PHIA News Digest – Vol. 8, No. 26
How a collapsed section of I-95 reopened in just 12 days
A combination of NASCAR equipment, recycled glass and police escorts helped reopen the repaired portion of I-95 in Philadelphia way ahead of schedule. Six lanes reopened to motorists at noon on Friday, 12 days after a bridge collapsed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro announced.
Democrat proposes more local options for mass-transit funding
Rep. Joe Hohenstein, D-Philadelphia, on Tuesday hosted a news conference on the Capitol steps to announce a new bill that would allow local communities to raise funds for their own transportation systems.
Pa. lawmaker hopes to help Philly crack down on ATVs
The ranking member of the Pennsylvania House Transportation Committee hopes a change to state law could help Philadelphia crack down on illegal operation of ATVs and dirt bikes on city streets.
SEPTA adjusts service after I-95 reopens
SEPTA will continue to offer two additional morning trains and one additional evening train on its Trenton Line, while maintaining additional seating capacity on that line, as well as the West Trenton and Fox Chase lines.
The man behind the I-95 rebuild: Who is PennDOT chief Mike Carroll?
One phone call uprooted PennDOT secretary Mike Carroll’s life. It was around 7am on June 11, informing him that a portion of I-95 had collapsed after a tanker caught fire underneath the Cottman Avenue exit.
Fetterman introduces bill to fund road safety improvements for pedestrians
As a stretch of I-95 in Philadelphia damaged by an explosion on June 11 comes close to reopening, U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., on Thursday introduced a bill to fund improvements for roads across the state and the U.S., aiming to make them safer for pedestrians.
NASCAR jet dryer sent to help I-95 repair work
With intermittent rain expected over the next few days, PennDOT has brought in a NASCAR jet dryer from Pocono Raceway to keep the asphalt on the new roadway dry. The jet dryer is essentially a helicopter engine carried on the back of a truck.
Bills loosening emissions testing, setting EV fees approved by Pa. Senate
The Pennsylvania Senate approved bills Wednesday exempting new vehicles from emissions testing for five years after manufacture, removing seven counties from annual vehicle emissions testing, and charging a flat user fee for electric vehicle owners. The measures, all with varied levels of bipartisan support, now move to the state House for further consideration.
Is foam glass safe for I-95 rebuild? Where else you’ll find it
Amid the excitement about I-95 reopening much sooner than expected, there’s been a small nagging question: What’s with the much-hyped “foam glass” used to build the temporary lanes? Is the material — a product of Delco “ingenuity,” per Gov. Josh Shapiro — really suitable for such an important job?
