transportation.

Over the past several years, PACD members have been asking the PACD to seek an increase in funding for the Dirt and Gravel Roads Program (DGRP). Funding for the DGRP comes from gas taxes, as set out in Section 9106(b) of the PA Vehicle Code.

During the PACD Fall Meeting, the District Operations Committee passed the following resolution: "PACD supports an increase in funding for the Dirt and Gravel Roads Program through the gas tax." This resolution was passed by the Executive Council.

PACD has joined forces with the Keystone State Transportation Funding Coalition to seek increased funding for the DGRP but we need your help.

PACD members need to take action now. The gas tax legislation only opens up for amendments once about every six to eight years for an extremely short window (sometimes only as little as one day). There is a chance that the legislation may open this fall. For this reason we need to voice our needs and present our justification for additional funding now.

ACTION NEEDED:
PACD needs your help to contact your legislators to make them aware that an increase in DGRP funding is needed and justified for conservation districts. Legislators need to know that PACD supports an increase in funding for transportation programs and that conservation districts and local road maintenance will benefit when DGRP receives increased gas tax funding. Please take time to speak with your state legislators (both House and Senate members) about the impact that the program is having on improved road maintenance and sediment pollution prevention in your county.

Contact the PACD for talking points and tools to use when speaking to legislators. Please follow-up with PACD Executive Director Susan Marquart after your meet or talk with your legislators. It is essential to know which legislators have expressed support or will not support an increase in transportation funding for DGRP. Susan can be reached at (717) 238-7223 or susan-marquart@pacd.org.

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