PHIA News Digest – Vol. 3, No. 35
Most expensive project in PennDOT region history set to begin on I-83
This is the single largest highway construction contract to be awarded in the history of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Engineering District 8, the eight-county region including Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and York counties — $104.7 million awarded June 26 to J.D. Eckman Inc. of Atglen, Chester County.
State recognizes bike route through region
USBR 36 extends 398 miles across Pennsylvania, from Ohio to New York.
Auditor General finds incompetence in handling of West York Borough liquid fuels money
Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today said his recent audit of West York Borough’s Liquid Fuels Tax Fund showed sloppy record-keeping led to state allocations being mishandled two consecutive years.
It was America’s first superhighway. Now much of it sits abandoned.
Known at the time as “America’s Super Highway,” the Pennsylvania Turnpike opened in 1940 as the first limited-access highway in the country. Considered state of the art, it served as a model for the Interstate Highway System and other freeways.
PHIA News Digest – Vol. 3, No. 34
PennDOT replaces hundreds of structurally deficient bridges
The wet summer has had an impact on the project with some construction expected to still be taking place next year. Three years after construction began, the bulk of the project will be finished before the end of the year.
Philadelphia’s terminal market major asset to wholesalers
Much of Philadelphia’s produce wholesale business is concentrated in the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market, a facility that marked its seventh anniversary in June. As such, the facility is a major sales driver for numerous reasons, vendors and market operators say.
Monday Update: Residents continue fight against Scranton Beltway
South Abington Twp. residents who could be affected by a project intended to ease congestion on Interstate 81 continue to fight the project and seek answers as the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission conducts preliminary studies ahead of construction.
Fatal hit-and-run a reminder of work zone dangers on Erie’s interstates
A PennDOT contracted construction worker — 26-year-old Jacqueline Ohly, of Stevens Point, Wisconsin — was killed on Tuesday shortly before 7:30 a.m. when she was struck by a hit-and-run motorist on the Interstate 90 eastbound lanes near Exit 35 in Harborcreek Township. Read more
PHIA News Digest – Vol. 3, No. 33
Pennsylvania to spend $64 billion in 12-year transport improvement plan
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will spend nearly $64 billion over the next 12 years to improve its transportation infrastructure, under an updated plan disclosed yesterday by the State Transportation Commission.
Pennsylvania Turnpike toll scofflaws charged with theft in Bucks County
A group of four alleged toll scofflaws racked up $315,000 in unpaid bills to the Pennsylvania Turnpike and now face felony theft charges.
Road work: West York got nearly $1M from state over 10 years, spent $90K
West York has received nearly $1 million in state Liquid Fuels funds over 10 years but has spent only about $90,000 of that money, according to PennDOT.
Wolf, PennDOT give update on road-fixing blitz
PennDOT is moving ahead with accelerated repaving contracts after applying more than 109,000 tons of patching material and improving more than 1,000 miles of roadway through July to deal with the widespread outbreak of potholes after a long and destructive winter season.
Woman racked up nearly $5,000 in unpaid tolls: Police
A Cumberland County woman is facing charges after police say she racked up a hefty bill in unpaid tolls for the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Public meeting set on vehicle fee
The Clinton County commissioners will hold a public meeting on the potential $5 vehicle registration fee, the latest in a series of actions on the highly controversial proposal.
PHIA News Digest – Vol. 3, No. 32
PennDOT rail freight grant program opens application period
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has opened the application period for the 2018-19 Rail Transportation Assistance Program and the Rail Freight Assistance Program.
Jockeying begins over Lehigh County’s proposed $5 vehicle registration fee
Lehigh County Executive Phillips Armstrong kicked off his public lobbying for his $5 vehicle registration fee with a presentation to Lehigh County commissioners Wednesday night.
PennDOT officials give update on the North Atherton Street construction project
As of Thursday, most of North Atherton Street in Ferguson Township is down to only one lane either way. And with Penn State student move-in weekend looming, the concern of a traffic snarl through the corridor is legitimate.
Berks commerce buoyed by PhilaPort improvements
A $300 million port upgrade in Philadelphia should help Berks County businesses as well.
Centre County celebrates federal grant for I-99/I-80 interchange
The Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County (CBICC) and supporters of the ‘DRIVE Forward’ transportation initiative recently hosted an event to celebrate a federal grant for the highspeed I-99/I-80 interchange project.
Truckers’ lawsuit may force turnpike to delay $112.5 million payment for transit
A lawsuit filed by truckers challenging the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s annual $450 million payment for public transit still is wending its way through federal court, but it could have a more immediate effect on transit agencies across the state.
Where’s the traffic? Update on the summer road projects in central Pa.
Road work seems to be everywhere you look (and drive).
PHIA News Digest – Vol. 3, No. 31
Route 33 left off list of critical freight corridors in the Lehigh Valley
When the Lehigh Valley Transportation Study was organizing its list of area freight corridors that could use extra funding, familiar names made the list. But when PennDOT made the state’s list to submit to the Federal Highway Administration, it took off Route 33.
$5 registration fee in Juniata County will not happen
Even though PennDOT is making road and bridge work funds available if counties adopt a $5 fee on all registered vehicles, Juniata County does not intend to participate.
Funding is set for I-99/I-80 interchange project
Improvements to the I-99/I-80 interchange have been in the works for a decade, and it’ll only be a couple more years until construction finally gets underway. That’s thanks to a $35 million federal Infrastructure for Rebuilding America grant.
