In the discussion over the nation's highway funding crisis, much of the attention has been focused on the need to accommodate economic growth and improve our quality of life. Last month, a fatal, 10-vehicle accident near Harrisburg reminded us of an issue that's even more important to many – public safety.

So opined Jason Wagner, PHIA managing director, in an Aug. 28 guest column in the Harrisburg Patriot-News. Sadly, improving the interchange where the accident occurred falls into the category of “capacity enhancement” – a luxury, when one considers that the Commonwealth doesn’t have the resources to maintain the existing highway system.

Traffic congestion was a contributing factor in the accident, in which seven others were injured when a tractor-trailer slammed into stopped traffic during the morning commute. It is the same type of accident that could happen just about anywhere in Pennsylvania.

To read the entire column, go here