PHIA News Digest – Vol. 38
Motor vehicle accidents on the rise in Pennsylvania, U.S.
An estimated 552 people were killed in motor vehicle accidents in Pennsylvania during the first six months of 2015, representing a 7 percent hike over the same period last year, according to a report released Monday by the National Safety Council.
The Pennsylvania increase was only half as large as the nation’s estimated 14 percent rise in motor vehicle deaths, totaling 18,630 victims, according to the report. In all, 36 states reported increases over six-month totals for 2014.
Sen. Casey fights against bigger trucks
Monroe County officials have teamed with Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) to call for a change in federal transportation legislation that would allow bigger — and possibly more dangerous — tractor-trailers to travel Pennsylvania highways.
Casey headlined a press conference Wednesday afternoon in Stroudsburg to share his concerns with a portion of a House of Representative’s transportation bill that would allow trucks to reach lengths of 85 feet across two trailers throughout the nation.
Santarsiero shows PennDOT officials road improvement needs
It was road-trip time late Thursday morning for state Rep. Steve Santarsiero and two PennDOT officials.
Santarsiero, D-31, of Lower Makefield, his legislative assistant, Ryan Bevitz, PennDOT’s John Krafczyk and Lorraine Ryan, and members of the local media piled into Santarsiero’s Ford Explorer and proceeded on an hour-long trip around his legislative district as he pointed out spots that he thinks need road or traffic improvements.
PennDOT: Stats show new roundabout improved safety
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation says the first roundabout constructed in the six-county northwestern district has produced a significant safety improvement, and it expects to begin work on two roundabouts in Crawford County in 2016.
