HARRISBURG -- The transportation plan passed by the Legislature eight months ago is going nowhere fast, said House Republican Leader Sam Smith.

"Act 44 is going to come up short. It's in trouble," he told the Pennsylvania Press Club this afternoon.

Mr. Smith, of Punxsutawney, said it is unlikely that the Federal Highway Administration will give the necessary approval for a key component of the plan that calls for tolling Interstate 80. If the feds do approve, it isn't likely to be at the funding levels necessary to generate enough money to provide the infrastructure and mass-transit improvements called for in the law, he said.

The controversial transportation plan, which passed last summer, also calls for increasing tolls on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Together, the tolls on the turnpike and I-80 are supposed to raise more than $750 million a year for roads, bridges and public transit.

Meanwhile, lawmakers are continuing to look at alternate funding proposals, such as leasing the turnpike and transferring money from the state Motor License Fund, which is used to pay for state police services.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.