A bill in the state Senate that would aim to provide more funding for local bridge repairs caught the attention of the county’s Council of Governments last week.

Legislative Committee chair Troy Clawson brought SB 799 before the full body.

The bill, according to a legislative memo by sponsor Sen. Greg Rothman, aims to allow counties to “use transportation funds for the benefit of their residents.”

Clawson said that, currently, Motor License Fund dollars can be used for county bridges but not those owned by municipalities.

“Current guidance for how this money is spent specifically references ‘public bridges for which the county is legally responsible,'” Rothman’s memo argues. “While the funds are being used to repair county-owned bridges, current spending guidance fails to note how the funds could be used for bridges owned by the municipalities within said counties.

“As a result, municipal bridges suffer and go without repair.”

It’s an issue particularly relevant in Warren County as the county government owns no vehicle bridges.

The sole bridge owned by the county? The short span that carried the Bike-Hike Trail over Jackson Run.

Rothman says the bill would amend current law to ‘”explicitly allow” these funds “to be used for both county and municipal bridges to better increase driver safety and roadway quality.”

County Planner Dan Glotz said the region’s transportation officials can’t secure funding for many local bridges.

“It’s so sparse,” he said. “(We are) only able to get one local bridge on the TIP (transportation improvement plan) every two to three years.”

The bill unanimously cleared the Senate Transportation Committee in September and Appropriations Committee in October. It’s back before the Transportation Committee.

The COG also received a response from Sen. Tracy Pennycuick (R – Berks/Montgomery) in its attempt to lobby passage of SB 501, which would allow counties to create EMS authorities.

Pennycuick’s letter said she’s optimistic that the bill will serve as a first step in response to EMS challenges.

Clawson said the bill passed second consideration and is up for third shortly.

“It’s getting there,” he said.