NEW STANTON, Pa. \u2014 Western Pennsylvania drivers already pay some of the highest fuel taxes in the country. <\/p>\n
Even with the recent announcement from President Donald Trump endorsing a suspension of the federal gas tax<\/a>, drivers may get only minor relief.<\/p>\n \u201cIt would probably help a little bit, but it\u2019s still up there,\u201d Bill Jarmer said.<\/p>\n That is the reaction from drivers when filling up at the pump. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s getting pretty ridiculous. As a matter of fact, we are taking two vehicles to the other side of the state this weekend so it\u2019s going to be quite a task to keep these vehicles fueled up,\u201d Jeremiah Williams said.<\/p>\n President Trump announced he would be backing a temporary suspension of the federal gas tax as Americans continue to feel the impacts of the conflict in Iran.<\/p>\n A suspension of the federal tax would subtract about 18 cents per gallon at the pump, but Congress still needs to approve the suspension before drivers would see the savings.<\/p>\n One driver tells Channel 11 they have no other choice but to drive.<\/p>\n \u201cYou gotta do it. I mean, you ain\u2019t got a choice,\u201d Jarmer said. \u201cThey don\u2019t leave you a choice.\u201d<\/p>\n In Pennsylvania, the state gas tax is currently about 57 cents per gallon, making it the third-highest in the nation. When combined with the federal tax, Pennsylvanians pay an extra 76 cents per gallon in taxes every time they fuel up. <\/p>\n Drivers like Williams said they feel the impacts every day.<\/p>\n \u201cMy wife has a longer commute than me so I see it in her travels more than myself,\u201d Williams said.<\/p>\n According to AAA, gas prices jumped 50 cents in the last two weeks nationally. If you take a look at the map in Pennsylvania, the average sits at $4.67, but as you get closer to Western Pennsylvania, that price rises even more.<\/p>\n \u201cWe definitely need some help somewhere along the line,\u201d Jarmer said.<\/p>\n The federal and state gas taxes help fund infrastructure projects like bridge replacement and road repairs.<\/p>\n Channel 11 reported in March<\/a> that legislation has been proposed at the state level to suspend the gas tax, but it is unclear when that could be passed.<\/p>\n Download the FREE WPXI News app<\/a> for breaking news alerts.<\/p>\n Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook<\/a> and Twitter<\/a>. | Watch WPXI NOW<\/a><\/p>\n TOP STORIES FROM CHANNEL 11 NEWS <\/p>\n \u00a92026 Cox Media Group<\/p>\n