HARRISBURG - Today's vote in the state House is the "last hurdle" for a comprehensive transportation funding plan, and, thereby, the last hurdle for the long-awaited Central Susquehanna Valley Thruway (CSVT) project.
State Sen. John Gordner (R-27) is "very optimistic" it will pass, setting in motion the collection of $580 million in funding for CSVT over the next 10 years.
"I believe we will have a groundbreaking before the end of next year" on part of the thruway, Gordner predicted Wednesday in an interview an hour after senators gave their 43-7 approval to a House funding bill.
The bill goes back to the House for its final "concurrent" OK today, which is expected late this afternoon.
What the Senate voted on Wednesday was to approve the language of an amendment the House approved Tuesday, on its third try. That language was inserted into an existing House funding bill that was also then passed by the Senate, Gordner said.
He cited the funding plan's impact on jobs - it's expected to create 60,000; how it will improve health and safety by improving roads and bridges and eliminating congestion; and how it will spur economic development.
In fact, he said, a multimillion-dollar project will get under way in Point Township once the thruway's northern section is completed. He couldn't comment further, but the project is unrelated to - but helped by the existence of - the thruway.
The thruway's three parts include a bypass around congested Routes 11-15 in Hummels Wharf and Shamokin Dam; a new bridge from Routes 11-15 over the Susquehanna River at Winfield; and a new connector on Route 147 from the bridge to Route I-180 north of Northumberland.
Gordner said the plan enjoyed broad bipartisan support, but noted it was a "tough vote" because of the impact it's expected to have on gas prices and motor vehicle related fees.
He said the $2.3 billion in revenue tagged to the bill is actually what would be generated in year five - 2017-18.
The plan also includes money for hundreds of other state and local bridge projects, Gordner said, and the revenue is targeted specifically for those needs and won't end up in the "black hole" of the general fund.