Like a car with heavily tinted windows, it's hard to tell what's really inside legislation that has yet to be introduced. But we like the outlines of state Rep. Joe Markosek's transportation proposals and they deserve at least a test drive.

The ideas of the Monroeville Democrat, who is the House Transportation Committee chairman, are partly about reform and partly about funding. Once they take legislative form in a couple of weeks, they will surely add fuel to the debate over how Pennsylvanians should fund not only road and bridge repair but also the availability of public transit.

Some of the points laid out during Rep. Markosek's news conference Wednesday reflect recommendations made last November by the Pennsylvania Transportation Funding and Reform Commission, a bipartisan group that was convened to develop long-range solutions for transportation's perennial challenges.

While the Post-Gazette is not sold on Gov. Ed Rendell's plan to lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike to a private operator for billions of dollars that would be used to fund transportation needs, we are also well aware of the patronage that runs thick through the agency's hiring practices.

Enough, says Rep. Markosek. His lead proposal would replace the turnpike commission with a Pennsylvania Transportation Finance Authority. The new agency would have the same ability to run the turnpike, float bonds and oversee the system's work force, but job candidates would be hired through the state's Civil Service system, which would reduce the political factor. Such a system is long overdue.

Other points by the lawmaker worth consideration involve greater auditing authority over transit agencies for the state auditor general and a reduction in the number of PennDOT maintenance districts.

Both the Port Authority of Allegheny County and the SEPTA system that serves the Philadelphia region have undertaken slow, painful reforms of work and compensation practices, largely in response to state funding shortfalls. If the auditor general had had more power to examine the agencies' books, some of these costly practices may have never occurred.

As to the number of divisions that would best serve the Department of Transportation, Mr. Markosek would like to see the current 11 be reduced to three. He argues that it would simplify purchasing and contracting and unify PennDOT's work product. It's worth a look.

One of the most controversial elements of the Markosek package will be a new mass transit funding formula -- a problem that still eludes solution in Harrisburg. He said that while details will be forthcoming in a few weeks, he intends to streamline the state's funding component (which the transportation commission said was overly complicated). He also wants to give counties more flexibility in raising local dollars for transit -- another point made by the commission.

Although regions around Pennsylvania should have the ability to bolster funding for high-priority transportation programs and projects, the option should not be seen as a way for the General Assembly to wash its hands of responsibility for an essential public service like transit. How Rep. Markosek finesses the details of that provision could determine whether it sinks or floats.