Beginning on July 25 in Lancaster, the PA Highway Information Association will hold a series of regional events promoting the benefits of Act 89 to date. This initiative was kicked off last week with a Capitol news conference featuring PennDOT Secretary Leslie Richards and others who have been close to our Coalition.
The comments focused on progress that has been made in advancing highway projects, funding capital improvements for public transportation agencies, and creating jobs across the Commonwealth.
Secretary Richards also warned that future projects will be delayed or cut unless our political leaders can reduce the reliance on Motor License Fund revenue for State Police operations. She expressed optimism that an acceptable solution will be found through the cooperative effort among PennDOT, the State Police and the four legislative caucuses.
The news conference also included accolades for the early completion of the Route 11 and 15 rock slope project, which eliminated a long detour more than a month early.
Transportation Issue Update
- PennDOT Secretary Leslie Richards joined PHIA’s Jason Wagner, PPTA’s Owen O’Neil and the Coalition’s Dave Black to discuss the progress and challenges surrounding Act 89. The news conference was carried statewide on PCN.
- PennDOT’s incentives in its contract with J.D. Eckman helped expedite the Route 11 and 15 rock slope project, opening the road more than a month early and eliminating the 30-plus-mile detour that was required to maintain safety.
- A two-mile stretch on I-81 in Cumberland County is being widened to ease a pinch-point on one of the state’s most important transportation corridors.
- Pike County is reaping the benefits of a Recycled Asphalt Paving program, which uses recycled materials to resurface less-traveled roads. It saves money and allows communities to stretch their resources farther.
- The City of Reading found a way to jump start a program known as Complete Streets, designed to help cities revitalize urban areas with a multimodal approach to mobility.
- Government data – and possibly “crowd-sourcing” – might be able to help people with disabilities navigate urban areas more easily, based on a program developed in Seattle.
- Despite the boom in transportation options, low-income families may struggle to pay for reliable transportation, may be missing out on new options, and may have fewer fallbacks when their transportation falls through, according to the Urban Institute.