Dear KTFC Members & Friends:
Folks, as most of you know, I’ve spent a good many years working on transportation issues, and it always warms my heart to engage with other people who are passionate advocates of matters surrounding the mobility of people, materials and products.
So, I was thrilled to listen in on an interview with western PA Congressman Conor Lamb last week as part of Associated Pennsylvania Constructors’ Speaker Series. The congressman is one of several PA lawmakers who serve on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure.
I have also had the privilege of knowing Conor’s family. His grandfather, Thomas, served in the PA House and Senate, where he was Democratic majority leader. Tom was instrumental in the creation of the Port Authority of Allegheny County, so he had a few transportation licks of his own. Conor’s uncle, Michael, is controller of the City of Pittsburgh and in 2020 ran for PA auditor general.
Congressman Lamb’s office and APC arranged to distribute a recording of the interview with Conor, which was conducted by APC’s Bob Latham. You’ll find it at this link.
Be of Good Cheer,
— The Wolff
TRANSPORTATION ISSUE UPDATE
- After five years of “suspended animation,” officials in Washington approved the $11.6 billion Gateway Tunnel project for federal funding. The rail tunnel is deemed by many to be one of the most critical infrastructure projects in the country.
- PennDOT held a telephone town hall meeting to gather public comments on the proposed public-private partnership initiative to toll nine bridges across the Commonwealth to pay for restoration or replacement.
- A measure that would allow local police to use radar for speed enforcement moved out of committee and onto the full Senate last week.
- PennDOT announced the beginning of a two-year project to improve an 11-mile stretch of I-79 in Crawford and Erie counties.
- President Biden’s American Employment Plan, released in March, includes $85 billion for urban transport to buy new buses and trains and improve the system by maintaining subway stations and railroad tracks.
- A new report found that despite lower traffic volumes during the pandemic, there were 145 pedestrian fatalities in 2020 across the state.
- PennDOT said it would invest $10 million to upgrade 12 airports in the Commonwealth, using Air Transport Assistance Program funds.