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.
PHIA News Digest – Vol. 3, No. 30
Self-driving car companies muted on updated PennDOT guidelines
Updated voluntary guidelines released last week from PennDOT ask that companies have a second person in the car when traveling faster than 25 mph or provide a solo driver with extra safety training.
Rep. Shuster’s transportation plan gets mixed reviews
Shuster said his draft plan serves as “a new starting point for Congress to begin to seriously address, in a fiscally responsible and bipartisan manner, how we are going to provide the nation with the 21st century infrastructure it needs and deserves.”
PennDOT issues voluntary rules for autonomous vehicles
For the first time, Pennsylvania is getting rules for operation of self- driving cars and trucks in the state. They come as Uber hopes to restart autonomous vehicle testing on the streets of Pittsburgh before the end of the summer.
PennDOT seeks public input on highway safety through online survey
Those interested in providing feedback can complete PennDOT’s annual online highway safety survey. The survey takes five minutes to complete and all responses are completely anonymous.
PHIA News Digest – Vol. 3, No. 29
Tug-of-war plays out over speed camera bill
More than 20 pages of crossed out text characterize a bill that’s been going back and forth between the two houses of General Assembly. Senate Bill 172, which would place speed cameras in active work zones, saw a number of changes during June.
PennDOT seeks public input on highway safety through online survey
Those interested in providing feedback can complete PennDOT’s annual online highway safety survey. The survey takes five minutes to complete and all responses are completely anonymous.
There might be a state trooper in that PennDOT truck
The enforcement will take place in PennDOT’s District 10 — Armstrong, Butler, Clarion, Indiana and Jefferson counties.
State Street is deadliest road in nation, experts say
The number of deaths on State Street in Harrisburg makes it the deadliest stretch of road in the nation, according to national traffic safety experts. Read more
PHIA News Digest – Vol. 3, No. 28
Man charged with theft of nearly $5,000 in unpaid tolls
A Newville man is accused of using the Pennsylvania Turnpike tolls 76 times over two years without paying, racking up more almost $5,000 in unpaid tolls.
SEPTA unveils Regional Rail locomotives
The purchase of the new locomotives was made possible by Act 89, Pennsylvania’s comprehensive transportation funding bill.
Gov. Wolf announces traffic signal funds to benefit 70 municipalities statewide
Governor Tom Wolf announced today that 70 municipalities will receive more than $31 million to support traffic signal upgrades, increasing safety and mobility across Pennsylvania’s communities.
PennDOT and DCED announce designation of U.S. bicycle Routes 30 and 36
PennDOT and the Department of Community and Economic Developed today announced that two new U.S. Bicycle Routes have been designated in Pennsylvania: USBRs 30 and 36. These U.S. Bicycle Route designations create nationally recognized interstate bicycle touring routes in Pennsylvania, which bring significant long-term economic benefits to local communities from out-of-state tourism.
