PennDOT Announces Public Comment Period for Transportation Plans The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced the launch of a Public Comment Period for the draft 2045 Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) and Freight Movement Plan (FMP). The plans are available for review through October 19, 2021. The LRTP sets an overall strategic direction for Pennsylvania’s transportation system for twenty years and the FMP reviews current and future trends in freight transportation to improve multimodal freight movement for five years. The LRTP and FMP represent a multi-modal approach to improve mobility, safety, fairness, resilience, and sustainability for moving people and goods throughout the Commonwealth. “For the past two years, PennDOT has been working closely with our fellow state agencies, local officials and our partners in the private sector to shape a vision for Pennsylvania’s transportation future that supports continuing economic growth and opportunity, connectivity, thriving communities, a cleaner environment and safe travel,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “We now need Pennsylvanians to join this conversation to help us make these plans even more responsive to future public needs.” Public and stakeholder involvement is critical to understanding the needs and concerns across the commonwealth. Pennsylvanians already provided essential feedback and perspective which is reflected in the draft plan documents. In fact, broad engagement with underrepresented interests resulted in wide-ranging feedback, so much so that a major goal and objectives specific to equity are a key part of the LRTP. Gramian added that the value of these plans will only be as good as their implementation, and that will require sufficient funding resources during the decades ahead. “Whether we are speaking about more efficient freight movement, modernized public transit, reduced highway congestion or increased options for bicyclists and pedestrians, these improvements are only possible with a public commitment to a sustained level of investment for years to come,” Gramian said. “How we accomplish that equitably is an important part of this conversation, too.” PennDOT encourages the public to review the draft LRTP and FMP and to provide comments. These documents along with a comment form will be available online under Tell Us What You Think at penndot.gov/planning and at public library locations throughout the state. Any questions or concerns regarding the comment period may be sent by email to penndotplanning@pa.gov. Those without access to the internet may request printed copies by calling 717-705-1478. The Public Comment Period for the 2045 LRTP and FMP is in accordance with PennDOT’s Public Participation Plan, outlining opportunities for public input in statewide transportation planning and programming as required by the Code of Federal Regulations (23 CFR 450.210). All comments received will be reviewed and taken into consideration by PennDOT for inclusion in the final plans. Anyone who requires special assistance to participate, please contact the PennDOT Bureau of Equal Opportunity at 717-787-5891.
PennDOT, Pennsylvania State Police Highlight National Child Passenger Safety Week The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), and Pennsylvania Traffic Injury Prevention Project (PA TIPP) are encouraging drivers to take advantage of safety seat check resources across the state as the agencies mark National Child Passenger Safety Week (CPSW) from September 19 through September 25. Additionally, Saturday, September 25 has been designated as “National Seat Check Saturday.” “Seat belts and car seats are the best defense in a crash,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “PennDOT urges all parents and caregivers to take time this week to learn more about the importance of correctly selecting, installing, and using car seats, booster seats, and seat belts.” Car seat checks will be held across the state the week of Child Passenger Safety Week. Visit PA TIPP’s webpage for a list of events. PSP personnel certified as Child Passenger Safety (CPS) technicians will be conducting free child seat fitting events across the state. Caregivers can have their car seats checked for suitability, receive instruction on the proper installation, and have seat(s) installed, learn to properly harness a child in a seat and check seats for recalls. A full list of local free car seat fitting events is available on PSP’s website. According to national statistics, car seats can reduce the risk of fatal injury by up to 71 percent for infants and 59 percent for toddlers; however,46 percent of car seats and booster seats are installed or used incorrectly. Through June 2021, members of the PSP have conducted 406 child safety seat inspections and discovered 239 cases of misuse. Throughout 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted seat checks, but PSP completed more than 850 checks and found more than 350 misuses by drivers. In 2019, over 1,600 checks were completed with more than 600 misuses observed. The checkups are designed to teach proper installation and use of child safety seats and keep children across the commonwealth safe. To advance their public safety missions, PennDOT and PSP invest in community resources across the state. PennDOT funds resources such as training and educational materials for more than 200 fitting stations across Pennsylvania. In coordination with CPSW and Seat Check Saturday, local police will focus on proper child seat usage during a statewide CIOT Child Passenger Safety enforcement running from September 11 through September 24. In addition, each PSP Troop has designated walk in days where drivers can have their child safety seats checked free of charge. Pennsylvania’s primary seat belt law requires all occupants younger than 18 to wear a seat belt when riding anywhere in a vehicle. Children under the age of two must be secured in a rear-facing car seat, and children under the age of four must be restrained in an approved child safety seat. Children must ride in a booster seat until their eighth birthday. “Parents and caregivers are encouraged to educate themselves and seek out assistance to properly install child passenger safety seats,” said Colonel Robert Evanchick, Commissioner of the PSP. “Keeping our youngest passengers safe should be a priority for everyone. Troopers who are certified as child passenger safety seat technicians are available to assist anyone who has questions or needs help installing a child seat.” A secondary law also requires drivers and front-seat passengers 18 or older to buckle up. If motorists are stopped for a traffic violation and are not wearing their seat belt, they can receive a second ticket and second fine. Because of the potential dangers associated with air bag deployment, children 12 and younger should always ride buckled in a vehicle’s back seat. “The best way to protect your child is to place them in the right car seat for their age and size and to correctly secure it in the back seat of the vehicle,” said Angela Osterhuber, Director of the Traffic Injury Prevention Project. “Child passenger safety technicians are available to teach you how to use your car seat correctly.” PA TIPP also offers the following tips: Select a car seat that is right for the child’s age and size;Fill out and return the registration card for your seat so you’ll know if it is recalled because of a problem;Read and follow the car seat instructions and the vehicle owner’s manual for information on correctly installing the car seat in the vehicle;Use the car’s seat belt or the LATCH system when installing the car seat;Make sure the car seat’s harness is correctly adjusted and fits snugly; andUse a tether strap when installing a forward-facing car seat, following manufacturer’s instructions. For more information on child passenger safety, visit PennDOT’s Safety Page. For a list of state police car seat safety inspection locations and dates, visit the PSP Public Safety webpage. For more information on how to keep passengers safe, or if you are unable to afford a car seat, call 1-800-CAR-BELT or visit www.pakidstravelsafe.org to find the nearest car seat loan program. Information on Child Safety Seat Inspection Stations and Community Car Seat Checkup Events is also available on the website.
PennDOT Enhances 511PA for Penn State Football Travel Planning The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is encouraging motorists traveling to Penn State home football games this season to plan their trip using the real-time travel information available online at www.511PA.com/psf. New in 2019, 511PA includes travel information for every Penn State home football game, beginning with this Saturday’s game against Ball State. Throughout the season, travel information will be available beginning the Thursday before each home game through the Monday after. “Our goal is to help motorists plan ahead by providing them with as much information as possible,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “By providing this real-time information, motorists can more easily plan the route that works best for them as they travel to this exciting event.” The Penn State football page, hosted through the department’s 511PA.com traveler information website, is dedicated to monitoring traffic conditions on the primary travel routes to the event. Travel times and alerts are provided for each parking zone: West Zone (access via Atherton Street to Park Avenue); East Zone (access via U.S. 322/I-99 to Park Avenue); North Zone (access via Fox Hollow Road); and South Zone (access via University Drive and Porter Road from College Avenue/U.S. 26). Users can see incidents, construction, weather forecasts and alerts, traffic cameras, and traffic speeds on the map. The page also includes the 2021 Beaver Stadium Parking Map. PennDOT’s Central Region Traffic Management Center is also supporting Penn State Football game days by posting real-time travel information on dynamic message signs and transmitting audio messages on highway advisory radio systems to assist travelers. For more detailed information on work zones and roadway restrictions motorists may encounter in or around State College, visit the PennDOT District 2 Regional Page. The public can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles in Pennsylvania by visiting www.511PA.com. The service, 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 accessible on the 511PA website.
PennDOT Accepting Applications For 2022-23 Improvements Under Multimodal Transportation Fund The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced that applications will be accepted to fund new transportation improvement projects under the Multimodal Transportation Fund (MTF) through November 5, 2021. “The Multimodal Transportation Fund continues to enhance connectivity across our state,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian said. “Projects are selected based on regional economic conditions, technical and financial feasibility, safety benefits, energy efficiency, operational sustainability and job creation.” Eligible applicants include municipalities, council of governments, business/non-profit organizations, economic development organizations, public transportation agencies, public airports, airport authorities, and ports and rail entities. Projects that will be considered should coordinate local land use with transportation assets to enhance existing communities; improve streetscape, lighting, sidewalk facilities, and pedestrian safety; improve connectivity or utilization of existing transportation assets; or advance transit-oriented-development. To submit a 2022-23 state fiscal year Multimodal Transportation Fund application, visit PennDOT’s “Multimodal Program” page and click on the currently “Accepting Applications” link. Grant recipients are expected to be announced next year, and funding will become available in July 2022. In fiscal year 2021-2022, 43 projects were awarded $45.9 million in MTF funding throughout 21 counties, including construction of a pedestrian route with ADA curb cuts connecting existing sidewalk in Patterson Township, Beaver County; reconstruction of a collapsed portion of Wagontown Road in Valley Township, Chester County; replacement of Bridge No. 31, which has been poor condition since 1991 in Greene County; and the replacement of traffic signal and safety improvements at four intersections along 15th Street in the City of Allentown. Act 89 of 2013 established a dedicated Multimodal Transportation Fund that stabilizes funding for ports and rail freight, increases aviation investments, establishes dedicated funding for bicycle and pedestrian improvements, and allows targeted funding for priority investments in any mode. For more information about the program and previous years’ applications and awards, visit the Multimodal Program page.
PennDOT District 4 Hiring Event The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is hiring for over 100 positions. A hiring event is being held September 9 from 1:00 PM-4:00 PM at the Luzerne County PA CareerLink office located at 32 East Union Street, Wilkes Barre, PA. Applicants unable to attend the hiring event can apply by going to www.employment.pa.gov.The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply. Follow local PennDOT news on Twitter and like the department on Facebook and Instagram.
Wolf Administration Continues Combatting Litter, Urges Public to Stop Costly and Unsightly Practice Continuing the commonwealth’s battle against litter as the summer travel season winds down, Governor Tom Wolf today highlighted agency efforts to clean up and cut down on this unsightly illegal activity. “Through public education, enforcement, clean ups, and volunteering, the commonwealth is working tirelessly to beautify Pennsylvania,” Governor Wolf said. “We cannot keep our communities clean without the public’s help, and I call on everyone to take personal responsibility for ending this ugly practice.” Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) crews across the state have expanded their routine litter pickup operations and these enhanced cleanups will continue through Labor Day. Cleanups are occurring on higher-traffic roadways where volunteer groups cannot safely pick up litter. Motorists are reminded to slow down, drive with caution, be alert for stopped or slow-moving vehicles, and watch for workers near the roadway, along interchanges and entrance/exit ramps. PennDOT spends roughly $14 million annually on statewide litter efforts. Department programs such as Adopt-A-Highway and Sponsor-A-Highway allow groups and businesses to volunteer to adopt or pay to sponsor cleanup and beautification on roadways across the state. “Every dollar we have to spend on litter cleanup is a dollar we cannot invest in our system,” PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian said. “We are grateful for the work of our crews and volunteers, though what we really need is an end to littering.” The department also unveiled new anti-littering messages that will appear on its electronic message signs across the state through September 2. Appearing when active travel alerts are not displayed, the messages aim to appeal to travelers’ civic pride and address a finding of a 2019 statewide litter survey – cigarette butts were among the most common items found in the estimated 500 million pieces of litter on Pennsylvania roads. To underscore littering as an illegal practice, this summer the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) initiated Operation Clean Sweep, a project reinforcing a zero-tolerance mindset with litter enforcement and sharing anti-litter messages throughout the year. The operation complements a 2018 state law allowing the designation of Litter Enforcement Corridors. Litter Enforcement Corridors have a high aesthetic or historic value worth preserving or need some additional help with litter issues. Approved segments will be marked with signs to notify motorists of additional litter fines: doubled penalties for motorists caught scattering rubbish and tripled when it is done by a commercial business. Local governments can help tackle litter in their communities by designating Litter Enforcement Corridors or working with PennDOT to identify potential state-owned corridors. “The Pennsylvania State Police is committed to keeping Pennsylvania beautiful by enforcing the state’s litter laws,” said Colonel Robert Evanchick, commissioner of the PSP. “Littering is 100 percent preventable with fines beginning at $300. The public is encouraged to report any litter violation they witness by contacting their local law enforcement agency.” Other state agencies and partners actively work on litter prevention and cleanups year-round and reiterated the harm of litter. “Most litter along the road isn’t going to decompose in our lifetime. If you saw it today, you’re likely to see it again the next time you pass by, still leaching, breaking into microplastics, creating hazards for people and wildlife, and diminishing our communities and landscape,” said Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “On top of this, litter cleanup is a big cost to state government and local communities, and ultimately all Pennsylvanians. Ending the littering habit will benefit everyone and everything that lives in Pennsylvania.” DEP lists many ways Pennsylvanians can reduce litter and be a role model and is working with PennDOT, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, and community leaders statewide on developing a littering prevention campaign based on state research. Additionally, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful urges Pennsylvania residents to participate in Pick Up Pennsylvania, in support of the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup. This annual event – from September 1 through November 30 – is an opportunity to improve neighborhoods and Pennsylvania’s waterways by coordinating or participating in a litter cleanup. Registration is now open. During this period, registered events can get free trash bags, gloves, and safety vests provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, PennDOT, and the Ocean Conservancy, as supplies last. “Whether you are cleaning up a local waterway, your local park or the street that you live on – it all makes a difference in reducing the amount of litter reaching our oceans. We are honored to provide the resources and supplies needed to help volunteers improve our communities,” said Shannon Reiter, president of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. “Picking up litter is something we can all do to support our communities. Please lend a hand and join us in a cleanup this fall.” For more information on how the public can help with anti-littering efforts to keep our state highways clean see PennDOT’s Roadside Beautification webpage. Photos of department-force and volunteer cleanups, informational graphics, and videos from Wolf Administration officials discouraging litter are available in PennDOT’s Litter-Beautification Media Center.
PennDOT, Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania DUI Association Urge Responsible, Designated Driving Ahead of Labor Day Holiday The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), and the Pennsylvania DUI Association gathered today with local police agencies and victim’s advocates in the DUI Victims’ Memorial Garden to urge motorists to celebrate responsibly ahead of the Labor Day holiday. “Crashes involving impaired drivers are entirely preventable,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “We are urging motorists to ensure their safety and the safety of others on our roadways by designating a sober driver this Labor Day weekend and every time they drink.” The event featured victim advocate Kelli Donlen, whose nephew Zachary Gonzalez is memorialized in the DUI Victims’ Memorial Garden. The garden, which was dedicated in October 2003 and is located in front of the Pennsylvania DUI Association’s headquarters in Harrisburg, honors and remembers Pennsylvanians who have been killed in impaired driving crashes. Currently, more than 2,200 people are memorialized in the garden. According to PennDOT data, in 2020 there were 2,698 crashes resulting in 39 fatalities statewide over the holiday week beginning Friday, September 4 at 6:00 PM and running through Sunday, September 13. Of those numbers, 231 crashes resulting in 12 fatalities were alcohol-related and 104 crashes resulting in three fatalities were drug-related. Impaired driving enforcement goes beyond checking for alcohol impairment. Law enforcement also work to identify motorists impaired by illegal drugs and prescription medication or some combination of these. Pennsylvania has approximately 225 Drug Recognition Experts (DRE) or specially trained officers who look for impaired drivers and assist in DUI investigations when drug-impaired driving is suspected. “We honor and remember the lives lost because someone chooses to drive impaired,” said PA DUI Association Executive Director C. Stephen Erni. “Labor Day weekend and every remaining day of the year, the message is clear: Do not drive impaired. Our collective goal is to end the suffering caused by an individual’s choice to drive impaired.” Over this holiday period, the Pennsylvania State Police and local municipal agencies will conduct impaired driving enforcement details as part of a national impaired driving enforcement and education initiative running through September 6. This effort is funded through PennDOT’s statewide annual distribution of more than $4.7 million from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for impaired driving enforcement. During the 2019 Labor Day holiday enforcement period, troopers made 610 DUI arrests and investigated 45 crashes in which alcohol was a factor. Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic and mitigation efforts that were in place throughout Pennsylvania at the time, statistical information was not collected during the 2020 Labor Day holiday driving period. “Travelers are reminded this holiday weekend to slow down, buckle up, and don’t drive impaired or distracted,” said Captain Robert Wagner, assistant director of the Bureau of Patrol with the Pennsylvania State Police. “Troopers are trained to look for impaired driving behaviors and consistent with our highway safety mission have a zero-tolerance approach toward driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.” PennDOT encourages motorists to always plan ahead by either designating a sober driver or arranging for alternate transportation. The public can join the conversation on social media by using #BeSafePA and #DriveSober. To learn more about PennDOT’s efforts to prevent impaired driving or other safety initiatives, visit www.PennDOT.gov/Safety. For more information on the Pennsylvania State Police, visit psp.pa.gov. For more information on the Pennsylvania DUI Association, visit www.padui.org. The PAcast for today’s statewide Labor Day Impaired Driving media event is now available online at https://pacast.com/m?p=18979.
PennDOT Announces Annual Highway Safety Survey The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is seeking motorists’ input on traffic safety and driving behaviors through its annual online Highway Safety Survey found at www.PennDOT.gov/Safety. “Safety is our top priority and we value continued public engagement in making our roadways safer,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “The results from this annual survey help us gauge participants’ attitudes on highway safety, and potentially allow us to adjust our safety activities so we can further reduce crashes and fatalities.” The survey is available on PennDOT’s website through August 23 and should take about five minutes to complete. All responses, including the “comments” fields, are anonymous. Nearly 8,000 people responded to last year’s survey, answering questions about safety habits such as seat belt use, impaired driving, speeding, and distracted driving. Notably, nearly 91 percent of respondents said they always wear a seat belt and approximately 88 percent said they never drive while impaired. When asked how often they choose to exceed the posted speed limit, nearly 84 percent of respondents said they speed at least some of the time. “Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to react to changing traffic or road conditions,” said Gramian. “It puts you, your passengers, and others on the road at risk. Slow down, be safe.” For more information on our highway safety efforts, visit www.PennDOT.gov/Safety. Follow PennDOT on Twitter at www.twitter.com/PennDOTNews, like the department on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaDepartmentofTransportation and Instagram at www.instagram.com/pennsylvaniadot.
Transportation Revenue Options Commission Submits Report to Governor Wolf, General Assembly The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that the Transportation Revenue Options Commission (TROC) has submitted its report to Governor Tom Wolf and the General Assembly. On March 12, Governor Wolf signed an executive order establishing the commission, which was tasked with developing comprehensive funding recommendations for Pennsylvania’s vast transportation network. TROC is comprised of transportation, economic, and community stakeholders from the public and private sectors, including majority and minority leaders from the House and Senate Transportation and Appropriations committees. “I wholeheartedly thank the members of TROC for their hard work and engagement,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian, who serves as TROC chair. “Throughout this process, we have had thoughtful and productive discussions, and we are now presenting the governor and the General Assembly with a host of well-researched options for consideration.” In 2019, the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) identified major risks to transportation funding such as reduced fuel revenues, unpredictable federal funding, and legislative changes to reduce commitments. PennDOT’s latest assessment places the annual gap of its needs in all state-level modes and facilities at $9.3 billion, growing to an annual $14.5 billion gap by 2030. Additionally, infrastructure maintained by local governments faces an annual shortfall of nearly $4 billion, growing to $5.1 billion per year by 2030. The TROC report presents an overview of transportation funding in Pennsylvania and outlines the commission’s review of several potential revenue sources including road user charges, tolling, redirection of funding, fees, and taxes. Analysis of each option includes potential revenue that a given solution could bring the commonwealth, concerns raised by commission members relating to each option, and suggested next steps. The TROC’s work was informed by presentations and materials provided during and associated with its nine meetings held since March 25. Those materials – such as a report of PennDOT Efficiencies – can be found with meeting presentations, minutes, and recordings on the TROC page. “This commission represents nearly 50 transportation stakeholders, with a diversity of positions on the potential funding options discussed,” said Gramian. “Those varied perspectives were crucial to our discussions and are represented in the final report.” The commission was divided into eight workgroups related to a specific revenue need or potential option. “As the Transportation Revenue Options Commission met frequently in recent months, it became very clear that our commission benefited greatly from a diverse group of experts and stakeholders,” TROC workgroup leader and Revenue Secretary Dan Hassell said. “Because the commission included authorities from state and local governments, members of the General Assembly, and transportation professionals, we were able to analyze the issues at hand from many vantage points. That helped us generate a thorough report that provides solutions to address Pennsylvania’s critical transportation funding needs in the near term and in the future.” “We’ve long advocated for several of the suggested solutions, including fair electric vehicle user fees, a delivery fee for goods and services and the complete removal of the State Police from the Motor License Fund,” said Robert Latham, TROC workgroup leader and executive vice president of Associated Pennsylvania Constructors. “We look forward to further exploring and continuing the discussion on the other solutions offered in the TROC report.” “As a representative of local government on TROC, I am excited to see the growth and commitment of PennDOT and other stakeholders in understanding the critical role that local government plays in our transportation network and the recognition that local governments are an integral part of Pennsylvania’s economy and its residents’ quality of life,” said TROC workgroup leader David Sanko, executive director of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors. “This report presents an opportunity to adequately fund the current and significant unmet needs of all the transportation modes in the state,” said TROC workgroup leader Ronald Drnevich, who also serves on the State Transportation Commission. “When fully implemented, the options in the report provide for the elimination of the gas tax in Pennsylvania. It needs the support our leadership, our businesses and the public, and is an opportunity that should not be missed.” “My hope is that we can collectively commit to these long-term funding options that will strengthen the economic climate and help meet Pennsylvania’s investment needs at both the state and local level,” said Amy Kessler, TROC workgroup leader and director of community development and regional planning at the North Central Regional Planning Commission. “As we have learned over the past five months, it will take forward thinking, new ideas and many partners working together to grow our economy, create a safer and more resilient transportation network, better connect our rural areas and support technological and operational advancements that will allow every corner of the commonwealth to compete in the global market.” Rebecca Oyler, TROC workgroup leader and president of the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association, who has expressed concerns about various options, particularly tolling, suggested that the report be “viewed as a list of policy options that can be further examined by our legislative leaders as they consider transportation funding solutions in the future.” “The TROC represents stakeholders from various industries, backgrounds and knowledge to come together for one very important reason: to ensure our transportation network is viable now and into the future,” said Leeann Sherman, TROC workgroup leader and executive director of the American Council of Engineering Companies of PA. “Our transportation network is vital to our quality of life, food security and economic growth now and into the future. The information vetted through and presented by the TROC gives our administration and legislators options to consider as they create a final plan to maintain, modernize and ensure our best Pennsylvania is here for generations.” Now that the report has been submitted, TROC recommends that leadership and technical teams be established to support the Administration and General Assembly in further evaluation and implementation of potential funding options. “Our work is far from over,” said Gramian. “PennDOT is committed to continued collaboration with stakeholders and our colleagues in the General Assembly in support of reliable transportation funding.” For more information about transportation funding in Pennsylvania, visit www.PennDOT.gov/funding.
PennDOT Highlights Career Opportunities PennDOT District 4 highlighted opportunities to join the PennDOT team in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is seeking hardworking individuals to work from September 2021 through April 2022 in the Winter Maintenance Program! If you enjoy working in a fast-paced and dedicated environment on a seasonal basis, or with the potential for promotion into a permanent position, this is the job for you. Please go to www.employment.pa.gov or click here to apply today. Watch this video to see how you can make a difference in the Winter Maintenance Program! “Engineering District 4, which is responsible for Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counites has immediate openings for transportation equipment operators with commercial driver’s licenses (CDL), diesel and construction equipment mechanics, auto mechanics, laborers, and radio dispatchers in all counties. We need to fill almost 100 CDL operator positions and 23 non-operator positions, District-wide for this winter.” said Jonathan Eboli, Assist District Executive of PennDOT District 4. Starting hourly rates are: · Transportation Equipment/CDL Operator ($19.24)· Diesel & Construction Equipment Mechanic ($20.40)· Auto Mechanic ($18.08)· Semi-Skilled Laborer ($16.05)· Tradesman Helper ($16.05)· Welder ($18.08)· Radio Dispatcher ($14.25)· Custodial Worker ($14.25)· Stock Clerk ($14.25) Motorists can check conditions on major roadway miles 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 accessible on the 511PA website. Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties at www.penndot.gov/District4. Information about infrastructure in District 4, including completed work and significant projects, is available at www.penndot.gov/D4Results.
