Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Investments in Electric Vehicle Charging

As the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) continues developing its plans for electric-vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure investments from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), the public is encouraged to learn about planning and funding for electric vehicle infrastructure, as well as submit questions during a webinar on Wednesday, April 27.

The webinar with PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian as well as PennDOT and state Department of Environmental Protection officials will be livestreamed from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. The public can register on the department’s EV web page under “National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program.” The public can also register or submit feedback by emailing ra-pdevcorridors@pa.gov.

The webinar will build on outreach the department is conducting with lawmakers, planning partners, utilities, local government organizations, EV charging companies, and stakeholders with equity, labor, education, and environmental expertise. Additional public feedback will be gathered on the draft plan in June.

As part of the BIL’s nationwide investment in growing the EV charging network, over five years PennDOT will receive and distribute $171.5 million in formula funds for EV charging infrastructure. The department must outline and submit its plans to invest these funds to the U.S. Department of Transportation by August 1, 2022.

The funding supports the commonwealth goal of expanding EV charging along the previously designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs) (list) and Interstate lookalikes. Federal AFC criteria was updated earlier this year to require AFC designated corridors to have charging stations no more than 1 mile from an Interstate exit or highway intersection (previously 5 miles) and no more than 50 miles apart. The department has been reviewing all corridors to align all AFCs with the new criteria.

Pennsylvania has over 1,700 miles of AFCs. Per the guidance from USDOT, any EV charging infrastructure installed with NEVI formula funds shall be located along a designated AFC and meet U.S. DOT minimum standards and requirements. Should PennDOT determine, and U.S. DOT certifies, that the AFCs are fully built out, then Pennsylvania may use funds to build EV charging equipment on any public road or in any publicly accessible location, including but not limited to parking facilities at public buildings, public schools, and parks.

Additionally, PennDOT – following guidance issued from U.S. DOT – will use its EV Equity Guiding Principles announced this year to help the department evaluate EV proposals in accordance with the federal guidance. The principles aim to increase accessibility to the infrastructure and maximize benefits for all Pennsylvanians and fall into five categories:

  • Make EVs more affordable;
  • Make EV charging more accessible;
  • Invest in fleet electrification;
  • Invest in traditionally underserved, low-income, persons of color and otherwise vulnerable population areas; and
  • Increase EV awareness, education, and technical capacity.

The commonwealth’s previous work and the new funding will support growing EV usage and industry transitions. There are more than 23,000 EVs registered in Pennsylvania, more than double the roughly 9,700 that were registered in March 2019. To enhance traveler information for the growing number of EV drivers, the state’s traveler information system – 511PA – now also includes EV charging station locations as an option on its traffic map. Using data from the U.S. Department of Energy, the map shows locations across the state by connector type, including CCS, J1772, CHAdeMO, Tesla, and NEMA.

More information on PennDOT’s Alternative Fuel Corridors can be found on the department’s website. 

More information on Electric Vehicles in PA, including details on the DEP Alternative Fuel Rebate that provides higher rebates on the purchase of new or used EVs to income-eligible Pennsylvanians, can be found on DEP’s website.

Impact of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding in Northeast Region’s 2022 Construction Season

The Wolf Administration today joined Sen. Bob Casey and local officials to highlight the 32 projects that will be bid in 2022 in the six-county region and discussed the benefits coming to regional roads and bridges due to the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).

“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is bringing benefits to every corner of Pennsylvania, and we are quickly delivering on its promises,” Governor Tom Wolf said. “While these improvements occur, I urge the public to drive safely in work zones so you and roadway workers can get home each day.”

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Acting Deputy Secretary for Highway Administration Mike Keiser said, “We have no shortage of needs, and we have many meaningful projects that will modernize our infrastructure while creating sustainable, good-paying jobs that will be transformative for our transportation system and our local economies.”

The event was held near Route 6 (Robert P. Casey Highway) which will see a 15-mile, $30 million concrete pavement and bridge preservation project in Lackawanna County starting this year.

“Thanks to the infrastructure law, we are beginning to rebuild our roads, bridges and more vital infrastructure right here in Northeastern Pennsylvania,” Senator Casey said. “The Casey Highway project and others throughout our region will create good-paying jobs, make it safer and easier for people to get around and jumpstart the most significant improvements to our infrastructure in a generation.” 

Overall highlights in the PennDOT Engineering District 4 region – which includes Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming counties – include nearly 245 miles of paving and repairing or replacing 88 bridges.

These improvements include projects supported and accelerated by the BIL. In 2022 alone the BIL is bringing at least $49.6 million in additional funding to be allocated by the department and its local Metropolitan and Rural Planning Organization (MPO/RPO) partners. For 2022:

  • Lackawanna Luzerne Transportation Study (LLTS) MPO will receive at least $21.8 million more;
  • Northeastern Pennsylvania (NEPA) MPO will receive at least $12.1 million more;
  • Northern Tier RPO will receive at least $13.9 million more; and
  • Wayne County will receive at least $1.8 million more.

“We are looking forward to beginning projects that would not have been possible this year without the additional funding. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will be integral to completing much needed projects over the next five years,” said PennDOT District 4 Executive Richard Roman, P.E.

Notable projects that will continue this year include:

  • Extension of Route 424 Hazleton Beltway from the Interstate 81 Exit 141 Interchange to Humbolt Industrial Park, Luzerne County, $16.9 million;
  • I-84 over Lackawanna Railroad, Roaring Brook and Route 435 Bridge Replacement, Roaring Brook, Lackawanna County, $113.2 million;
  • I-84 eastbound and westbound resurfacing and bridge preservations consisting of 32 miles in Lackawanna and Wayne counties, $36.5 million;
  • Preventive maintenance on eight bridges carrying I-81 near Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, $ 7.8 million;
  • Roadway reconstruction and bridge replacement on I-84 (Fallen Trooper Memorial Highway) from Route 3005 to Exit 26 in Greene, Palmyra, and Sterling townships in Pike and Wayne counties, $104 million;
  • Replacing three structures on Route 706, removing a Route 3037 structure, and intersection improvement on Routes 706 and 267, Susquehanna County, $4.3 million; and
  • Bridge rehabilitation on Route 92 over tributary to Susquehanna River in Falls Township, Wyoming County, $1.6 million.

Notable projects that started or will begin this year include:

  • Preventive maintenance on Route 309 (North Cross Valley) over Route 2022 (Main Street), Mill Creek and Norfolk Southern Railway, and Route 309 (North Cross Valley) over Wilkes-Barre Boulevard in the City of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, $8.6 million;
  • Group surface improvement on 21.7 miles in various state routes and municipalities in Luzerne County. 
  • I-80 and I-81 concrete pavement repairs in Luzerne County;
  • Bridge replacement on Route 3014 (Dump Hill Road) over Nescopeck Creek in Nescopeck Township, Luzerne County;
  • Preventive maintenance on three structures carrying I-81 in Rice Township, Luzerne County; one structure carrying I-81 in South Abington; and one structure carrying Route 1016 in Blakely and Jessup Borough in Lackawanna County;
  • Resurfacing project group totaling 10 miles on Route 93 (Broad Street) in West Hazleton Borough, and Route 93 (Berwick-Hazleton Highway) in Sugarloaf Township, as well as Route 309 (Church Street and Mountain Boulevard) in the City of Hazleton to Butler Township in Luzerne County;
  • Bridge preservations on Route 29 (South Cross Valley Expressway) over Susquehanna River and railroad and Route 29 (South Cross Valley Expressway) over Route 11 and Ramp 8027 in Hanover and Plymouth townships, Luzerne County;
  • Interstate roadway reconstruction on I-84 (Fallen Trooper Memorial Highway) from milepost 40 to Exit 46 in Pike County, $86.3 million; 
  • Slope repair on Route 2002 (Wilson Hill Road) in Delaware Township, Pike County, $547,000;
  • Bridge replacement on Route 390 (Promised Land Road) over Bridge Creek in Greene Township, Pike County, $2 million;
  • Bridge rehabilitation on Route 390 (Promised Land Road) over Outlet Fairview Lake in Palmyra Township, Pike County, $862,000;
  • Interstate roadway reconstruction and bridge replacement on I-84 (Fallen Trooper Memorial Highway) from the Palmyra Rest Area to Exit 34 in Palmyra and Blooming Grove townships, Pike County;
  • Slope repair on Route 171 (State Street) between Main Street and Chestnut Street in Oakland Borough, Susquehanna County, $2.1 million;
  • Slope repair on Route 87 between the Sullivan/Wyoming County Line and Bucks Rub Lane in North Branch and Colley townships, Wyoming County, $2.7 million;
  • Bridge replacements on Route 3029 (Forest Lake Road) over East Branch Wyalusing Creek and tributary of Forest Lake Creek, Jessup Township, Susquehanna County, $2.2 million;
  • Safety Improvements on Route 11 (Lackawanna Trail) from the Susquehanna/ Wyoming County Line to Township Road 406 (Squier Cemetery Road) in Lathrop and Lenox townships, Susquehanna County;
  • Bridge replacement on Route 3034 (Mid Valley Road) over Middle Creek in Lake Township, Wayne County, $795,000;
  • Resurfacing 8 miles of Route 6 (Church and Main Streets) from Park Street to Sunrise Avenue in Honesdale Borough and Route 1016 (Callicoon Road) from Route 191 (Hancock Highway) to Route 1020, Damascus Township, Wayne County; and
  • Bridge preservation on Route 191 (Twin Rocks Road) over Butternut Creek in Sterling Township, Wayne County.

As construction projects are underway in the region, the traveling public can anticipate seeing many work zones and are urged to keep in mind their safety and the safety of highway workers. When encountering a work zone, please drive the posted speed limit, turn on your headlights, pay close attention to signs and flaggers and avoid all distractions. In high traffic locations, motorists are encouraged to use both lanes of travel to the merge point and are to take turns merging into the open lane. 

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts. 

Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties at www.penndot.pa.gov/District4.

Information about infrastructure in District 4 including completed work and significant projects, is available at www.penndot.pa.gov/D4Results. Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at https://www.penndot.pa.gov.

Follow local PennDOT news on Twitter and like the department on Facebook and Instagram.

MEDIA CONTACTS: Elizabeth Rementer, Governor’s Office, ra-gvgovpress@pa.gov, 717-783-1116

Jessica Ruddy, PennDOT, 570-963-4044 or jeruddy@pa.gov  

PennDOT Announces Municipal Funding, Discusses Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Local Road and Bridge Needs

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS) today discussed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) as well as local-governments’ road and bridge needs and investment options.

PennDOT has also committed $455.9 million in liquid fuels payments to help certified municipalities maintain their roads and bridges, approximately 1 percent more than last year.

“We have the fifth-largest state-maintained road system in the country, and the locally owned roadway network is even larger,” PennDOT Deputy Secretary for Planning Larry Shifflet said. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s bridge funding will help with some local bridges, but we need to leverage all available state and local-funding solutions to help our municipalities.”

There are 120,596 miles of public roads in Pennsylvania. Some 2,560 municipalities manage an estimated 78,000 linear miles of roadway and more than 6,600 bridges longer than 20 feet.

“We appreciate that PennDOT recognizes that local government is an important partner of the transportation network in Pennsylvania, being responsible for 2/3 of the road miles in the Commonwealth,” said PSATS Executive Director David Sanko. “This liquid fuels distribution is an integral part of local funding, but by no means enough to cover the costs, of building and maintaining our portion of the network.”

In addition to identifying state transportation needs, Governor Tom Wolf’s Transportation Revenue Options Commission outlined that the unmet funding need on locally owned roads and bridges is estimated to be nearly $3.9 billion per year, growing to $5.1 billion annually by 2030. This is in addition to the dedicated local funding municipalities receive from PennDOT through previous legislation and approximately 13.5 percent of annual gas tax revenues.

While Pennsylvania will receive $1.6 billion in new bridge funds – with 15 percent committed to “off-system” local bridges – from the federal BIL, state and locally based solutions are needed. In addition to PennDOT’s annual liquid fuels distribution, grant opportunities, and the BIL benefits, local officials can act on options available to them.

For example, counties can implement a $5 fee for each vehicle registered to an address within the county and use the funds on locally owned infrastructure. To date, 27 counties have implemented this fee. From December 2015 through December 2021, $180.8 million has been collected and distributed to the respective counties.

Additionally, local governments and other eligible entities may apply for low-interest loans from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Bank which helps fund and accelerate transportation projects as well as spur economic development.

PennDOT’s annual liquid fuels distributions assist with municipalities’ highway and bridge-related expenses such as snow removal and road repaving. There are 73,141 miles owned by municipalities and eligible for liquid fuels. The formula for payments is based on a municipality’s population and miles of locally-owned roads.

Act 89 of 2013 made more funding available for locally owned roadways. Before the law, municipalities received $320.8 million in liquid fuels payments.

To be eligible for liquid fuels, a roadway must be formally adopted as a public street by the municipality, meet certain dimension requirements, and be able to safely accommodate vehicles driving at least 15 mph.

For the complete list of local payments, visit PennDOT’s Municipal Liquid Fuels Program page.

MEDIA CONTACT: Erin Waters-Trasatt or Alexis Campbell, 717-783-8800

Wolf Administration Highlights Benefits of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Officials from the Pennsylvania Departments of Transportation (PennDOT) and Environmental Protection (DEP) today highlighted benefits to Pennsylvania from the passage of the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), specifically for electric vehicle (EV) and alternative fuel infrastructure.

PennDOT also unveiled its EV Equity Guiding Principles for private industry and other agencies to consider as they plan and deploy EV charging infrastructure. The principles aim to increase accessibility to the infrastructure and maximize benefits for all Pennsylvanians.

“PennDOT and our sibling-agency partners are well positioned to advance our transportation and EV charging networks to meet current and future needs,” said PennDOT Acting Executive Deputy Secretary Melissa Batula. “These investments are a significant opportunity, and we are committed to delivering benefits across the state.”

Signed by President Joe Biden in November 2021, the BIL provides states with $7.5 billion to expand the EV charging network. Over five years, Pennsylvania will have access to $171.5 million in formula funds for EV charging infrastructure and $2.5 billion in discretionary grant funding opportunities for all alternative fueling infrastructure. The funding supports the commonwealth goal of expanding EV charging along the previously designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs) (list) and Interstate lookalikes. Federal AFC criteria was updated this week to require AFC designated ready corridors to have charging stations no more than 1 mile from an Interstate exit or highway intersection (previously 5 miles) and no more than 50 miles apart. The department will review all corridors to align ready and pending corridors with the new criteria.

“DEP is grateful for the federal infrastructure support and excited to partner with PennDOT in expanding charging station locations across the state, as we work to bring the health and environmental benefits of zero emission transportation to all Pennsylvanians,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell.  

Formula funds will flow through PennDOT and will be primarily focused on developing electric charging infrastructure on AFCs, taking miles from pending to ready status. From PennDOT’s most recent update, there are currently 1,051 Interstate miles pending and 692 Interstate miles in ready status, under the previous designation criteria. Should PennDOT determine, and U.S. DOT certifies, that the AFCs are fully built out, then Pennsylvania may use funds to build EV charging equipment on any public road or in any publicly accessible location, including but not limited to parking facilities at public buildings, public schools, and parks.

The new discretionary grant program will allow Pennsylvania’s eligible entities like municipalities, school districts, planning organizations and more to apply for funds to support local communities in installing, operating, and maintaining EV charging equipment. Grant funds will also be available for electrifying school bus fleets and EV battery manufacturing and recycling programs.

PennDOT and DEP – following guidance issued from U.S. DOT – will collaborate with key stakeholders such as network companies, planning partners, and businesses on EV charging development. The newly announced equity principles will help the department evaluate EV proposals in accordance with the federal guidance and fall into five categories:

  • Make EVs more affordable;
  • Make EV charging more accessible;
  • Invest in fleet electrification;
  • Invest in traditionally underserved, low-income, persons of color and otherwise vulnerable population areas; and
  • Increase EV awareness, education, and technical capacity.

The commonwealth’s previous work and the new funding will support growing EV usage and industry transitions. There are more than 23,000 EVs registered in Pennsylvania, more than double the roughly 9,700 that were registered in March 2019. To enhance traveler information for the growing number of EV drivers, the state’s traveler information system – 511PA – now also includes EV charging station locations as an option on its traffic map. Using data from the U.S. Department of Energy, the map shows locations across the state by connector type, including CCS, J1772, CHAdeMO, Tesla, and NEMA.

More information on PennDOT’s Alternative Fuel Corridors can be found on the department’s website. 

More information on Electric Vehicles in PA, including details on the DEP Alternative Fuel Rebate that provides higher rebates on the purchase of new or used EVs to income-eligible Pennsylvanians, can be found on DEP’s website.

Wolf Administration Highlights Transportation Benefits of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for Pennsylvania Bridges

At Columbia River Park along the Susquehanna River today, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Acting Deputy Secretary Mike Keiser, Acting District 8 Executive Chris Kufro, Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Recreation and Conservation Manager Lori Yeich, and local and regional officials highlighted benefits to Pennsylvania from the passage of the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), specifically for Pennsylvania’s bridges.

“The passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is the largest federal infrastructure investment in decades, and the largest ever investment for bridges specifically,” said Acting Deputy Secretary for Highway Administration Mike Keiser. “PennDOT – along with our partners – are ready to put these dollars to good use in meaningful projects all over the state.”

Pennsylvania is poised to receive an estimated $4 billion in new federal highway and bridge dollars over five years, including an estimated $1.6 billion from a new bridge program established by the BIL.

Pennsylvania has one of the largest state-maintained highway and bridge networks in the nation, with nearly 40,000 miles of roadway and over 25,400 bridges maintained by PennDOT. That number grows to approximately 120,000 miles of roadway and 32,000 bridges when considering the state and local networks.

Today’s event was held in the shadow of the historic Veterans Memorial Bridge, which carries Route 462 and BicyclePA Route S over the Susquehanna River between Columbia, Lancaster County, and Wrightsville, York County. The bridge was originally built in 1930, and is slated for significant rehabilitation in 2023. Additionally, there are parks on both the Columbia and Wrightsville sides of the bridge, and multimodal connections and improvements are also planned in coordination with DCNR and local partners.

“One of the many benefits of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is the impact it will have on multimodal projects that connect people to parks and trails, as this rehabilitation project demonstrates,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “We have seen millions of people turn to the outdoors during the pandemic, which is why we are pleased to see federal investments in projects that will help retain those new users.”

In addition to the new highway and bridge funds, Pennsylvanians will benefit from new federal funds to support public transportation, airports, and freight and passenger rail. PennDOT and local governments can look forward to new and expanded competitive grant opportunities across all transportation modes. Additionally, new federal funds will be available to Pennsylvania to support the expansion of an electric vehicle (EV) charging network.

For additional information about PennDOT’s work to keep Pennsylvanians connected to opportunity and each other, visit PennDOT’s website. Follow PennDOT on Twitter and like the department on Facebook and Instagram.