PHIA News Digest – Vol. 3, No. 9
Gov. Wolf announces $11.5 million in Automated Red Light Enforcement in 35 municipalities
Gov. Tom Wolf announced that PennDOT will distribute nearly $11.5 million in Automated Red Light Enforcement (ARLE) funding to 35 municipalities statewide to fund 41 safety projects.
Rail push gains speed: Local leaders hope to expand passenger train service to Pittsburgh
Increasing rail service could help Johnstown along with other western Pennsylvania municipalities with passenger train stops – including Altoona, Greensburg, and Latrobe – become bedroom communities for Pittsburgh.
3 far-flung cities offer clues to unsnarling Manhattan’s streets
The idea translates easily into any language: Charge drivers for using congested streets and watch them change their habits. It has become an increasingly attractive tool for major metropolises overwhelmed by the traffic strangling their streets.
How could Trump’s infrastructure proposal affect southwestern PA
One displeased local Democrat is Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto. He expressed frustration on Twitter over the proposed cuts in federal funding. Peduto was also upset over proposed changes to the funding formula. Cities currently receive $4 in federal funds for every $1 they offer, but Trump’s proposal means they would only receive $1 for every $4 they offer.
Wolf tries again to get state police-covered towns to pay up
There are 2,571 municipalities in Pennsylvania and yet 1,700 of them rely on the Pennsylvania State Police to provide full- or part-time police coverage. The 4,300 enlisted troopers on the force work out of 16 barracks across the commonwealth with jurisdiction over 82 percent of the state and about one-fourth (3.3 million) of the population.
