2023 Road and Bridge Safety Award Program Open for PA’s Counties
Each year the Pennsylvania Highway Information Association (PHIA) and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) team with various state organizations to recognize the best road safety or bridge improvement projects undertaken across the state. For the 40th straight year, the program is now open for Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. Eligible projects are those in which most or all safety improvements were completed in 2022 or 2023. The competition recognizes major, high-cost projects and any improvements that have increased public safety.
Go here for complete information including the entry brochure. The deadline is July 7, 2023.
Turnpike Commission breaks ground on next phase of Mon/Fayette Expressway
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission officials have broken ground on the next phase of the Mon/Fayette Expressway, a $214 million contract for a three-mile section from Route 51 to Coal Valley Road in Jefferson Hills.
The current expressway runs 54 miles from I-68 near Morgantown to Jefferson Hills. When completed, the $1.3 billion southern section will ultimately extend eight miles from Route 51 to Route 837 in Duquesne.
The Tribune-Review posted a two-minute video of a drone’s-eye view of the construction site. To view it, follow this link.
Remembering Bud Shuster
This week, the transportation world mourns the passing of former Republican Congressman Bud Shuster, who in three terms as chairman of the House Transportation Committee built a legendary record for directing federal highway funds to his beloved PA 9th Congressional District.
Nicknamed “the King of Asphalt,” he resigned his congressional seat in 2001, a day after being sworn in to his 15th term. He cited party rules that limited members to three two-year terms as committee chairs, as well as family reasons. He was succeeded by his son, Bill, who served until 2019.
According to the New York Times, Bud’s two signature pieces of legislation were the 1998 surface transportation bill, which reserved revenue from gasoline taxes for road and transit projects, and a 2000 bill guaranteeing that money from a tax on airline tickets would be dedicated to aviation.
His constituents benefited from a vast array of transportation infrastructure, up to and including the Bud Shuster Highway, which links State College, Altoona and the Pennsylvania Turnpike. In 1991, former U.S. Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan was asked which state had received the biggest share of highway money, to which he responded, “the State of Altoona.”
Among his many honors was being named PHIA’s Advocate of the Year in 1983. PHIA extends sincerest condolences to Bud’s family and friends.
To read his Altoona Mirror obituary, follow this link.
Another Pittsburgh bridge deemed unsafe for traffic
Photo Used with Permission. Credit: Zoe Fuller / 90.5 WESA
The warm glow that we may have felt following the replacement of the collapsed Fern Hollow Bridge in under a year dissipated this week upon the news of the closing of the Charles Anderson Memorial Bridge in Oakland, effective immediately.
The bridge is on the western edge of Schenley Park and connects Squirrel Hill and Greenfield to Oakland and downtown Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh officials said a recent structural analysis of the bridge showed it is unsafe for traffic. Repairs will take at least four months and cost $1 to $2 million.
The good news is that the problems were discovered before a structural failure occurred. Mayor Ed Gainey attributed the timely discovery to safety systems that have been put in place in the last year.
The discovery also serves as a reminder that Pennsylvania’s transportation infrastructure is in poor condition. While there is optimism that funding solutions are around the corner, there is considerable work ahead to bring the condition of our bridges and highways up to an acceptable standard.
For a news article on the bridge’s closing, follow this link.
PennDOT secretary-nominee somehow seems familiar
Once he’s confirmed by the PA Senate, Josh Shapiro’s nominee to serve as PennDOT secretary won’t need to ask anyone for directions to PennDOT’s headquarters, or the governor’s office, or the Capitol complex hearing rooms and legislative offices, or where to grab a quick sandwich or salad for lunch.
Secretary-designee Mike Carroll will surely feel right at home in Harrisburg, where he has spent the vast majority of his career – a career that has been chock-full of transportation policy issues even before his 16-year stint as a legislator, capped off last year as Democratic chair of the House Transportation Committee.
His decision not to seek reelection saddened his cohorts on the committee, who knew him as a consensus-builder with a vast reservoir of institutional knowledge, but everyone eventually needs to try new things.
And now we know what his “new thing” will be. Having seen transportation policy through the lens of a congressional, gubernatorial and legislative staff member, and a state representative serving constituents in Lackawanna, Luzerne and Monroe counties, his next chapter would keep him in Harrisburg, riding herd over one of the nation’s largest state departments of transportation.
The transportation industry welcomed the news of Mike’s nomination. APC’s Bob Latham said:
“We would be hard-pressed to name anyone more capable to lead PennDOT than Mike Carroll. His knowledge and experience with transportation issues began early in his career and continued through his years in the General Assembly. We are facing enormous challenges in funding and maintaining Pennsylvania’s 40,000 miles of state highways. The industry looks forward to continued partnership with PennDOT under Mike Carroll’s leadership.”
PHIA and the Keystone Transportation Funding Coalition also add their congratulations and well wishes. We anticipate a pivotal year in advancing transportation funding solutions and look forward to a fruitful 2023.
