HARRISBURG -- State legislators will gather Monday to learn the details of Gov. Ed Rendell's proposal for new taxes and fees to generate several hundred million dollars annually to fix ailing roads and bridges and eliminate transit system deficits.

But whether legislators will actually approve any significant amount of transportation funding before the Nov. 2 election, as Mr. Rendell wants, is anybody's guess.

Some observers don't think legislators will want to upset their constituents just before an election by increasing the state's 31-cent-a-gallon gasoline tax or existing fees for driver licenses and vehicle registrations, as Mr. Rendell will likely want.

But state Rep. Rick Geist of Altoona, the top Republican on the House Transportation Committee and an advocate for better roads and bridges, is more optimistic that something will be done. "I think a consensus plan can be put together" by legislators this fall, he said Thursday.

To get the minimum 102 votes needed in the Democrat-controlled House, a transportation funding bill would need support from most of the 104 Democrats, but a vote for a tax increase could give Republicans campaign fodder to use against them this fall.

Republicans now have 99 House members, so they need a net gain of only three seats in November to take control of the chamber.

But Mr. Geist said, "I don't think it will become political. The state (transportation) is physically sick and it's our responsibility to fix it."

Mr. Geist, a Republican, and Democratic Rep. Joe Markosek of Monroeville, House Transportation chairman, have brought bipartisanship to the call for more money to repair roads, bridges and transit.

But other legislators, especially Republicans, don't think any major initiatives should be undertaken now. They say the Legislature should wait until a new governor takes office in January.

State Transportation Secretary Allen Biehler will hold a special meeting Monday with House and Senate members of both parties to outline the Rendell transportation funding plan. Under the state constitution, revenue-raising bills must first pass the House before going to the Senate.

Senate Republican spokesman Erik Arneson said Thursday, "Nothing we've seen to date makes me think the House will pass such a plan this year, but maybe Monday will give us more insight."

Christopher Borick, a political pollster at Muhlenberg College, said that this close to an election, it's very difficult for legislators to approve tax increases that affect voters' pocketbooks. The chances of that happening seem doubtful, he said, even though there is general agreement that more money is needed to fix roads and bridges.

At a news conference Thursday, Mr. Rendell declined to divulge specifics of his transportation funding plan, but he spoke favorably of such things as higher state gasoline taxes, higher driving license and vehicle registration fees and a new tax on oil company profits.

He said hundreds of roads and bridges need urgent repairs and said transit agencies, especially in Allegheny County and the five-county Philadelphia area, need additional funds.

Mr. Rendell said results of a recent poll of 600 Pennsylvanians (which he paid for with funds from his political war chest) show that a majority of state residents are willing to pay a little more in order to have safe and reliable roads, bridges and transit.

Monday is the day that the governor had wanted legislators to return from their summer recess to act on transportation issues. Their gathering with Mr. Biehler isn't a formal legislative session, but Mr. Rendell hopes it will at least kick off debate by House and Senate members, so that a bill can be enacted before the Nov. 2 election.

Mr. Rendell, who leaves office in January, wants the Legislature to enact a way to generate several hundred million dollars annually for transportation. He noted that Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett, currently leading in the polls, has vowed not to approve any tax increases if he wins Nov. 2.

If Mr. Corbett is elected, Mr. Rendell said, "It would mean there won't be any additional road, bridge and transit money for the next four years and the state can't afford that."

On Thursday, Mr. Rendell spoke favorably about the idea of raising the state's 31-cent-a-gallon gasoline tax by about 4 cents per gallon, which he said would merely reflect increases in inflation since 1997, the last time the gasoline tax was increased. Such an increase would only cost the average driver 46 cents extra per week, he said.

He also spoke favorably about raising vehicle fees, such as the $28 fee for a four-year renewal of a driver's license or the $36 annual fee for a vehicle registration. Such a move could raise $434 million a year in new money and would only cost the average driver 33 cents more a week, he said.

He also liked the idea of enacting a new tax on oil company profits. He said the bill should contain a provision to make it illegal for oil companies to pass that tax along to motorists in the form of higher gasoline prices.

Looking for more from the Post-Gazette? Join PG+, our members-only web site. You'll get exclusive sports content, opinion, financial information, discounts from retailers and restaurants, and more. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.