PHIA News Digest – Vol. 8, No. 37

Pa. work zone speed camera program could become permanent

Officials with PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission are hoping to see a pilot program that allows automated speed cameras to record speeding violations in work zones to be extended.

Business, local leaders celebrate start of Bayfront Parkway project

The $111.7 million Bayfront Parkway Central Corridor Improvement Construction Project will improve traffic flow and make the waterfront more accessible from downtown Erie, allowing the city to take advantage of one of its key assets for tourism and economic development.

PHIA News Digest – Vol. 8, No. 36

EV, hybrids sales increase as gas-powered vehicle sales decrease

According to a new report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, sales of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery-electric vehicles make up 16 percent of light-duty vehicle sales across the country.

Deluzio pushes for passage of rail safety legislation

U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-17th District, on Friday called for Congress to move forward with legislation he introduced in March that would tighten regulations and penalties for railroads. Deluzio and Rep. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y., introduced the legislation in the aftermath of the February Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

Neilson: PA needs new ideas for funding transportation

The following opinion column comes from state Rep. Ed Neilson (D-Philadelphia), chair of the state House Transportation committee.

LVPC seeking public comment for $4.39 billion long-range transportation plan

Lehigh Valley Planning Commission is seeking public comment on its $4 billion Long-Range Transportation Plan. The commission has scheduled several meetings to inform the public about the plan. Comment will be accepted through Oct. 6.

Pa. General Fund revenue for August below expectations

Along with General Fund collections, the Motor License Fund was $8.6 million below estimate at $282.9 million for the month. Fiscal year-to-date collections for the fund, including gas and diesel taxes together with other license, fine and fee revenues, were $554.9 million, $10.2 million less than anticipated.

PA State Police issue Labor Day enforcement stats

Pennsylvania State Police troopers investigated a total of 671 crashes statewide over the four-day Labor Day weekend, according to data released by the agency this week. There was a total of 10 fatalities and 220 injuries, according to State Police. Alcohol was determined to be a factor in 61 non-fatal and two fatal crashes during the four-day travel holiday, the agency said.

PHIA News Digest – Vol. 8. No. 35

State Police subsidy to be phased out

Speaking as a highway builder, we are thrilled to have finally persuaded lawmakers to halt the practice of subsidizing the state police with motor license fund money that was intended to be used for building and maintaining roads and bridges.

The story behind E-Z Pass, the rules are not the same in every state

E-ZPass is a convenience for anyone traveling the toll roads, but depending on where someone drives, they might be better off buying an EZPass from another state.

Pa. awards $2.9 million for switch to zero or low-emission vehicles

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection awarded $2.9 million in 2022 Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant funding to municipalities, schools, and businesses around the state to switch to zero- or low-emission vehicles.

Changes proposed for Pa. driver’s licenses, plates

A Pennsylvania lawmaker is renewing a push to create digital driver’s licenses, identifications, and license plates. State Sen. Marty Flynn (D-Lackawanna/Luzerne) says he plans to introduce a package of legislation labeled “Driving PA Forward” that “collects some of the lowest hanging fruits and ones that are most likely to result in positive and direct change to our constituents.”

Pa. needs to do more to bring its energy to market

Pennsylvania has the potential to be the global leader in the production and export of clean energy sources, but all the pieces are not currently in place to accomplish that status.

Timeline revealed for the I-95 rebuild project

Crews are now moving into a new phase of work after they installed 100-foot beams to hold the bridges on the north and southbound sides of the highway this week. Eight beams were installed, and eight more will be put in place this coming month, according to PennDOT

PennDOT’s $148.9 million revamp of I-80 bridges sparks concern

PennDOT held a public information meeting about a $148.9 million project to stop further degradation of the I-80 Lehigh River bridges that cross Carbon and Luzerne counties.

PHIA News Digest – Vol. 8, No. 34

Better road to pay for state police

Debates over unresolved elements of the state government’s new $44.45 billion budget – including more than $600 million for four state-affiliated universities’ in-state tuition discounts; $100 million in “Level Up” funding for poor school districts; and more – have obscured significant progress ensured by the completed parts of the budget.

Turnpike commission announces location of Route 130 interchange

A turnpike interchange will be installed near the intersection of Nike Site Road, Sandy Hill Road, Pleasant Valley Road and Route 130 in Penn Township, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission announced.

PA invests nearly $50 million for 58 transportation projects

Gov. Josh Shapiro announced that his administration will fund 58 highway, bridge, aviation, ports and bike and pedestrian projects in 37 counties using $49.6 million in funding from the Multimodal Transportation Fund, which provides grant funding to ensure that a safe and reliable system of transportation is available to all Pennsylvanians.

PHIA News Digest – Vol. 8, No. 33

How the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will impact Pa.

In today’s polarized political climate, few issues in Washington receive bipartisan support. Investment in the nation’s infrastructure, however, is a notable exception – and with good reason.

Plan to stop diverting road dollars state police could be final piece of Pa. budget

For at least 50 years, Pennsylvania has used taxes drivers pay at the pump to fund its State Police force. But lawmakers are hopeful that the main budget bill passed by the divided Pennsylvania General Assembly and recently signed by Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro is the first step to ending those transfers, which have diverted $8 billion from road and bridge construction in the past decade alone.

Steam locomotive from Franklin Institute to be displayed at Pa. Railroad Museum

A steam locomotive that has been on display at the Franklin Institute for the last 90 years was recently removed and will be relocated to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg.

City, SEPTA and PennDOT cut ribbon on red bus-only lane

City officials joined SEPTA and PennDOT for a ceremonial ribbon-cutting of the newly painted red bus-only lane on Market Street between 20th and 15th streets.

PennDOT accepting grant applications for freight-rail infrastructure projects

PennDOT has opened the application period for grants under the Rail Transportation Assistance Program (RTAP) and the Rail Freight Assistance Program (RFAP).

How a central Pa. company became a major force in the traffic-control industry

When Mike Doner first heard the word “flagger” in the 1980s he didn’t know what it meant.