COSTA CALLS FOR BIPARTISAN SOLUTION ON TRANSPORTATION HARRISBURG, MAY 4, 2010 – State Senate Democratic Appropriations Chairman Jay Costa (D- Allegheny) today provided the following statement in response to Gov. Ed Rendell’s speech on Pennsylvania’s transportation funding needs: “We must work toward a bipartisan solution that solves the state’s transportation funding needs in both the short and long term. Clearly there are real, identifiable and immediate transportation needs that must be met. “While transportation funding is a difficult challenge, it is not the only daunting issue lawmakers face this year. The most pressing is to find a way to deal with the $1.1 billion revenue deficit. That remains our top priority. “Without new funds to replace the highway and bridge maintenance funding and transit monies, our transportation infrastructure will continue to deteriorate, which will impact us economically and cost jobs. “The special session allows the legislature to examine new solutions to the funding crisis, and provides a forum for those who were so opposed to the tolling of I-80 to come forward with their plan to plug the transportation funding hole.” # # #