Category Archives: Politics
Posted in Current Events | Politics | Transportation by Steve Muller (Manager of Client Development) on June 3, 2013
On May 29th, a very enlightening report was published by TRIP of Washington, DC, a non-profit transportation research group, showing the dire costs of Pennsylvania’s deteriorating roadway system. In their ‘Pennsylvania Report’, TRIP offers costs and statistics that result from poor transportation facilities in PA, and even though they are backed by thorough research, the numbers are almost incomprehensible. TRIP estimates that it costs Pennsylvanians $9.4 billion a year in additional vehicle and travel expenses because of the poor condition of our roads and bridges. Their research shows that it costs me an additional $1,646 every year in vehicle and transportation costs, in the Harrisburg/York/Lancaster area – that’s really getting into my wallet!
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Posted in Codes & Regulations | Current Events | Initiatives | Politics | Transportation by Steve Muller (Manager of Client Development) on March 4, 2013
© drouu
When Governor Corbett proposed his 2013 budget in early February, the PA transportation industry was pleased to see that one of his main initiatives is for funding transportation improvements. It has been a long time coming since release in August of 2011 of a comprehensive report from the Governor’s Transportation Funding Advisory Council. This report made a strong case for funding the $ 3.5 billion gap in transportation funds needed yearly in our state. (See an earlier LDG Blog for more information: The Transportation Funding Advisory Council)
New revenue is sorely needed to maintain and improve our transportation infrastructure in PA. In Governor Corbett’s words, “Our most costly option would be to do nothing.” In a February press release, the Governor pitched his approach to funding transportation, as proposed in his budget and outlined these initiatives:
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Posted in Alternative Energy | Communities | Current Events | Economic Development | Energy Conservation | Innovative Solutions | Politics by Marty Muggleton (VP Client Development & Marketing) on August 17, 2012
Barcelona, Spain–”It isn’t a crisis, it’s a scam.”
When he said “just like America”, I began to think.
In the last three years, I have been fortunate to spend time in both Greece and Spain. These are beautiful and stimulating cultures, and are valuable sources for understanding other views of the world. I can’t speak more than a few phrases of each language, but I can learn by talking (in English) with locals. In these countries there are plenty of opportunities, since people tend to be friendly and enthusiastic conversationalists.
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Posted in Codes & Regulations | Current Events | Politics | Transportation by Steve Muller (Manager of Client Development) on July 11, 2012
Last summer and into the fall, we heard about Governor Corbett’s Transportation Funding Advisory Council (TFAC) and their recommendations to fund the necessary transportation improvements in Pennsylvania. You can read my previous post regarding the TFAC here. Well, a foundational part of the TFAC report was approved two weeks ago by the PA Legislature, and on Thursday, July 5th, Governor Corbett signed this legislation into law.
The key bill, House Bill 3, allows public-private partnerships, or P3′s, to be formed where private equity is used to fund transportation improvements in PA. This private investment will fund roads, bridges and other transportation infrastructure improvements, instead of using tax-payer dollars. The private investment group then gets a return on their investment through user fees or tolls that they are allowed to levy on the transportation element that is improved. This offers the investor a consistent revenue stream, and gets Pennsylvanians a roadway, bridge, railway or other transportation on a faster time table than can be done with public revenue streams.
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Posted in Communities | Current Events | Economic Development | Marcellus Shale | Natural Gas | Politics | Transportation by Marty Muggleton (VP Client Development & Marketing) on March 22, 2012
Marcellus related media items have made for good discussion as I visited with townships and counties in the region over the last several weeks. It wasn’t so much the quantity that was different but the sources.
I am a graduate of Cornell University, much to my mother’s relief and surprise, and was glad to see a brief overview of the opposing research that exists relative to the environmental impact of fracing and other sources of energy. After offering many comments on this topic in online discussions, I get a headache whenever I hear or read “peer reviewed”. So here is a nice item in The Cornell Daily Sun by Bob Hackett entitled Two Cents: To Frack or Not to Frack. It brings some powerful research folks together for Q&A, so you can consider both sides.
Last month the National Review stopped by TerrAqua Resource Management’s facility in Williamsport for a tour and chat. Author Kevin D. Williamson was on an extended tour of Marcellus operations and wanted some insight on water recycling. Kevin’s article entitled The Truth about Facking offers some good points while pushing a couple of hot buttons. I read the National Review, well actually I read my father-in-law’s National Review. I found his treatment of the industry to be fair and I liked how he described my views. Simple and clear. I have gotten some interesting and useful phone calls and emails from across the nation as a result.
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