Page 3 - AAA Northampton County - AAA Now! Spring 2013
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spring 2013
3914 Hecktown Rd., Easton, PA • (610) 258-2371 •
Pennsylvania’s aging highways and
bridges are in desperate need of repair,
and unfortunately they won’t heal
themselves.
Our state is home to one the
largest and most heavily traveled
transportation networks in the country.
Pennsylvania ranks fifth in the nation
with more than 39,800 miles of state roadway and 122,000
miles of locally maintained roadway. Pennsylvania has the
fourth oldest bridge inventory in the nation and the dubious
distinction of ranking first in the nation with the highest
number of structurally deficient bridges. It takes money, and
lots of it, to maintain our roads and bridges used by every
resident, traveler and business in the state. Consider also, the
possible disastrous outcome of first responders, like police,
firefighters and ambulance crews, having to resort to time-
consuming detours in response to an emergency.
In addition to posing a safety issue, having adequate
roads and bridges is an economic necessity without which
workers cannot get to work; companies cannot bring in
raw materials nor ship their finished goods to market. The
adequacy of a state’s transportation network is a primary
consideration for companies looking to locate facilities and
jobs in the state.
The state provides funding for highways and bridges
through its Motor License Fund, which is fueled mostly by
the state tax on gasoline and vehicle registration and license
fees. Until 2004, gasoline consumption increased annually at
about one percent a year and provided revenue to the Motor
License Fund. However, since 2004, gasoline consumption
has dropped over
one percent a
year. The drop
in gasoline
consumption and
concurrent drop
in highway funds
can be attributed
to the economic
climate, the
increased use
of more fuel-
efficient vehicles
and the increase
in alternative
fueled vehicles.
While the drop
in gasoline
consumption
is good news
for the environment, it imparts a huge negative impact on
funding for roads and bridges.
In May 2010, the Pennsylvania State Transportation
Advisory Committee completed an exhaustive study that
examined how the state’s transportation system is currently
financed, and evaluated financing alternatives to address
the changing conditions of the future. The study identified
and quantified unmet needs and the gap between
projected funding and projected costs as $3.5 billion
annually. This funding gap will grow to $7.2 billion annually
by the end of the decade. The study group recommended
a menu of financing alternatives for consideration by the
legislature and the governor.
In August 2011, the Transportation Funding Advisory
Commission appointed by Governor Corbett completed a
report of comprehensive and strategic proposals to address
the unmet transportation funding needs of the state. In
addition to various funding mechanisms, the commission
recommended numerous cost-saving modernization and
efficiency improvements. The proposals, if approved by the
legislature and the governor, would impact the average
driver in the state with an additional yearly cost of $36 in
the first year of the five-year plan and $132 annually or
$2.50 a week in the fifth year. A copy of both reports is
available online at:
We didn’t get into this rut overnight; decades of
underinvestment in our highways, bridges, transit
programs, railways and airports have brought us to where
we are today – a potential third world transportation
system. Likewise, we won’t solve this problem overnight
but we have to get started on it now. Pennsylvania’s
Highway Funding is on a Bumpy Ride.
President's
Message
Pennsylvania’s Highway Funding
is on a Bumpy Ride
By Steve Lindemann, President
Affiliated with Pennsylvania AAA Federation and AAA
HEADQUARTERS OFFICE
3914 Hecktown Road, Easton, PA 18045
OFFICE HOURS
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Membership Rates
New Primary Member $59; Renewal $49
New and Renewal Associate Member* $30
*Includes all services except subscription
to
AAA Now!
All dependent members of the immediate
family residing at the same address as the primary
member may be enrolled as associate members.
OFFICERS
Thomas P. Stitt
Chairman
Steven K. Lindemann
President
Joseph E. Milutis
Vice Chairman
Dale F. Falcinelli
Second Vice Chairman
Vicki L. Bechtel
Vice President of Operations
Charles J. Montague
Secretary
Allison D. Nicholls
Treasurer
Directors
Mary G. Cappadona
Easton, PA
James G. Dietrich
Pen Argyl, PA
Dale F. Falcinelli
Easton, PA
James S. Garofalo
Mount Bethel, PA
Thomas C. Long
Bethlehem, PA
Joseph E. Milutis
Easton, PA
Charles J. Montague
Easton, PA
Allison D. Nicholls
Bethlehem, PA
Thomas P. Stitt
Bethlehem, PA
AAA does not endorse any product or service advertised in this
publication other than AAA club services and products.
The publisher of
AAANow!
does not endorse or make any
representations or warranties concerning any service or product
advertised in this publication.The publisher is not liable to any
advertiser or reader for any errors or omissions in advertising or
editorial copy appearing in this publication, provided, however, that
the publisher will print a correction in the next issue of
AAANow!
published after the publisher has been notified of an error or omission.
AAA
Now
!
Volume 32, No. 2
Editor-in-Chief Judie Karhan
Senior Editorial Director Dorothy Crouch
Creative Director Lars Fruth
Director of Production Angela Ilich
Regional Editor Steve Lindemann
AAA Now!
(ISSN 2169-3625; USPS 002-348)
is published quarterly by AAA Northampton County,
3914 Hecktown Road, Easton, PA 18045. Periodicals
postage paid at Easton, PA and at additional mailing
offices. A subscription price of $1 per year to
primary members is paid through dues.
POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to:
AAA Now! AAA Northampton County,
3914 Hecktown Road, Easton, PA 18045.
STATEMENTOFOWNERSHIP,MANAGEMENTANDCIRCULATION (REQUIREDBY39U.S.C.3685)
Dateoffiling:September21,2012.AAANow! (USPS002-348) ispublishedquarterlyatAAA
NorthamptonCounty,3914HecktownRd.,Easton,PA,withheadquartersandbusinessoffices
of thepublishersatAAANorthamptonCounty,3914HecktownRd.,Easton,PA18045-2352.The
nameandaddressof thepublisher:AAANorthamptonCounty,3914HecktownRd.,Easton,PA
18045-2352.Editor:SteveLindemann,AAANorthamptonCounty,3914HecktownRd.,Easton,PA
18045-2352.ManagingEditor: JudieKarhan,TravelingTimes,25061AvenueStanford,Unit10,
Valencia,CA91355-4551.Ownerof thepublication isAAANorthamptonCounty,3914Hecktown
Rd.,Easton,PA18045-2352.Therearenobondholders,mortgagesor securityholders.
Totalnumberof copiesprinted (average forpreceding12months):40,773;paidoutside-county
mail subscriptions:2,477;paid in-county subscriptions:37,814; sales throughdealers:0;other
classesmailed throughUSPS:0; totalpaidand/or requested circulation:40,291; freedistribution:
442; totaldistribution:40,733; copiesnotdistributed:40; total:41,773;percentpaidand/or
requested circulation:98.9%.Actualnumberof copiesprinted (single issuenearest tofilingdate):
41,013,paidoutside-countymail subscriptions:2,529;paid in-county subscriptions:37,884; sales
throughdealers:0;other classesmailed throughUSPS:0; totalpaidand/or requested circulation:
40,413; freedistribution:442; totaldistribution:40,855; copiesnotdistributed:158; total:41,013;
percentpaidand/or requested circulation:98.9%.
I certify that the statementsmadebymeaboveare correctand complete.SteveLindemann.
AAA
Now
!
TM
What’s Inside:
TM
Pages 4
Insurance & Financial Services
Page 5
Travel Pre-Summer Sale
Pages 6 to 13
Special AAA Trips & Travel Offers
Upcoming Events
Pages 14 & 15
Auto Repair and Emergency
Roadside Services
Pages 16 & 17
Our Community
Pages 18 to 21
Show Your Card & Save®
Pages 22
Insurance Services
Pages 23
Member Services
AAA Northampton County's Chairman Thomas P. Stitt
provided AAA Northampton County's ERS Manager Susan
Stanley with her retirement gift on January 31, 2013.
