Good And Bad News For Transportation Funding

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- High hopes for a significant increase in federal transportation dollars, but not much optimism for state funding of roads and bridges.

That was the message at the annual "Advancing Mobility Summit," held by the Greater Valley Forge Transportation Management Association.

Keynote speaker, Democratic Congressman Brendan Boyle says there is hope for significant transportation funding increases at the federal level, following the election of Donald Trump.

"Whatever one may think of many of his views on transportation and infrastructure, on this one issue, I do find it promising."

But state rep Kate Harper says the opposite is true in Harrisburg, with increasing costs for education and social services combined with flat revenues from state sales and income taxes. She says Pennsylvania needs to stop giving a chunk of the gas tax to help fund State Police:

"But I also believe the state police are important. Now, they're putting a big burden on the gas tax so we need to find another way to pay for them."

No easy task she says, heading into what she calls "the worst budget season ever."