State Rep. Duane Milne (R-167) was honored by the Paoli Business Association for his vote on the transportation funding bill. Pictured from left to right: Rep. Duane Milne, Judy Huey, Linda Goldstein, Paoli Business Association President Ed Auble, State Senator Andy Dinniman (D-19), Andy Wilson, Dave Rowland, Tredyffrin Supervisor John D. DiBuonaventuro and Paoli Train Station Task Force Chairman Bob O’Leary.
TREDYFFRIN – The Paoli Business Association honored Rep. Duane Milne (R-Chester) on Thursday for his recent vote in favor of the comprehensive transportation improvement and funding bill.
As part of the $2.3 billion the bill invests in transportation infrastructure over the next five years, $500 million is dedicated for public transportation and some of that funding will go towards the proposed new Paoli Train Station.
Milne has championed development of a new multi-modal transportation center since he was first elected in 2006 and said he is encouraged that the recent funding package will allow the project to move from vision to reality. In remarks at an event celebrating passage of the legislation, Milne commended the Paoli Business Association and groups like it as one key reason why the project has continued to remain at the forefront of the minds of many decision makers.
“This kind of project happens because of a local, concerted effort by organizations like the Paoli Business Association to keep the public sector paying attention to the importance of the project,” Milne said at the event on Thursday. “I have enjoyed working with the Paoli Business Association over the years. They do great work in the community.”
Ed Auble, president of the Paoli Business Association, said the new funding package will allow all of the discussions about the train station become a reality, because it provides the substantive financial backing to allow a project of that magnitude to get off the ground.
“It is so exciting, because if you were to leave Paoli and come back in eight to 10 years, you won’t even recognize it, and that’s all because of the train station,” Auble said.
Tredyffrin Supervisor John D. DiBuonaventuro said the funding package will keep the train station project on schedule and without the funding “the train station would be put on life support.”
DiBuonaventuro praised Milne for his steadfast efforts to pass a bipartisan bill and ensure that the transportation infrastructure projects so vital to the community and the local economy remain a priority in Pennsylvania.
The train station project remains in the planning and approval phase and ultimately is expected to require a total of about $120 million for a station, new bridge and roadway infrastructure extending Darby Road, parking and track improvements.
Milne never saw a tax hike he didn’t like. Why thank him. Milne is just doing what liberal Democrats do raise taxes. Milne previously pratically doubled turnpike tolls and gave the money to the SEPTA unions. While the project is worthy no special thanks are due. Milne gladly raises taxes/fees and usually sends our money elsewhere – Philadelphia you name it. Milne would gladly send our money to Detroit if the unions asked him. He is strongly backed by the teachers union for his block to a fix of the pension crisis.
http://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/policyblog/detail/think-government-union-dues-arent-used-for-politics-think-again