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.

2011 in review: Still no transportation funding

If your holiday wish is to see some action on the transportation funding issue, I’m afraid you should expect coal under your tree this year. Below is commentary provided by PHIA on the transportation funding effort as 2011 closes with an industry facing an uncertain future.

Veterans of the transportation construction industry are not exaggerating when they tell you that efforts to establish steady, sustainable, comprehensive funding sources for highways and public transit have been underway for decades.

A year ago, there were reasons for great optimism that 2011 was shaping up to be the year that a comprehensive funding solution, finally, could occur:

• Pennsylvania elected a pro-business governor who seemed to understand the need, and expressed support, for a sound transportation system, and he appointed a PennDOT secretary from the industry whose knowledge and understanding of the problems is unsurpassed.
• There was growing, bipartisan agreement in the General Assembly that the funding issue needed to be addressed.
• The public’s support for a funding solution that would improve safety and relieve congestion was growing. Polling showed that a majority of voters were willing to make a modest investment in improving the transportation and believed that transportation funding was the most important issue facing Pennsylvania.
• There was a strong need to stimulate the economy by creating jobs, and a robust economic study showed that not only would a well funded transportation do that, the majority of the jobs created would be in industries other than construction.
• A coalition of transportation system advocates, the Keystone Transportation Funding Coalition, came together in support, simply, for a comprehensive transportation funding solution. The coalition transcended ideological, political, geographical and socioeconomic boundaries.
• Newspaper editorials across the Commonwealth expressed nearly universal, strong support for a transportation funding solution.
• The construction industry itself stepped up and marshaled substantial resources to mount an education campaign to support a funding solution.

When Governor Corbett appointed a funding advisory commission and charged it with crafting a funding solution, and left nearly every option on the table except increasing the cents-per-gallon flat gas tax, optimism peaked. The commission delivered its recommendations on Aug. 1, and Corbett said he would review the report and announce which recommendations he would endorse.

The fall legislative session came and went without a signal from the governor. Sen. Jake Corman, a Centre County Republican, finally agreed to introduce legislation that mirrored the funding commission’s recommendations.

Administration officials assured transportation funding proponents that the governor supports a funding solution, but did not wish to distract legislators from focusing on several other public policy initiatives, such as school vouchers, privatization of liquor stores and the establishment of Marcellus Shale fees.

The governor and the General Assembly left the transportation funding issue for 2012, an election year for all House members and half of the Senate. Most recently, the word from the administration was that transportation funding would be considered as part of the budget process and would become a featured component in a planned job-creation initiative.

“I cannot imagine a more favorable environment in which to address this issue than the one we’ve had in place in 2011,” said Robert Latham of Associated Pennsylvania Constructors. “Nevertheless, our job is to sustain that favorable environment so that policymakers have a level of comfort that the public is on board and does, in fact, want a safer, less congested transportation system in Pennsylvania.”

PennDOT Secretary Barry Schoch has warned that without a funding solution, the state is facing a plethora of additional weight-restricted and/or closed bridges, adding to the traffic congestion that has already affected the more populous areas of the state.

The Post-Gazette reported recently that Pittsburgh’s Port Authority has begun planning for a 35 percent reduction in service hours that will come next fall if Gov. Tom Corbett and the General Assembly fail to act on a statewide transportation funding shortfall. While Pittsburgh’s situation is particularly dire, public transit systems across the state are facing similar challenges.

Meanwhile, it is clear that there is no consensus in Congress regarding a new multi-year transportation funding package to replace the one that expired two years ago.

“It’s long past time that we get moving on transportation funding,” Latham said. “Are our elected officials preparing to continue to ignore this issue while conditions deteriorate?”

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.

Joint transportation committee hears TFAC update

Members of the Pennsylvania House and Senate transportation committees opened a joint hearing Tuesday to be briefed on the recommendations of Gov. Tom Corbett’s Transportation Funding Advisory Commission (TFAC).

PennDOT Secretary Barry Schoch opened with an update on the damage caused by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, then followed with a summary of the TFAC report. Much of his focus was on various “modernization” initiatives that PennDOT already has begun to undertake.

He also laid out the reasoning behind the recommended lifting of the cap on the Oil Company Franchise Tax, explaining that unlike some previous funding proposals all transportation system users, including those who are not Pennsylvania residents, would share the burden equitably. Read more

Say it ain’t so Irene!

Commentary by PHIA

What have we learned from the aftermath of Hurricane Irene?  Answer: the safety and quality of life of Pennsylvanians center on transportation infrastructure. 

In the days following Irene, we’ve read numerous news accounts of people without power, public transit systems offline due to flooded rail lines and stations, and inaccessible communities caused by road and bridge closures.  The common thread connecting all these problems is the impact highways, bridges and public transit systems have on our daily lives.  And we take it for granted until something like a natural disaster strikes.

PennDOT recently announced the closing of 38 bridges in the southeast due to hurricane impacts.  Additionally, an entire community was cut off when a bridge on State Route 487 in Sullivan County was destroyed.  Clearly those affected residents know how important infrastructure is to their lives.  The safety and convenience infrastructure provides are now confronting them firsthand. Read more

PennDOT’s August lettings total $42 million

The state Department of Transportation (PennDOT) bid just $42.2 million in projects in August bringing the year-to-date total to $1.062 billion.  At this same time last year, PennDOT had let just over $1.3 billion. Read more

PennDOT seeks public input on transportation projects

Source:  PennDOT News Release

Pennsylvanians are invited to share their ideas for highway planning during a series of public hearings to update the state’s 12-Year Transportation Program.

Updated every two years, the Transportation Program serves as a “blueprint” of prioritized transportation projects. The update is overseen by the 15-member State Transportation Commission, or STC, which includes the Transportation Secretary, 10 private citizens appointed by the governor, and the majority and minority chairs of the state Senate and House Transportation Committees.

PennDOT is required by law to prepare and submit to the STC a program of transportation improvements which it recommends be undertaken during the next 12 years, listing only those programs and projects that are reasonably expected to be funded. Read more

Funding recommendations presented to governor

Gov. Tom Corbett’s Transportation Funding Advisory Committee this week presented the governor with recommendations that eventually would raise an additional $2.5 billion annually for the transportation needs of PennDOT, local governments and public transit agencies.  It also contains a number of modernization recommendations aimed at ensuring that PennDOT funds are spent as efficiently as possible.

The cost to a typical motorist – someone who drives 12,000 miles per year in a car that gets 20 miles to the gallon – would be only 70 cents per week in the first year, growing to about $2.50 per week by the fifth year.

A copy of the entire report is available by clicking here.