PHIA News Digest – Vol. 8, No. 23
Carnegie Mellon University to lead transportation consortium
Carnegie Mellon University will lead a national consortium that will establish Safety21, a new university transportation center. The U.S. Department of Transportation will provide the consortium with $20 million over the next five years.
Neilson introduces legislation to target speeding in Pa.
State Rep. Ed Neilson, chair of the PA House Transportation Committee, has introduced legislation (H.B. 1284) to make Pennsylvania’s automated speed enforcement programs in active work zones and along Roosevelt Boulevard in Philadelphia permanent. Without legislative action, these programs are scheduled to expire in February 2024 and December 2023 respectively.
Millions in federal funding target dangerous railroad crossings
The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration is awarding more than $570 million in Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program funding to 32 states, including two projects in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Revenue Department releases May collections
In addition to the General Fund collections, the Motor License Fund received $280.8 million for the month, $27.2 million below estimate. Fiscal year-to-date collections for the fund – which include the commonly known gas and diesel taxes, as well as other license, fine and fee revenues – total $2.7 billion, which is $38.8 million, or 1.5 percent, above estimate.
PHIA News Digest – Vol. 8, No. 22
Legislative shift in how PSP is funded given preliminary approval in Pa. House
The House Transportation Committee voted unanimously to advance House Bill 1162 to the full chamber. The bill is sponsored by the committee’s minority and majority chairs, Rep. Ed Neilson, D-Philadelphia, and Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre.
Mon/Fayette Expressway’s next phase
A groundbreaking ceremony marked the start of the next phase of the expressway project. It will go from PA Route 51 in Jefferson Hills to PA Route 837 in Duquesne. This latest phase will have seven sections and cost an estimated $1.3 billion. Work on this phase will continue into the year 2028.
SEPTA’s Richards reappointed as manager, CEO
SEPTA announced the reappointment of Leslie S. Richards as the agency’s general manager and CEO. The SEPTA board and Richards agreed to terms of a four-year contract that runs through January 2027.
PHIA News Digest – Vol. 8, No. 21
10K bridges should be checked for corrosion in wake of collapse
Investigators looking into the collapse of a Pittsburgh bridge want transportation officials nationwide to examine more than 10,000 other bridges with similar construction to ensure they don’t have the same kind of corrosion that was found on the bridge that collapsed.
PennDOT announces Cargo Growth Incentive Program fund extension
The Pennsylvania Intermodal Cargo Growth Incentive Program, which looks to increase containerized cargo activity by incentivizing shippers to move cargo through Pennsylvania ports, is being extended to July 2024. PennDOT announced the extension of the program, which was scheduled to end in June 2023.
Buttigieg says Transportation Dept. is working to avoid summer travel disruptions
Just ahead of what airlines say could be the busiest Memorial Day weekend for travel since before COVID-19, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is sharing how his department is prepping for the potentially record-breaking season.
Report shows benefits of Coatesville Train Station project
Findings from an Amtrak report on the $65 million reconstruction of Coatesville’s 155-year-old train station demonstrate a ripple effect for growth that’s spurring investment totaling more than $135 million in 40 projects.
PennDOT releases Critical Infrastructure Plan
PennDOT has released the 2045 Freight Movement Plan, a comprehensive strategic plan for moving goods throughout the state. The plan provides information on Pennsylvania’s freight infrastructure and PennDOT’s efforts to continually improve the safe and efficient movement of freight statewide.
Lawmakers address rising pedestrian deaths
In response to the alarming increase in pedestrian fatalities, lawmakers propose higher fines for drivers who pose a risk to pedestrians. Rep. Steve Malagari, D-Lansdale, advocates for quadrupling the current $50 fine to $200 for drivers who fail to yield the right-of-way, particularly in school zones.
PHIA News Digest – Vol. 8, No. 20
PennDOT says motorcycle safety is a choice
As the weather gets warmer, more and more motorcycles will be on the roads. Officials in Pennsylvania are reminding drivers to use extra care. May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in Pennsylvania.
Number of PA motorcycle riders is declining
Data released by PennDOT show the state is slowly but surely losing the number of motorcycle riders in the state. There were 60,000 fewer in 2022 than there were in 2015.
PennDOT, PSP reminding PA riders, drivers to practice safety
PennDOT, PA State Police, and motorcycle safety advocates joined forces to promote and encourage the safe operation of all vehicles.
PA Senate committee approves electric scooter legislation
Senate Bill 692 would allow certain municipalities the ability to approve the program locally. This includes ordinances, policies, and regulations for the safety, operation and management of the scooters.
2 PA metro areas among top 10 best for public transportation: report
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington area scored the second overall spot on the list with a composite score of 92.4 out of 100. Pittsburgh laid claim to the number 10 ranking with an 85.3.
PHIA News Digest – Vol. 8, No. 19
PennDOT secretary confirmed
A former state representative has been confirmed as Pennsylvania’s newest transportation secretary. The state Senate confirmed Mike Carroll to serve as the new leader for PennDOT. Carroll comes to the position after serving as a Democratic chairman for the House Transportation Committee for the last four years.
Your peeling license plate could cost you a $100 fine
PennDOT says thousands of state-issued license plates are peeling. At a drive-in clinic at the AAA Pleasant Hills facility on Tuesday, cars, trucks and SUVs lined up to fix their peeling license plates.
PennDOT announces 20+ forms can now be submitted online
PennDOT has announced that over 20 driver licensing and motor vehicle forms are now available to be submitted electronically. The department says the move is designed to provide faster and more efficient customer service to Pennsylvania residents.
Pa. Turnpike starts final phase of all-electronic tolling
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission announced it has begun the final stages of the All-Electric Tolling program.
Revenue Department releases April collections
In addition to the General Fund collections, the Motor License Fund received $291.0 million for the month, $4.5 million below estimate. Fiscal year-to-date collections for the fund – which include the commonly known gas and diesel taxes, as well as other license, fine and fee revenues – total $2.4 billion, which is $66.0 million, or 2.8 percent, above estimate.
House panel examines ways to collect road costs from EV users
Thirty states have enacted road use fees for electric vehicles, Pennsylvania House Transportation Committee Chairman Ed Neilson, D-Philadelphia, said. The challenge for Pennsylvania is determining a fair and equitable way to do so, Neilson said.
