Last week, national and state traveling memorials to people who have lost their lives in highway work zone crashes came through Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, a somber reminder to respect the need for safety in areas where construction is in progress.

Speeding and distracted driving are factors in most work zone crashes, and PennDOT, the Turnpike Commission and the highway construction industry work hard to raise public awareness of the issue. While advanced engineering and technology are combining to reduce serious injuries and fatalities in crashes across the country, safety in work zones continues to be a challenge.

Act 89 increased revenue for highway projects, leading to an increase in the number of work zones. The General Assembly is considering several pieces of legislation aimed at improving work zone safety.

Last week, the Coalition sent letters to the Pennsylvania congressional delegation urging members to consider a federal transportation funding mechanism similar to that provided for in Act 89 of 2013. That mechanism removed the flat tax that had been administered at the pump and moved the collection point to the wholesale level, streamlining collection and ensuring some revenue growth to account for inflation. To view the letter, click here.

Transportation Issue Update