PHIA News Digest – Vol. 8, No. 3
Shapiro nominates Carroll to lead PennDOT
Governor-elect Josh Shapiro Thursday announced four key cabinet appointments, including former state representative Mike Carroll of Avoca as the next Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation.
PennDOT reviewing bill to halt gas-tax increase
A spokeswoman for PennDOT said her agency is reviewing legislation passed Wednesday in the state Senate that would stop the automatic gasoline tax increase taking effect this month, and permanently set the average wholesale price at $2.99 per gallon in a bid to end future tax hikes.
Two men charged in scheme to defraud PA Turnpike of a million dollars in tolls
Two men have been charged with a scheme to defraud the Pennsylvania Turnpike out of millions of dollars in tolls, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
Lower public transit use in Pa. poses long-term budget problems
Though public transit ridership has significantly fallen since the pandemic, transportation assistance programs in Pennsylvania have seen a boost. That’s why the PennDOT recently drew attention to the growing source of ridership available to qualifying residents.
More than 12,500 Pennsylvanians connected to transportation assistance programs
The Pennsylvania departments of Transportation and Human Services urged Pennsylvanians to use Find My Ride to learn about public transit options and apply for transportation assistance programs. More than 12,500 Pennsylvanians have been approved for services since FMR launched in May 2021.
Bills to end gas tax hike, cap highway funding transfers pass through Pa. Senate committee
Pennsylvania’s Senate Transportation Committee advanced two bills on Monday that separately propose to end this year’s state gas tax increase and to cap the amount of money transferred annually to the state police from a dedicated fund for road repairs.