The repair and maintenance of Pennsylvania’s road and bridges are funded primarily by the Motor License Fund (MLF). The MLF receives its revenues from the gas tax, motor vehicle fees, driver’s license fees, and other Vehicle Code provisions. Since 1937, a portion of the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) annual budget has been funded by the MLF, peaking at approximately $800 million in 2016.
 
The PSP performs an invaluable service to our Commonwealth and must continue to be fully funded. However, every dollar taken from the MLF is one less dollar spent on our aging roads and bridges. According to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, every $1 spent on transportation generates up to $3.60 in economic activity.
 
Since 2013, the PSP has received over $6.3 billion that should have been spent on roads and bridges. The General Assembly previously passed Act 85 of 2016 which gradually decreased the annual transfer from the MLF to the PSP over several years and eventually capped it at $500 million.
 
While the Governor has recently proposed to step down the PSP’s reliance on the MLF by $50 million a year until reliance is completely removed in fiscal year 2029-30, we intend to introduce legislation to speed up that process. Under our legislation, the PSP will receive one final appropriation of $125 million for fiscal year 2025-26 and will then be fully removed from the MLF in the following year.
 
The people of Pennsylvania deserve safe, reliable, and well-maintained roads and bridges. Our proposal is a measured, responsible, and reasonable approach to ensuring that money in the MLF goes fully toward our roads and bridges. Please join us in co-sponsoring this legislation.