Democratic Lawmakers Call On Governor To Fund Transportation

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A group of Democratic lawmakers from our area urged Governor Tom Corbett to come up with more money to improve transportation infrastructure and do more for mass transit.

The plea comes exactly one week before Corbett issues his annual budget and six months after a commission named by the governor recommended $2 billion in additional revenue for transportation.

The local lawmakers met reporters Tuesday near the Greenfield Bridge which spans the Parkway East near the Squirrel Hill Tunnel.

The bridge has had problems with crumbling concrete for years and is scheduled to be replaced.

Lawmakers say the bridge underscores the importance of the governor coming up with more transportation funding sooner, rather than later.

"In Allegheny County alone we have nearly 1,200 structurally deficient bridges – 1,200 bridges that are either closed, have various levels of traffic that can operate on those bridges and are deemed to be structurally deficient," State Senator Jay Costa said.

"The economic progress this community has been successful in promoting and transforming the city of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, it is all in jeopardy and at risk unless we deal with this issue and it has to be dealt with on a comprehensive basis," State Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Squirrel Hill, said.

The lawmakers say it's time for the governor to follow through on his commitment to help solve the commonwealth's transportation problems.

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