Press Release|Public Finance
KBRA Assigns Ratings to Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Oil Franchise Tax Senior Revenue Bonds, Series A of 2026 (AA-) and Subordinated Revenue Bonds, Series B of 2026 (A+); Affirms Ratings for Parity Bonds
31 Aug 2026 | New York
KBRA assigns a long-term rating of AA- to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Oil Franchise Tax Senior Revenue Bonds, Series A of 2026 and a long-term rating of A+ to the Commission's Oil Franchise Tax Subordinated Revenue Bonds, Series B of 2026. KBRA additionally affirms the long-term rating of AA- for the Commission's outstanding Oil Franchise Tax Senior Revenue Bonds and A+ for the Commission's outstanding Oil Franchise Tax Subordinated Revenue Bonds. The rating Outlook is Stable.
Key Credit Considerations
The rating actions reflect the following key credit considerations:
Credit Positives
- Established track record for effective collection, timely distribution, and periodic adjustment of the Commission Allocation.
- Statutory price floor of $2.99 per gallon used in calculation of the OFT tax rate insulates collections from motor fuel price volatility.
- Legal and statutory framework provides strong level of bondholder protection at the senior obligation level.
Credit Challenges
- Formula driven Commission Allocation is subject to fuel consumption volatility and to periodic adjustments of the effective fuel tax rate by the legislature.
- Absent periodic legislative action to adjust pledged revenues, the downward trend in motor fuel consumption experienced over the last decade is likely to continue, pressuring pledged receipts and debt service coverage over time.
Rating Sensitivities
For Upgrade
- Sustained increase in motor fuel consumption leading to increased Commission Allocation revenues.
- Supplementation or adjustment to pledged revenues resulting in substantially increased debt service coverage and consistent growth.
For Downgrade
- Decline in MADS coverage to a level no longer consistent with the rating level.
To access ratings and relevant documents, click here.