Governor Corbett Announces Updated 12-Year Transportation Program
The State Transportation Commission today updated Pennsylvania’s 12-Year Transportation Program with a 50 percent boost in transportation spending directly attributable to passage of Act 89 last fall.
The new plan anticipates $63.2 billion being available over the next 12 years for improvements to roads, bridges, transit systems, airports and railroads, compared with $41.6 billion in the last update two years ago.
“Today’s action represents a significant step forward to addressing all transportation modes,” Governor Corbett said in announcing the action. “Act 89 provides a solution to a decades old problem, and the legislature and I showed that unlike Washington, we are able to put partisan politics aside and do what’s right for Pennsylvania.”
The program, which takes effect Oct. 1, anticipates $12.3 billion being available for highway and bridge projects in the first four years. Public transit is in line for $7.9 billion; aviation, $370 million; the state’s rail-freight systems $228 million; and the newly created multimodal fund will receive $284 million in the first four years.
State law requires the commission to review and update the 12-Year Program every two years. No capital project can move forward unless it is included in the 12-Year Program.
Some of the key projects funded by Act 89 and included in the updated 12-Year Program are:
- Continuation of the four-lane US 322 from the top of Seven Mountains to west of Potters Mills in Centre County.
- Construction of the long-awaited expansion of the Conchester (U.S. 322) Highway between Route 1 and Interstate 95 in Delaware County.
- The initial steps to lay the groundwork for the Interstate 83 master plan expansion through Harrisburg.
- The initial steps leading to the widening of U.S. 22 in the Lehigh Valley.
- Start of design work for the 13-mile long Central Susquehanna Valley Thruway in Snyder, Union and Northumberland counties.
More information about the 12-Year Program Update is available by clicking HERE.
