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.
PHIA News Digest – Vol. 8, No. 2
Sen. Langerholc reappointed as chairman of Senate Transportation
Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39) has reappointed Sen. Wayne Langerholc, Jr. (R-35) to lead the Senate Transportation Committee for the 2023-24 legislative session.
Sen. Flynn reappointed Democratic chair of Senate Transportation
Senator Marty Flynn (D-Lackawanna/Luzerne) announced his reappointment as the Democratic Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee.
Gov. Wolf announces grants for automated red light enforcement
Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday announced that PennDOT will distribute approximately $15 million in Automated Red-Light Enforcement funding to 32 municipalities statewide.
Construction cleared due to Bayfront Parkway federal lawsuit dismissal
A federal judge has removed the legal roadblock to the $100 million project to improve the Bayfront Parkway, keeping on track an updated construction timetable that calls for work to start in the spring.
Pa. House bill would hit electric, plug-in hybrid drivers with mileage fees
A central Pennsylvania lawmaker has floated a plan that he says will help bridge the gap by authorizing a five-year pilot program that would levy mileage-based user fees on electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
PHIA News Digest – Vol. 8, No. 1
Pa. Turnpike toll increase to start this weekend
In August, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission approved a 5% increase for customers using the E-ZPass and toll-by-plate systems across the state. The increase will take effect at midnight on Sunday.
Pa. rings in the new year with an increase in gas tax
Gas prices might be dropping on the national level, but Pennsylvanians are about to see increased gas taxes in the new year.
In new year, $250 in unpaid turnpike tolls could mean loss of vehicle registration
On Monday, a new state law will go into effect that suspends the registrations of Pennsylvania vehicle owners who owe $250 or more in turnpike tolls.
PA State Police announces Christmas holiday crash and enforcement results
The Pennsylvania State Police investigated 661 motor vehicle crashes in which seven people died and 113 others were injured during the Christmas holiday weekend from December 23-25.
USDOT awards $273.9M to rural transportation improvement projects
PennDOT will receive $69 million as part of a more than $416 million project to construct approximately 6.1 miles of new four-lane limited access highway connecting U.S. Routes 11/15 near Selinsgrove to U.S. Route 15 near Winfield and will include an interchange and connector within Shamokin Dam to PA Route 61 into Sunbury.
Inflation could sap infrastructure act’s buying power this year
Inflation could severely weaken the impact of funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, experts say.
PHIA News Digest – Vol. 7, No. 52
Pa. gas tax expected to rise in 2023
PennDOT said there is a trigger in a 2013 state law that is prompting the boost of a few cents.
Some Pa. lawmakers want to prevent future automatic gas tax hikes
Pennsylvania’s taxes on gas and diesel are going up in 2023 because of a state law. The move is already drawing a response from some state lawmakers who want to keep this automatic increase from happening again.
Fern Hollow Bridge officially reopens
Less than one year after it collapsed on a cold January day, Pittsburgh’s Fern Hollow Bridge has reopened to traffic.
Consortium closes on first package of P3 bridge program
Bridging Pennsylvania Partners, a consortium comprised of Macquarie Capital and S&B USA Concessions – through Bridging Pennsylvania Developer I, LLC – has reached financial close with PennDOT of the first package of the Major Bridge P3 Program.
PHIA News Digest – Vol. 7, No. 51
Pa. ranks sixth in the nation for animal collisions
According to PennDOT, there were more than 5,700 deer-related crashes in 2021, up from almost 5,600 in 2020.
Gov. Wolf announces $5 million in grant funding to improve traffic safety
Gov. Tom Wolf announced that 20 municipalities will receive a total of $5 million in grant funding to install and maintain traffic signal technologies through PennDOT’s Traffic Signal Technologies Grant program.
New Amtrak trains coming for northeast routes, including NY, NJ, PA
The 83 new trains, which will replace 40- and 50-year-old fleets, will debut on 14 routes, including the
Wolf administration invests $26 million in rail infrastructure
Gov. Tom Wolf announced the approval of 24 rail freight improvement projects that will enhance freight mobility while creating or sustaining more than 340 jobs across Pennsylvania. The State Transportation Commission voted to approve $26 million for the following projects through the Rail Transportation Assistance Program and the Rail Freight Assistance Program.
