PennDOT issues $152 million in construction projects during April
The state Department of Transportation (PennDOT) bid just over $152 million in projects in April bringing the year-to-date total to slightly over $489 million. At this same point in 2011, PennDOT had bid just over $543 million.
PennDOT made a 2012 construction year forecast at $1.5 billion due to a decrease in state funding and stagnant federal funding. For perspective, a $1.5 billion letting program was the same volume as in 2006. In 2011, PennDOT ended the year with $1.8 billion in lettings. It is important to note that just a few years ago, PennDOT’s 2009 lettings were $2.8 billion due to the billion dollars in economic stimulus funds, which have been completely spent.
To view the full report and year comparisons, click the link below.
*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.
PennDOT Bids $204 Million in Projects in March
The state Department of Transportation (PennDOT) bid just over $204 million in projects in March bringing the year-to-date total to slightly over $336 million. At this same point in 2011, PennDOT had bid just over $400 million.
PennDOT made a 2012 construction year forecast at $1.5 billion due to a decrease in state funding and stagnant federal funding. For perspective, a $1.5 billion letting program was the same volume as in 2006. For more information regarding the department’s forecast you can view Dep. Secretary Scott Christie’s presentation at the annual APC Fall Seminar by going here. In 2011, PennDOT ended the year with $1.8 billion in lettings.
It is important to note that just a few years ago, PennDOT’s 2009 lettings were $2.8 billion due to the billion dollars in economic stimulus funds, which have been completely spent.
To view the full report and year comparisons, click the link below.
*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.
PennDOT bids $91 million in projects during February
The state Department of Transportation (PennDOT) bid just over $91 million in projects in February bringing the year-to-date total to slightly over $141 million. At this same point in 2011, PennDOT had bid almost $186 million.
PennDOT made a 2012 construction year forecast at $1.5 billion due to a decrease in state funding and stagnant federal funding. For perspective, a $1.5 billion letting program was the same volume as in 2006. For more information regarding the department’s forecast you can view Dep. Secretary Scott Christie’s presentation at the annual APC Fall Seminar by going here. In 2011, PennDOT ended the year with $1.8 billion in lettings.
It is important to note that just a few years ago, PennDOT’s 2009 lettings were $2.8 billion due to the billion dollars in economic stimulus funds, which have been completely spent.
To view the full report and year comparisons, click the link below.
*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.
P3’s are a tool, not a panacea
As legislators at last seem to be making headway in advancing a public-private partnership bill, it behooves us to keep some perspective on how much P3’s can contribute to a solution to Pennsylvania’s transportation funding woes.
Many federal and state elected officials suggest that private-sector financing holds significant promise as a funding solution. The transportation construction industry agrees that a comprehensive solution should include the opportunity for private investment, but there are several things about privatization that everyone should consider and understand.
First is the scope of the funding problem. Pennsylvania’s Transportation Advisory Committee calculated the state’s funding gap for PennDOT, public transit and local roads at $3.5 billion annually. It is not realistic to believe that market-driven private sector investment will solve the entire problem, or even a significant portion of it.
As the Pennsylvania Economy League’s transportation study noted six years ago, a comprehensive solution certainly must include a wide variety of funding mechanisms, including increased user fees, local taxing authority and prudent use of debt, as well as private investment.
Private financing options will introduce market forces into transportation services. However, there are limited projects in a few geographic areas that make market sense for the capital risk associated with privately financed projects.
The success of privately financed projects in other states underscores the public’s willingness to pay for transportation services. All private finance arrangements – whether leasing existing toll roads or building new bridges and high occupancy toll lanes – introduce a mileage fee or toll system paid by the road user.
If the last several years have shown us anything, it is that there is no panacea for the transportation funding problem. Pennsylvania’s needs have far exceeded the resources required to address this problem, and a solution without significant cost is impossible.
On the bright side, it is clear from the continuing public opinion research that Pennsylvanians are willing to make an investment in safer and less congested highways, as well as efficient public transit systems. Nearly everyone agrees that the transportation system needs to be fixed, and an adequately funded transportation program would create 50,000 jobs in Pennsylvania, mostly in sectors other than highway construction.
For these reasons, we are optimistic this issue is finally ripe for a lasting solution. But that lasting solution will need to be much more than public-private partnerships.
Road & Bridge Safety Awards now open to PA Boroughs
Each year the Pennsylvania Highway Information Association (PHIA) and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) team with various state organizations to recognize the best road safety or bridge improvement projects undertaken across the state. Eligible projects are those in which most or all of the safety improvements were completed in 2011. The competition recognizes not only major, high-cost projects, but any improvements that have increased public safety.
The 2012 program is now open to those members of the PA State Association of Boroughs (PSAB). The progam will recognize boroughs use of highway user fees for needed community safety improvements, culminating in a presentation to the winners at PSAB’s annual conference at Seven Springs Resort on May 2, 2012. Click HERE to download a copy of the entry brochure. The entry deadline is March 16, 2012.
For more information on other municipal organization’s Road and Bridge Safety Award programs, click here.
PennDOT ends 2011 with $1.8 billion in lettings
PennDOT lets $263 million in projects in December
The state Department of Transportation (PennDOT) bid just over $263.7 million in projects in December bringing the final year-to-date total to $1.812 billion. In 2010, PennDOT ended the year with $2.119 billion in lettings.
PennDOT initially forecast the 2011 year to see $1.7 billion in lettings, which was the level of the program back in 2006-07. While PennDOT slightly exceeded its forecast, the total still represents a flat construction program. PennDOT made a 2012 construction year forecast at $1.5 billion due to a decrease in state funding and stagnant federal funding. For more information regarding the department’s forecast you can view Dep. Secretary Scott Christie’s presentation at the annual APC Fall Seminar by going here.
It is important to note that just a few years ago, PennDOT’s 2009 lettings were $2.8 billion due to the billion dollars in economic stimulus funds, which have been completely spent.
To view the full report and year comparisons, click the link below.
- December 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.
Emergency flood projects drive active November
PennDOT lets $98 million in projects
The state Department of Transportation (PennDOT) bid just over $98 million in projects in November bringing the year-to-date total to $1.549 billion. At this same time last year, PennDOT had let $1.78 billion.
PennDOT finished the 2010 calendar year with approximately $2.2 billion in lettings. PennDOT initially forecasted the 2011 year to see $1.7 billion in lettings, which was the level of the program back in 2006-07. PennDOT made a 2012 construction year forecast at $1.5 billion due to the expiration of the federal Economic Stimulus payments as well as a decrease in state funding and stagnant federal funding. For more information regarding the department’s forecast you can view Dep. Secretary Scott Christie’s presentation at the annual APC Fall Seminar by going here. 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.
- November 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.
PennDOT forecasts diminished 2012 highway construction program
PennDOT Deputy Secretary Scott Christie last week outlined the department’s projected 2012 construction program during an annual gathering of the highway construction industry. And, the news wasn’t good.
While lettings this year will exceed the original projections of approximately $1.9 billion, Christie put the 2012 forecast at a maximum $1.5 billion in lettings, a decrease of more than 20 percent.
Given its diminishing resources, PennDOT will focus on “preservation of the network” in 2012 and plans to bid only six projects exceeding $20 million, with a potential of adding eight more if circumstances warrant.
Christie was quick to add that the $1.5 billion figure would increase to about $2 billion if the state enacts a comprehensive funding package soon, due to the department’s ability to bond against future anticipated revenues.
Also addressing the gathering of approximately 1,500 people at the Associated Pennsylvania Constructors Fall Conference was PennDOT Secretary Barry Schoch, who outlined elements of a funding proposal that would generate additional short and long-term funding. Schoch indicated that a key component of the plan would be to systematically increase the cap on the Oil Company Franchise Tax in out years when the economy improves, but that short-term bonding could be used to generate immediate funds.
While the specifics of such funding proposal are still being vetted with the state legislature, Schoch indicated that the passage of a funding proposal is still within reach. He said Gov. Tom Corbett is working on the specifics of making a funding-package announcement, which could come as early as this week.
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.
PennDOT’s February Construction Lettings = $119 Million
The state Department of Transportation (PennDOT) bid out just over $119 million in projects in February bring the year-to-date total to $185.6 million. PennDOT finished the 2010 calendar year with approximately $2.2 billion in lettings but has forecast that 2011 will only see $1.7 billion, which was the level of the program back in 2006-07. The department said this decrease is largely 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. Read more
