As we turn the page toward the final month of the fiscal year, the Keystone Crossroads news team brings us a roundup story detailing five approaches to funding State Police operations in municipalities that do not have local police forces.
The Keystone Crossroads project is a cooperative venture among the Commonwealth’s public radio broadcasters that is aimed at in-depth coverage of important public issues, including infrastructure.
Also in recent days, Auditor General Eugene DePasquale announced that he would undertake an audit to determine whether the new revenue raised by Act 89 is being used appropriately.
These events spark hopes that we are getting closer to a solution to the diversion of revenue intended for highway projects and find a more suitable source for funding State Police.
Transportation Issue Update
- Our friends at Keystone Crossroads published a round-up of the various proposals for weaning the State Police away from the Motor License Fund.
- Auditor General Eugene DePasquale announced that he will look into whether the revenue generated by Act 89 of 2013 is being used appropriately.
Much to the delight of our bicyclist friends, PennDOT has done away with the bicycle occupancy permit process, replacing it with a simply and more bicyclist-friendly process called bike lane request/approval letters.
Governor Wolf and PennDOT continued to make the rounds to announce plans for this highway construction season. The recent announcements were in southeast and northwest PA. - The Legislative Finance & Budget Committee will study the feasibility of adding more daily Amtrak trips between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg.
- The Port of Philadelphia launched a new brand, PhilaPort, to help its global marketing efforts and bring new, larger ships to the port.
- PennDOT unveiled three alternate routes for a portion of the Routes 11 and 15 bypass in Snyder County. An alternate route is needed in order to avoid two fly ash waste basis, which will not support a roadway.
- The Inquirer ran an op-ed article on the Trump infrastructure plan – or the absence of it.