PennDOT’s May lettings total $219 million
The state Department of Transportation (PennDOT) bid out just over $219 million in projects in May bringing the year-to-date total to $760.8 million. At this same time last year, PennDOT had let just under $800 million.
PennDOT finished the 2010 calendar year with approximately $2.2 billion in lettings. While PennDOT initially forecast that 2011 will only see $1.7 billion, which was the level of the program back in 2006-07, it expects to hit close to $2 billion by year’s end due to realized savings on the competitive bidding market and increases fuel tax revenues. The department said the overall forecasted decrease is due to the expiration of the federal Economic Stimulus payments as well as a decrease in state funding and stagnet federal funding. To put into perspective, PennDOT’s lettings were $2.8 billion in 2009 due to the billion dollars in economic stimulus funds.
To view the full report and year comparisons, click the link below.
May Letting Report* (PDF)
*The report lists the total contracts awarded at each letting date, a comparison to the same period in the previous calendar year, and letting adjustments made since the previous month. PHIA staff will track PennDOT lettings throughout the year and provide monthly updates.
Highway Work Zone License Plates
Proceeds benefit children of fallen highway workers
Often times when we hear about a highway worker killed on the job, we forget about the families that rely on them and the financial repercussions that result from a missing income. Seeking post high school education may no longer be a reality for these children in the wake of a tragic work zone accident. With your help, PHIA is partnering with APC to help the children of our fallen colleagues. For more information on how to get your work zone license plate, click here.
PHIA recognizes five newspapers for reporting and commentary
Five Pennsylvania newspapers were honored at PHIA’s Transportation Conference and Annual Meeting for excellence in reporting and commentary during the last year.
The Chambersburg Public Opinion, Carlisle Sentinel and Lebanon Daily News, collaborating under the banner of the Central Pennsylvania Joint Reporting Project, were recognized for the series titled “Interstate 81: Troubled Highway,” published in all three papers in January.
The series examined the ways I-81 has re-shaped the smaller communities along its path, and it took a critical look at the future of one of the country’s most important transportation corridors. The project also received assistance from a Shippensburg University journalism class. The series can be viewed here. Read more
Survey Finds Support for Gas Tax Increases
Source: ARTBA (reprinted with permission, Washington Newsline, May 9, 2011)
A Mineta Transportation Institute at San Jose State University study released May 5 found 62 percent of respondents supported a 10- cent per gallon federal gas tax increase specifically dedicated to improving road maintenance. Backing for a 10-cent increase dropped to below 50 percent when revenues were dedicated to transportation projects to reduce local air pollution and global warming. The study also evaluated other infrastructure revenue generating alternatives: 45 percent or respondents approved of a 0.5 cent sales tax increase; a mileage tax adjusted by vehicle pollution levels received 36 percent; and a flat mileage tax of 1 cent per mile was supported by 22 percent. Interestingly, a generic gas tax increase of 10 cents per gallon without specific goals received only 24 percent backing. This data suggests that respondents were willing to invest so long as there are clear and identifiable infrastructure benefits.
The Mineta findings contrast with a February 2011 survey from the Rockefeller Foundation where 71 percent of respondents said “it would be unacceptable to increase the federal gas tax.” The disparity amongst these survey results, and others, reinforces the varying degrees of public understanding on transportation finance and the importance of how opinion surveys are crafted. To view the study, click here.
PHIA and its members in the news
Several events coalesced around PHIA’s Transportation Conference and Annual Meeting on April 26.
Governor Corbett announced the formation of the Transportation Funding Advisory Commission, which includes several members of the PHIA board. They are PHIA President Tom Lawson, APC Executive VP Bob Latham, Ted Leonard of the Pennsylvania AAA Federation, Brad Mallory of Michael Baker Corp., Jim Runk of the Pa. Motor Truck Association and Craig Shuey of the Pa. Turnpike Commission. For more information about the commission and a complete list of members, click here. Read more
