PHIA News Digest – Vol. 2, No. 35
House GOP to test budget-balancing plan in growing stalemate
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives will return to session Monday for the first time in seven weeks as a lengthening budget stalemate is drawing warnings by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf that he is out of options to make payments on time. Hanging in the balance is $2.2 billion in program funding — about 7 percent of approved spending — and another downgrade to Pennsylvania’s battered credit rating.
Agency heads voice concern over Pa. GOP budget proposal
Agencies are raising alarms over a Pennsylvania GOP-backed House plan to redirect billions of dollars to fill gaps in the state’s badly unbalanced budget.
PennDOT, Leslie Richards to hold town hall on women, diversity at Penn State
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary Leslie Richards is visiting Penn State Monday to help host a town hall for students and young professionals on the importance of women and diversity in transportation, engineering and public service.
Philadelphia port sees continued growth in imports
The Philadelphia port continues to be on a roll, with more containerized freight, more liquid bulk cargoes, and more cars arriving at Philadelphia’s 15 piers and terminals on the Delaware River.
2017 Highway Safety Survey
The survey should take about 5 minutes to complete and all responses, including the “comments” fields, are completely anonymous.
CSX begins operations at Pittsburgh intermodal rail terminal
Our newest facility in Pittsburgh will connect southwestern Pennsylvania to markets across the country and around the world, while improving supply chain flows and reducing transportation costs.”
Widening I-81: Urgent need, but political will in doubt
Michael Ross is urging Franklin County’s congressional delegation to go to work on a federal infrastructure bill.
SEPTA warns state GOP budget proposal could gut public transit
A budget proposal from state Republicans would be catastrophic for public transportation in Philadelphia and surrounding counties, SEPTA officials warned Wednesday.
Why House Republicans aren’t serious about Pa.’s budget deficit
Taking $30 million from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Bank will delay needed transportation projects.
PA House Transportation chairman to retire
With the 2018 primary election more than eight months away, Taylor said he had decided against seeking reelection, even though he is confident he could win again in a district where Republicans have been in the minority for his entire career.
Trump wants states and cities to pay more for infrastructure
The White House envisions that a long-promised infrastructure package would streamline the federal approval process for major projects and also require states and localities to shoulder more of the financial burden for building them.
Pennsylvania dips into highway money to pay for schools, troopers
Gov. Tom Wolf has siphoned fuel taxes to pay for public schools and state troopers in the latest twist in a months-long budget fight with one wing of the Legislature.
