Columbia Bypass Work Beginning

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Lancaster County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When explaining to various officials the problems truck traffic causes in Columbia, Mayor Leo Lutz liked to give tours.

In the basement of Hinkle’s Pharmacy, they could see old brick and mortar being turned to powder, and feel the heavy trucks travel on Locust Street.

On the sidewalks, they could see, hear and feel the trucks rumble by in the center of the historic town.

“Then they knew what we were talking about,” Lutz said.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/columbia/news/columbia-bypass-work-beginning/article_d65b79c6-beb7-11e3-9333-001a4bcf6878.html

Pennsylvania Gasoline Tax May Soon Be Highest In U.S.

Map of Pennsylvania (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Gov. Tom Corbett struck a populist note in this week’s budget address, saying lifting the Oil Company Franchise Tax cap would force oil and gas companies to “pay their fair share.” But the increase will likely be passed onto consumers at the pump and may make Pennsylvania gasoline the most heavily taxed in the nation.

As levied now, the tax is about 9 percent of the price of a gallon of gas, but calculated on a maximum price of $1.25 per gallon, yielding about 20.3 cents. By gradually lifting that cap over time to reflect actual gas prices – already more than double the cap – the amount of the tax paid per gallon could more than double.

Gov. Corbett tried to soften the blow by cutting another state tax on fuel, the excise tax, from 12 cents down to 10 cents.

That could be cold comfort for consumers.

Read more:  http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/business/pa-gasoline-tax-may-soon-be-highest-in-u-s-1.1441386

Gas Prices Falling This Holiday Season

Falling gas prices have brought a little bit of holiday cheer at the gas pump where many in the region had grumbled while the price of unleaded hovered around the $4 mark.

The average price of unleaded regular has dropped to $3.75 a gallon in the Buffalo area, down from $3.89 a month ago, according to GasBuddy.com, which tracks gas price trends across the country.  Nationally, the average price was down to $3.27 a gallon as of Saturday.

The downward trend can be attributed to two things, according to Gregg Laskoski, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy.com.

Read more:  http://www.mcall.com/business/sns-mct-gas-prices-falling-this-holiday-season-20121216,0,1755611.story

Mack Trucks Production/Sales On Record Pace

Image via Wikipedia

…Mack produced 1,076 rigs in July, up 41 percent compared with the same time a year ago. The Volvo AB subsidiary has made 10,674 trucks from January through July. Mack’s latest figures put the company’s production up 61 percent compared with the same span a year earlier, a pace that could make 2011 one of its best years since the Great Recession sapped truck demand…

To read the rest of the article from the Morning Call, click here: http://www.mcall.com/business/mc-allentown-mack-trucks-sales-20110831,0,6080029.story

MORE MACK NEWS

Mack gets $19 million to develop ‘SuperTruck’

Federal government taps truckmaker to help with research and development project.

To read about it!  All Mack Trucks are produced in Lower MacungieTownship so this means jobs for the Lehigh Valley!

http://www.mcall.com/business/mc-allentown-mack-trucks-supertruck-d20110816,0,7574790.story?obref=obinsite

Today’s Question…Why are people still driving giant gas guzzling cars??

As I made my way down Grace Street a few minutes ago, a mini van was taking their half out of the middle of the road and more.  I am always amazed that people still drive these jumbo vehicles that waste gas and more often than not, they can’t drive  because it’s too big.  Parking must be a bee.