PHIA News Digest – Vol. 6, No. 2
U.S. 219 improvements to benefit generations
With all the bad news a pandemic has brought in 2020, I applaud a recent decision by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to fund $6 million for preliminary engineering work on Pennsylvania’s portion of U.S. 219 — the final leg of a highway system to connect Southwestern Pennsylvania, Western Maryland and West Virginia via a modern, four-lane thoroughfare.
Transportation Secretary Chao resigns over ‘traumatic’ Capitol attack
Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, who is married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), said Thursday she was resigning, making her the first Cabinet secretary to step down amid a wave of resignations from the Trump administration after the president’s supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.
Buses running on state subsidies, federal money waiting
Despite COVID-19’s role as the culprit for dropping ridership by half at River Valley Transit bus service, the city has not had to dip into a $7.2 million Federal Transit Administration relief package — yet, city officials said.
New state law will improve access to ID cards and driver’s licenses
Gov. Tom Wolf recently signed Act 131 of 2020 into law, which will help homeless Pennsylvanians obtain ID cards, help residents with visual impairments earn driver’s licenses and update commercial driver’s license requirements.
Amtrak Keystone Service trimmed as 4 of 5 passengers stop riding
Beginning Jan. 4, more than a dozen Keystone Service trains will stop running on weekdays between Harrisburg and Philadelphia, as demand has dropped in the coronavirus pandemic to one-fifth of pre-pandemic levels.
