Many of the things Gov. Ed Rendell said Friday about the roads and bridges here and in other counties of the state came as no surprise to those who heard or read his comments. The governor spoke at Playthings, Etc. on Route 8; it was his last stop on a statewide tour of communities.

Pennsylvania does have a glut of repairs needed to its state highways and bridges. Over the years, the commonwealth has not been able to keep up with the rate of deterioration and, despite considerable progress, has fallen behind what should have been accomplished.

What would be more surprising than the governor's assessment of the roads situation would be widespread support for Rendell's proposals for funding the repairs — such as increases in the driver's license and annual registration fees and a 3.5-cent increase in the gasoline tax.

He wants his ideas considered by the General Assembly in the continuation of a special transportation session begun in May aimed at finding solutions to the state's roads money shortage. He wants lawmakers to return to Harrisburg on Aug. 23 because "after Labor Day, it's election time, and nothing gets done in Harrisburg."

However, with an election coming up and the thoughts of the less-than-vibrant state economy planted firmly in mind, it's hard to fathom that lawmakers will be in any mood to approve substantial fee increases, if any, for the state's already too-highly-taxed residents and drivers.

For example, Rendell is proposing 30 percent increases in the $28 driver's license fee and the $36 annual registration fee.

"Contact your state representatives," Rendell said. "Tell them, we understand. It's OK to take revenue-raising steps when we need it."

To Butler County residents, he delivered the message that within this county's borders there are 106 structurally deficient state-owned bridges and 160 miles of state-owned roads in what he described as poor condition, accounting for 22 percent of all the state-owned roads in the county.

But are facts like that sufficient to spark clamor for lawmakers to act in terms of providing the money to fix the roads and bridges? Unlikely, considering the waste and corruption people here believe is going on in Harrisburg.

That's not to say that the special legislative session should not be resumed. The issue merits much more brainstorming and debate.

Despite what Rendell said here and in other state locales on his statewide tour, it's unlikely that the issue will be resolved before he leaves office in January. That means his successor will have the daunting task of addressing it and facing the consequences in terms of the voters.

Covering the $472 million funding gap left after the federal government rejected the state's plan of tolling Interstate 80 will be a monumental task for many years to come.