PHIA News Digest – Vol. 4, No. 19
Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission proposes $31.7 billion in transportation projects through 2045
The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission will begin a series of meetings Monday to display a draft long-range plan for the region that highlights $31.7 billion worth of expected transportation projects through 2045. The plan, called “SmartMoves for a Changing Region,” includes $17.3 billion for road and bridge projects, and $14.4 billion for transit projects.
Driver had $128,000 in unpaid Pennsylvania Turnpike tolls and fines
A Trevose, Pa. man is learning that there’s no such thing as a free ride on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Jeffrey Stiff is considered the state’s worst toll evader. Stiff has racked up nearly $128,000 in unpaid tolls and fines.
Here’s why SEPTA’s improvement projects are back on hold
If the transit agency isn’t able to resume bridge maintenance and other infrastructure projects, some of its routes could end up being at risk by this time next year.
PennDOT inspects Fort Duquesne Bridge after concrete chunks fall
PennDOT officials conducted an emergency inspection on the Fort Duquesne Bridge after pieces of concrete fell to the ground on the North Shore on Tuesday.
Pa. Turnpike toll lawsuit keeps SEPTA improvements on hold
SEPTA’s state funding is hovering at a more than 10-year low due to a federal lawsuit that just won’t go away.
PennDOT OKs funding for 27 freight-rail projects
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf and PennDOT announced the approval of 27 freight-rail improvement projects and their state share of funding.
Philadelphia traffic ranked one of the worst, so how do we fix it?
Philadelphia’s commute is a near universal source of complaints. Traffic analytics firm, INRIX, ranks the city as the 9th most congested in the country and the 69th wrst in the world.
Landslide costs add to PennDOT’s funding challenges
In a typical year, PennDOT officials budget about $30 million for flooding and landslide damage. In 2018, they spent $127 million fixing that damage, according to PennDOT Secretary Leslie Richards.
