PHIA News Digest – Vol. 3, No. 1
Pennsylvania’s Shuster to join GOP exodus
House Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Shuster announced Tuesday that he’s stepping down at the end of his term, joining a fast-growing wave of GOP lawmakers heading for the exits.
Year-end report: PennDOT says it’s delivering transportation value
PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards this week issued a year-end report on the department’s performance in 2017. Richards said the Wolf Administration is taking seriously its responsibility to care for the transportation assets used by Pennsylvanians every day.
Driving on the PA Turnpike is about to become a bit more pricey in 2018
Starting January 7, tolls will go up 6 percent. The price hike applies to both those paying cash and those using E-ZPass.
Pa. Auditor General Eugene DePasquale launches Turnpike audit
Auditor General Eugene DePasquale announced the launch of a performance audit of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. The audit will cover between June 2015 and May 2017 assessing the performance, procedures, operating and capital budgets, debt and accounts of the Turnpike Commission.
Philly’s port prepares for further growth: Bigger ships, expanded cargoes, new cranes, more jobs
At the Port of Philadelphia, two harbor cranes, as large as any in the world, will arrive in early March. The first ship taking used-car exports will leave Philadelphia for Africa next month, and the largest ship ever to sail up the Delaware River will dock here in January with cargo from South America.
Transportation system could sway Amazon to choose Pa.
PennDOT Secretary Leslie Richards recently testified in front a State House Transportation Committee about the use of PennDOT funds. Richards says, based on information she received, the state’s transit system could play a role in landing Amazon’s new North American headquarters in three locations in the Commonwealth.
PennDOT, Plenary Walsh wrap up 2017 construction season
PennDOT and Plenary Walsh Keystone Partners are expected to finish this construction season by checking another bridge opening off the list. It will be the 390th out of 558 structurally deficient bridges set to be repaired by PennDOT’s Rapid Bridge Replacement Project.
Eulogy for the SEPTA token
Philadelphia is the last big American city that still uses tokens on transit, and in a few years, when the last SEPTA token pays for its last ride, an era in transportation will end.
Five imperatives for transportation infrastructure funding
In early 2018 the Trump administration will turn its attention to our deteriorating and outmoded infrastructure. It is about time.
