Resolution 190214

..Title Urging the Pennsylvania General Assembly to support "Restore Pennsylvania" Governor Tom Wolf's $4.5 billion Infrastructure Improvement Plan. ..Body WHEREAS, Pennsylvania must position its communities for success and position itself as a leader in the 21st century by investing in critical infrastructure needs that for too long have been neglected; and WHEREAS, To help build a better future for all Pennsylvanians, Restore Pennsylvania will invest $4.5 billion over the next four-years in significant, high-impact projects throughout the Commonwealth to help catapult Pennsylvania ahead of every state in the country in terms of technology, community development, and infrastructure; and WHEREAS, Restore Pennsylvania will provide funding to bridge the digital divide, supporting the installation of infrastructure to bring high-speed internet to homes across the Commonwealth and making Pennsylvania a better place to work, do business, and live; and WHEREAS, Restore Pennsylvania will provide funding to prepare for flooding and severe weather due to climate change, and to assist individuals who suffer severe weather-related losses; and WHEREAS, Restore Pennsylvania will address blight by providing financial resources to local communities to acquire and demolish blighted buildings in order to create new development opportunities or provide new green space; and WHEREAS, Restore Pennsylvania will fund expanded efforts to remove lead and other contaminants from schools, homes, and businesses. While progress has been made over the last decade, lead exposure remains a pressing issue in Philadelphia, with four percent of screened children testing positive for elevated blood lead levels; and WHEREAS, Restore Pennsylvania will enable new environmental projects and new recreational opportunities across the Commonwealth, including infrastructure and maintenance in parks, local water quality improvements, and funding for new hiking, biking and trail projects. Public parks provide important gathering spaces for Philadelphia communities, and by keeping stormwater runoff on parkland, green spaces can also protect the City's waterways; and WHEREAS, Restore Pennsylvania will provide funding for multimodal and large-scale capital projects for public transit, and help communities repair local roads and bridges. The average age of Philadelphia water main is roughly 78 years old, with some pipes dating back to 1824, making their maintenance and replacement a high-priority endeavor; and WHEREAS, Restore Pennsylvania projects will be driven by local input about local needs, and projects will be evaluated through a competitive process to ensure that high-priority, high-impact projects are funded and needs across Pennsylvania are met; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Does hereby urge the Pennsylvania General Assembly to support "Restore Pennsylvania" Governor Tom Wolf's $4.5 billion Infrastructure Improvement Plan. ..End