Kerry Benninghoff

From staff reports

LEWISTOWN — State Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre/Mifflin, has been appointed to serve on Pennsylvania’s Public-Private Partnership (P3) Transportation Board.

Benninghoff, who serves as Republican chairman of the House Transportation Committee, said he is honored to join the board, which evaluates opportunities to supplement traditional transportation funding through partnerships with private-sector entities.

“The issue of paying for our transportation needs is one I’ve already spent a great deal of time dealing with as we attempt to solve Pennsylvania’s mass transit funding problem,” Benninghoff said.

The P3 Transportation Board reviews proposals for transportation projects and determines whether partnerships with private companies could provide a more cost-effective alternative to traditional public funding. The board evaluates agreements involving the design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance of infrastructure such as highways, bridges and transit systems.

Benninghoff also highlighted recent House passage of legislation that would allow all 67 counties, as well as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, to use public-private partnerships to address local transportation infrastructure needs.

House Bill 2469 passed the House unanimously and now awaits consideration by the Senate.

Benninghoff represents portions of Centre and Mifflin counties in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.