PennDOT: Shapiro Administration Leads NEVI EV Expansion Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced the opening of eight new federally-funded Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations in Pennsylvania built using funds from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. The new stations bring Pennsylvania’s total EV stations opened under the program to 28, opening 22 charging stations in 2025 through $13 million in federal investment. Since the first Pennsylvania NEVI station opened in December 2023, NEVI-funded charging stations in Pennsylvania have supported over 53,000 charging sessions, over 6.4 million estimated miles driven, and reduced CO2 emissions by more than 1,300 metric tons. “The Shapiro Administration made reliable and accessible clean transportation a priority for Pennsylvania,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “We’re expecting an influx of visitors to the Commonwealth this year, and we’re providing the infrastructure to make green travel accessible for everyone.” New stations since October 2025 include: Francis Energy – Breezewood Located at Pizza Hut along I-70 (Exit 147) Tesla – Shrewsbury Located at Shrewsbury Commons along I-83 (Exit 4) Francis Energy – Mercer Located at Shell along I-80 (Exit 15) Francis Energy – Newburg Located at McKinney Station Restaurant and Ice Cream along I-76 (Exit 201) Tesla – Somerset Located at Wendy’s along I-76 (Exit 110) Applegreen Electric – Newburg Located at Blue Mountain Service Plaza along I-76 (Mile Marker 202) Sheetz – Sewickley Located at Sheetz along I-79 (Exit 68) Applegreen Electric – Hunker Located at New Stanton Service Plaza along I-76 (Mile Marker 77) Additionally, PennDOT is powering forward with more investments through the NEVI program, beginning with the Corridor Connections Funding Opportunity, which was released on October 7, 2025. This funding round focuses on implementing EV charging stations along major roadways to strengthen long-distance travel beyond the previously designated Alternative Fuel Corridors. Projects funded from the Corridor Connections program will improve range confidence for drivers who are considering travel with an EV across and throughout the Commonwealth. PennDOT is accepting proposals until January 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM EST. Please visit the PennDOT website for more information including a map of eligible locations, webinar recording, and additional resources. PennDOT plans to invest most of its remaining NEVI funds in upcoming Community Charging Funding Opportunities throughout 2026. These funding rounds will be regional and all publicly available locations within the region will be eligible to pursue funds. Check the Community Charging Funding Rounds webpage for updates or contact ra-pdevcorridors@pa.gov to be added to PennDOT’s NEVI email distribution list for updates. The U.S. Department of Transportation is currently withholding Congressionally-apportioned funding that would have supported EV construction in Pennsylvania and created new, good-paying jobs. That is why Governor Josh Shapiro sued the Trump Administration once again for breaking the law and taking dollars out of the Commonwealth. The Governor also sued the Trump Administration alongside 15 other states over the summer, in a lawsuit which reinstated the NEVI program and helped ensure projects like the one being announced today to continue throughout Pennsylvania.
PennDOT: Shapiro Administration Invests $30M in Traffic Safety The Shapiro Administration announced that 57 municipalities across the Commonwealth will receive nearly $30 million through the Green Light-Go Program to improve traffic safety and mobility by reducing congestion and improving traffic flow. Since Governor Shapiro took office, $96 million has been distributed to municipalities through the program. Many of the funded projects will upgrade traffic signal detection and control technology, allowing signals to respond to real-time traffic conditions, reduce congestion, and improve safety for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. Last week, the Shapiro Administration announced that 54 highway, bridge, bike, and pedestrian projects in 34 counties across Pennsylvania have been selected for more than $47 million in funding through the Multimodal Transportation Fund (MTF). “Under Governor Shapiro’s leadership, our top priority is serving the people of our Commonwealth by improving the services that make a real difference in Pennsylvanians’ lives,” said Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll. “The safety improvements supported by the Green Light-Go program will help municipalities reduce congestion, improve traffic flow, and keep Pennsylvanians moving safely and efficiently. I’m proud that PennDOT continues to partner with communities to deliver real results.” Below is a list of awarded projects by county. Green Light-Go grants are provided as reimbursements to municipalities for projects that improve the efficiency and operation of existing traffic signals. These projects are funded through the FY 2025–26 budget. Eligible improvements include, but are not limited to, installation of light-emitting diode (LED) technology, traffic signal retiming, special-event traffic planning, traffic signal monitoring, and upgrades to modern signal technologies. Allegheny County City of Pittsburgh: $1,394,029 to replace traffic signals at North Avenue/James Street, Lorenz Avenue/Steuben Street, and Mifflin Road/Interboro Avenue. Green Tree Borough: $42,400 to update signal detectors at Carnahan Road and Greentree Road. Green Tree Borough: $293,392 to modernize signal equipment at Noblestown Road and Mansfield Avenue. McCandless Township: $443,409.12 to upgrade adaptive signal systems along Perry Highway (Route 19). Monroeville Borough: $498,114.75 to modernize the intersection of Monroeville Boulevard, Jamison Lane, and Oxford Drive. Moon Township: $193,792 to upgrade signal equipment at Beaver Grade Road and Thorn Run Road. Mount Lebanon Township: $322,115 to modernize signal equipment at Bower Hill and Parkview Drive. Neville Township: $335,120 to upgrade signal equipment at Neville Road and Grand Avenue. Oakmont Borough: $195,516 to upgrade signal equipment at Allegheny River Boulevard and Hulton Road. O’Hara Township: $238,712 to modernize signal equipment at Alpha Drive and Gamma Drive. Ohio Township: $155,832 to upgrade signal equipment at Mount Nebo Road and Camp Horne Road. Scott Township: $145,192 to modernize the intersection of Hope Hollow Road and Greentree Road. Sewickley Borough: $229,168 to replace outdated signal equipment at Beaver Street/Broad Street and Thorn Street/Broad Street. Wilkinsburg Borough: $266,000 to replace the signal at East Swissvale Avenue and Wallace Avenue. Beaver County Center Township: $132,024 to upgrade signal equipment at Pleasant Drive (Route 3017) and Autumn Street. Berks County Boyertown Borough: $687,949.20 to upgrade intersections at East Philadelphia Avenue (Route 73) with Reading Avenue (Route 562) and Madison Street. Leesport Borough: $155,160 to upgrade detection and controller equipment at Wall Street, Peach Street, and Cherry Street. West Reading Borough: $228,404 for signal retiming and equipment upgrades at multiple intersections. Bucks County Lower Southampton Township: $662,355 to upgrade signal equipment at multiple intersections along Bustleton Pike and Bristol Road. Perkasie Borough: $425,240 to replace outdated signal equipment at Ridge Road and Park Avenue. Butler County Cranberry Township: $94,800 to upgrade detection and controller equipment at multiple intersections. Cranberry Township: $83,350 to expand fiber-optic traffic signal communications. Seven Fields Borough: $117,520 to replace outdated sensors with radar detection. Centre County College Township: $503,700 to upgrade signal equipment at Curtin Road and University Drive. Chester County East Whiteland Township: $191,870 to modernize Lancaster Avenue and Conestoga Road. Upper Uwchlan Township: $920,306 to upgrade detection and controller equipment at Route 100 and Graphite Mine Road. West Whiteland Township: $389,640 to upgrade multiple intersections along Route 100 and Commerce Drive. Cumberland County East Pennsboro Township: $1,156,340 to modernize 16 intersections. Hampden Township: $774,900 to upgrade detection and controller equipment at multiple intersections. Dauphin County City of Harrisburg: $387,380 to modernize intersections in the Allison Hill neighborhood. Derry Township: $764,320 to upgrade detection and controller equipment at multiple intersections. Delaware County Darby Township: $448,908 to modernize West Oak Lane, Rively Avenue, and Pine Street. Lansdowne Borough: $120,000 to upgrade signal equipment at Baltimore Avenue and Union Avenue. Erie County City of Erie: $746,320.44 to reconstruct the signal at West 12th Street and Pittsburgh Avenue. Mill Creek Township: $1,799,885.76 to upgrade signal equipment along Route 5. Wesleyville Borough: $449,079.84 to reconstruct the intersection of Buffalo Road and Station Road. Fayette County North Union Township: $353,640 to modernize intersections along U.S. 119. South Union Township: $122,800.80 to modernize New Salem Road and Matthew Drive. Lancaster County City of Lancaster: $91,476.80 to study and remove unwarranted traffic-control signals. City of Lancaster: $732,095.20 to modernize multiple intersections. Earl Township: $103,215.60 to modernize U.S. 322 and Railroad Avenue. East Lampeter Township: $258,040 to modernize Route 340 intersections. Lititz Borough: $53,600 to upgrade detection equipment. Manheim Township: $50,000 to install LED traffic signal modules at multiple locations. Lebanon County City of Lebanon: $368,000 to modernize traffic equipment at Maple Street/Jonestown Road/North 12th Street. Lehigh County City of Allentown: $798,480 to upgrade signal equipment at 19th Street/Roth Avenue/Walbert Avenue. Luzerne County City of Pittston: $38,640 to modernize Broad Street, Water Street, and Main Street. Mercer County City of Sharon: $762,534 to modernize multiple intersections. Montgomery County Limerick Township: $246,559 to upgrade the Traffic Management Center on Ridge Pike. Lower Merion Township: $385,596.17 to modernize Lancaster Avenue and Elliott Avenue. Norristown Borough: $419,713.11 to modernize East Fornance Street and New Hope Street. Northampton County City of Bethlehem: $298,480 to modernize approximately 100 signals citywide. City of Bethlehem: $370,608 to replace LED signal bulbs at approximately 90 intersections. City of Easton: $339,416 to modernize Seitz Street and West Berwick Street. Moore Township: $158,800 to modernize Route 512 and Route 946. Palmer Township: $748,044 to modernize Milford Street, Greenwood Avenue, and Kingwood Avenue. Northumberland County Milton Borough: $433,267.58 to modernize Routes 254 and 405. Philadelphia County City of Philadelphia: $3,421,440 to upgrade approximately 750 traffic controllers. City of Philadelphia: $2,287,880 to modernize multiple intersections in Northwest Philadelphia. Venango County City of Oil City: $22,000 to modernize traffic control infrastructure. Washington County Peters Township: $897,480 to modernize intersections along Route 19. York County City of York: $164,550 to modernize intersections along U.S. 30. Additionally, the 2025-26 budget signed by Governor Shapiro allocates over $1.8 billion in funding to repair roads and bridges and continues to sustainably fund the Pennsylvania State Police by reducing their reliance on the Motor License Fund. Since taking office, the Governor has secured $391.7 million in additional funding for roads and bridges. Under the Shapiro Administration, 17,722 miles of roadway have been improved and work has advanced on 1,540 state and local bridges. According to the Federal Highway Administration, in 2023 — Governor Shapiro’s first year in office — Pennsylvania repaired or replaced more than 200 bridges, resulting in 90 fewer bridges rated in poor condition, the largest improvement of any state in the nation. For more information from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), subscribe to local PennDOT news or statewide PennDOT news.
PennDOT: Shapiro Administration Highlights Resources for Pennsylvania’s Older Drivers Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA), Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), the Pennsylvanian Insurance Department (PID), and the American Automobile Association (AAA) shared safe driving advice and resources available for older Pennsylvanians with residents at the White Rose Senior Center in York. “Mobility is essential to quality of life at any age, especially as friends and families gather to celebrate the holiday season,” said Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Executive Deputy Secretary Larry Shifflet. “While many older drivers have a lifetime of valuable driving experience to draw from, PennDOT continually seeks to balance the safety of our roadways with the need for independence and autonomy.” In 2024, there were 21,986 crashes involving at least one driver aged 65 or older that resulted in 308 total fatalities. This represents 19.8% of all crashes and 27.3% of all fatalities. Older drivers generally have fewer crashes per driver than the national average – but they have more crashes per mile of driving. “Ensuring that older adults have the resources they need to remain active in and connected to their communities is an important focus of the Shapiro Administration,” said Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA) Jason Kavulich. “Driver safety and working with our partners to provide accessible and flexible transportation alternatives are important parts of how older adults navigate in our community. Pennsylvania lottery proceeds help to fund alternative services in transportation for our older citizens.” Pennsylvania has a network of shared-ride service providers dedicated to keeping older adults mobile, safe, and engaged in their community. The Senior Shared Ride Program allows seniors to ride at a reduced fare. More than 2.7 million senior shared ride trips were provided in FY 2024-25. Additionally, the Free Transit Program for Seniors allows citizens aged 65 or older to ride for free on a local, fixed-route service whenever local public transportation is operating. During FY 2024-25, there were more than 25 million senior Free Transit Trips. While every person ages differently, aging typically brings certain — sometimes subtle — physical, visual, and cognitive changes that could impair an older person’s ability to drive safely. Older drivers and their families should work together to identify potential issues that may affect driving, outline courses of action to assist the older driver, and plan for when it’s time to hang up the keys. “Some factors that may pose challenges for drivers of all ages, but especially older drivers include adverse winter weather conditions, longer nights, and heavy holiday traffic,” said Captain Adam Reed, Assistant Director of Community Outreach for the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP). “To help ensure their safety on the roadways, older drivers should make sure their eye exams are up-to-date and understand how prescribed medications could affect their driving. And please remember…all drivers should always buckle up!” To help older drivers who may have difficulties driving, PennDOT partnered with PA Department of Human Services and transit agencies to develop an online tool called Find My Ride that allows older drivers to access free ride services online. The app allows transit agencies to process applications more efficiently, so users can access benefits more quickly. The app can be found at: findmyride.penndot.pa.gov, or at www.pa.gov/penndot by clicking on Traveling in PA, then Public Transit Options. “All drivers are required to carry adequate financial protection for their vehicles, and there are ways to reduce the cost of auto insurance,” said Deputy Insurance Commissioner for Market Regulation David Buono. “For instance, older drivers often experience changes in their family or work life, which impacts how much they drive. Due to this, PID strongly encourages older drivers to regularly review their auto insurance policy to make sure they are not paying for coverage they no longer need.” A list of approved mature driver courses available can be found online on PennDOT’s Mature Driver Improvement Courses page. Signs that can indicate it may be time to limit or stop driving altogether include: Feeling uncomfortable, fearful, or nervous when driving. Unexplained dents/scrapes on the car, fences, mailboxes, or garage doors. Frequently getting lost and frequent “close calls” (i.e. almost crashing). Slower response times, particularly to unexpected situations. Difficulty paying attention to signs or staying in the lane of traffic. Trouble judging gaps at intersections or highway entrance/exit ramps. PennDOT offers older drivers and their loved ones a resource to help assess older drivers’ abilities and offer guidance on next steps if their medical condition is reported to PennDOT. The Seniors Driving Safely publication series can be downloaded for free from the PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services website. The series also includes a publication designed to guide family and friends of older drivers in what can sometimes be difficult conversations about deciding to stop driving, as well as information for healthcare providers on PennDOT’s medical reporting program. Additionally, CarFit is an educational program created by the American Society on Aging and developed with AAA, AARP, and the American Occupational Therapy Association. CarFit is designed to help older drivers find out how well they currently “fit” their personal vehicle, to learn how they can improve their fit, and to promote conversations about driver safety and community mobility. The following safe-driving habits, which should be routine at any age, are especially useful to older drivers: Plan ahead: lengthy car trips should be made during daylight hours. Morning may be best because most people aren’t as tired as they are in the afternoon. Don’t drive in rush-hour traffic if you can avoid it. Plan trips after 9:00 AM or before 5:00 PM. Know what roads near home are most congested and avoid them. When driving long distances, especially in winter, call ahead for weather and road condition updates. Look ahead. Good drivers get a jump on trouble by looking far down the road and making adjustments before encountering problems that may involve other vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists or animals. Maintain a safe speed. This depends on what the road is like, how well the driver can see, how much traffic there is and how fast traffic is moving. Keep a safe distance from the vehicle ahead of you. The PA Driver’s Manual advises that you should always keep a 4-second gap between you and the vehicle in front of you. Pennsylvanians with insurance questions can contact the Insurance Department Consumer Services Bureau online or at 1-877-881-6388. Additional information on older driver safety and mobility resources is available at both PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services and the Department of Aging websites.
PennDOT: Shapiro Administration Highlights School Bus Safety The Shapiro Administration released the results of Operation Safe Stop, an annual school bus enforcement and education initiative aimed at enhancing school bus safety for students across the Commonwealth by curtailing violations of Pennsylvania’s School Bus Stopping Law. Operation Safe Stop is a one-day targeted enforcement and education event where law enforcement officials and participating schools documented drivers violating Pennsylvania’s School Bus Stopping Law, emphasizing the frequency of these violations and highlighted the importance of driving safely around students and school buses. During this year’s Operation Safe Stop, participating school districts and law enforcement agencies witnessed 188 violations of the law, up from the 176 reported last year. “Just one incident of passing a stopped school bus is too many, and this many violations in just one day is unacceptable,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “Responsibly sharing the road with students and school buses helps keep all of us safe.” The School Bus Stopping Law requires motorists approaching a school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm activated to stop at least 10 feet from the bus. Motorists approaching from all directions are required to stop, unless they encounter a school bus stopping on the opposite side of a divided highway clearly separated by a divider, such as a concrete barrier or grassy median. “Although there are steep penalties for violating Pennsylvania’s School Bus Stopping Law, they pale in comparison to a tragedy that could occur if either a driver or a student is not paying attention to their surroundings,” said Corporal Zeina Black, Permits and Bus Safety Unit Supervisor with the Pennsylvania State Police. “If a driver is stopped by law enforcement and convicted of disobeying Pennsylvania’s School Bus Stopping Law – the penalty is a $250 fine, five points on your driving record and a 60-day license suspension. The fine increases to $300 if someone is caught by a stop arm camera.” “Student safety in school zones and at school bus stops is of the utmost importance, requiring the undivided attention of all motorists. Local school districts work hard to identify the safest locations possible for school bus stops and provide training for staff to foster greater safety for all students,” said Department of Education Deputy Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education Amy Lena. “Vehicle operators can contribute greatly to improving the safety of our students by watching for the flashing lights of school buses and always stopping when students are boarding and exiting the busses.” Some safety tips for students to remember while waiting for or loading and unloading the bus include: Get to the school bus stop at least five minutes early, so you won´t have to run across the road to catch the bus. When waiting for the bus, stay away from traffic. Line up at least five giant steps away from the curb or the roadway to wait for the bus. Never run after the school bus if it has already left the bus stop. Never push when getting on or off the school bus. For more information about school bus safety, visit PennDOT’s School Bus Safety Tips page on the Driver Vehicles Services website.
PennDOT Follows Shapiro Administration’s Focus on Winter Preparation Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll and Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PA Turnpike) Director of Maintenance John DelRicci today amplified the Shapiro Administration’s efforts to prepare the Commonwealth for the winter, highlighted job opportunities, and provided guidance on how Pennsylvanians can gear up for the upcoming winter travel season. “Public safety is at the core of the Shapiro Administration’s mission, and PennDOT and our partners are prepared for the season ahead,” Secretary Carroll said. “We urge the public to be our teammates in making this season a safe one – prepare yourselves and your vehicles before winter begins. We also encourage people to apply to join our full-time or temporary teams to help serve our communities.” The public can access travel information on nearly 40,000 state-maintained roadway miles year-round at www.511PA.com, and during the winter they can find plow-truck locations and details of when state-maintained roadways were last plowed. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,200 traffic cameras. To help the public prepare for the season and share information about winter services, PennDOT offers operational information and traveler resources on its winter web page. The site also has a complete winter guide with detailed information about winter services in each of PennDOT’s 11 engineering districts. As part of its mission and commitment to safety, the PA Turnpike has been preparing its vehicles and system to support roadway safety during the winter months. More than 600 equipment operators and safety patrol personnel as well as traffic operators are ready to provide 24/7 staffing and roadway assistance throughout the winter. The PA Turnpike understands the importance of supporting efficient and reliable travel and works to keep the PA Turnpike system as free of snow and ice as possible. “We do our best to stay on top of winter weather to make the Pennsylvania Turnpike as safe as we can –because safety is core to our values, but we also need motorists to use safe driving habits and exercise caution during winter weather conditions,” DelRicci said. “As we gear up for winter, we need to work collectively to keep our employees and customers safe. Avoid driving during winter weather events when possible and when it’s not – reduce your speed, exercise extreme caution when you see amber or green lights and give plenty of distance between yourself and the plow trucks.” With an estimate of over $207 million budgeted for this winter’s statewide operations, PennDOT deploys nearly 4,700 on-the-road workers, has more than 512,000 tons of salt on hand across the state, and will take salt deliveries throughout the winter. PennDOT is actively seeking temporary equipment operators statewide for the winter season to supplement the department’s full-time staff. Details on minimum requirements – such as possession of a CDL – as well as application information, are available at www.employment.pa.gov/penndot. Through the same website, job seekers can apply for other non-operator winter positions such as diesel and construction equipment mechanics, welders, clerks and more. If motorists encounter snow or ice-covered roads, they should slow down, increase their following distance and avoid distractions. Additionally, seat belts should always be worn in a vehicle. Last winter in Pennsylvania, preliminary data shows that there were 8,329 crashes, 29 fatalities, and 2,959 injuries on snowy, slushy or ice-covered roadways. Eleven of the people who died weren’t wearing a seat belt, and 17 of the fatalities were in crashes where a driver was going too fast for conditions and drove out of their lane. Motorists should prepare for potential wintry weather by ensuring they have supplies in their cars before heading out: food, water, blankets, extra gloves and hats, cell phone charger, hand or foot warmers, windshield brush and scraper, and any specialized items like medications or baby and pet supplies. Southeastern region winter preparations Carroll and DelRicci were joined today by PennDOT’s Delaware County Maintenance Manager Anthony Goreski, who highlighted PennDOT District 6’s readiness for the winter season across the five-county Philadelphia region. District 6 is responsible for over 10,000 snow-lane miles on state highways in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties. The District 6 fleet consists of 182 state-owned snowplow trucks and 262 contractor trucks and has more than 97,000 tons of salt on hand. Assisting PennDOT this winter in the Philadelphia region are 89 municipalities that entered into winter maintenance agreements covering more than 2,500 snow lane miles, whereby local crews salt and plow specified state roads in each municipality.
PennDOT, Safe Driving for Teens Emphasized The Shapiro Administration shared the importance of driver safety with young drivers at high schools across the Commonwealth during the annual Teen Driver Safety Forum. The forum was held at Northeastern High School in Manchester and featured a panel of representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID), and local safety advocates. The panel answered questions from an in-person and online audience of students on topics ranging from safe driving tips to how to get a driver’s license. “We can all help make highways safer by working together to help new drivers gain experience and knowledge,” said PennDOT Deputy Secretary for Driver and Vehicle Services Kara Templeton. “Parents and teachers can help set a good example for teens by making safe driving choices.” Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death among teens. From 2020 to 2024, there were 78,266 vehicle crashes in Pennsylvania involving at least one driver between the ages of 16 and 19, resulting in 479 fatalities. 63 percent of those crashes involved a teen driver driving too fast for conditions (22,662 crashes), driver inexperience (7,452), driver distraction (13,372), or careless turning (13,771). “An important factor in ensuring that a young driver develops good habits behind the wheel is parental involvement, starting long before their teen gets a learner’s permit,” said Captain Adam Reed, Assistant Director, Office of Community Engagement for the Pennsylvania State Police. “We all can influence positive behaviors among teen drivers through our own actions by eliminating distractions and obeying all traffic laws, including seatbelt use.” The Shapiro Administration is working to reduce these risks by encouraging young drivers to limit the number of passengers riding with a teen driver, obey all road rules, and use common sense. Parents of teen drivers should consider the following recommendations to help their children become safe and responsible drivers: Have regular conversations with your teen about safe driving skills, even before they get their learner’s permit. Establish a parent/teen driving contract. Encourage teen drivers to avoid distractions behind the wheel, such as talking or texting on their cell phone. Limit the number of passengers teen drivers may have in their vehicle. Drivers under 18 may not carry more than one passenger under the age of 18 who is not an immediate family member unless one parent or guardian is in the vehicle. After the first six months of incident-free driving on a junior license, the limit is increased to no more than three passengers under the age of 18 who are not immediate family members unless one parent or guardian is in the vehicle. Limit dawn, dusk, and nighttime driving until the teen driver gains more experience and enforce a curfew. Remember, state law prohibits 16- and 17-year-olds with a junior license from driving between 11:00 PM and 5:00 AM. Gradually increase the amount of time and distance teen drivers are allowed to drive. Enforce observance of speed limits and other rules of the road. Ride with teen drivers occasionally after they receive their license to monitor driving skills. Set a good example with responsible driving habits. Further reinforcing safe driving habits among teen drivers, the PA Turnpike, PED, and PennDOT teamed up to launch a statewide training program last year to improve the safety of new drivers and protect roadway workers. Pennsylvania’s New Driver Work Zone Safety Program is an online training that utilizes engaging videos, infographics, knowledge checks, and powerful testimonials to educate new drivers on work zone laws, signage, and key facts, while also presenting real-life scenarios to enhance understanding. “Driving is a highly complex skill that requires years of practice to perfect,” said Acting Department of Education Secretary Dr. Carrie Rowe. “Driver education training programs are invaluable in teaching novice drivers, especially teenagers, the critical skills they need to successfully and safely navigate on the roads.” Driver education programs also offer an extended benefit to young drivers. Pennsylvania Insurance Department reminds young drivers that, in addition to shopping around, there are ways that they can proactively keep their rates lower, such as taking advantage of discount opportunities by taking driver’s ed classes and maintaining good grades. Teens who focus on making good decisions behind the wheel, such as always wearing a seatbelt, eliminating distractions, and putting phones away while driving, tend to avoid accidents and driving violations, which are key to keeping rates low. “Auto insurance is an important financial protection for students and their families. While many high school students are excited to get their driver’s license, rates for young drivers, usually paid by parents, are high, because young, inexperienced drivers have a higher likelihood of filing insurance claims,” said Pennsylvania Insurance Deputy Commissioner David Buono. “As new drivers develop good driving habits, it is also necessary that they understand the importance of remaining insured and the role of auto insurance, including the coverages they buy.” For more information on teen driver safety, visit PennDOT’s website.
PennDOT, Shapiro Administration Expands Statewide Truck Parking Options Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), Pennsylvania Turnpike (PA Turnpike), and Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association officials announced that the Commonwealth is adding 1,202 truck parking spaces in 133 locations by the end of 2026. In addition, the PA Turnpike is evaluating opportunities for more than 600 additional spaces across its system. This is the first statewide expansion of designated parking spaces other than through facility construction projects and will provide safe options for commercial drivers to meet federal hours-of-service rest requirements, helping to address a longstanding, nationwide challenge and improving driver safety. “Truck parking is a nationwide issue, and with the high volume of freight traffic coming through Pennsylvania, the Shapiro Administration knew that we needed to tackle this problem,” PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said. “As a commercial driver’s license-holder myself, I know how important this commonsense approach is to our economy and workforce. By adding these spots – and looking at ways to add even more – we’re giving truckers many more options to safely park and meet their rest requirements.” PennDOT’s designated truck parking spots will be established on Interstate on-ramps with no sight distance or safety concerns, weigh stations used for PSP motor carrier safety enforcement, and various other locations within highway right of way. PennDOT and PSP staff collaborated closely to identify sites that can be designated quickly and cost-effectively. Spots will be marked with truck-parking signage installed by PennDOT. “This initiative directly supports our mission to ensure motor carrier safety by reducing driver fatigue and improving the overall safety of our highways,” PSP Director Bureau of Patrol Major Robert Krol said. “Safe, designated parking is essential for commercial drivers, and this effort represents a significant step forward in protecting everyone who travels on Pennsylvania’s roads.” As part of its ongoing investment to the trucking community, the PA Turnpike is evaluating the feasibility of additional spaces at various locations throughout its system, including emergency pull-offs, interchange on-ramps and service plaza on-ramps. Over the last two decades, the PA Turnpike has added parking where it can, investing more than $30 million to expand truck parking at numerous service plazas, including Sideling Hill, Lawn, Highspire, North Somerset and Stanton service plazas. As it converts to Open Road Tolling (ORT), the PA Turnpike is reviewing the reconfiguration of interchanges can create opportunities to provide additional spaces for truck parking. “The trucking community is essential to our mission of supporting national commerce,” said PA Turnpike CEO Mark Compton. “We are dedicated to finding innovative solutions that address the increasing truck parking shortages along our system, and we take pride in collaborating with partners throughout the Commonwealth to enhance driver safety and improve logistics efficiency.” Due to its role supporting regional logistical operations, the Pennsylvania Turnpike is one of the few toll roads that held – and grew – its commercial volumes from pre-pandemic levels. Systemwide, commercial traffic is 15% higher than pre-pandemic levels. To complement the added spaces and to share available their locations, PennDOT today unveiled a new “Public Truck Parking” option on www.511PA.com and the 511PA smartphone application. The map displays existing truck parking options and both agencies’ newly designated locations will be added as the parking becomes available. Truck parking concerns have been well documented, including through a study by the Pennsylvania State Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) in 2023. This parking expansion addresses the study’s recommendation to “repurpose select state-owned surplus properties.” The action to expand parking builds on PennDOT’s work on other recommendations included in the TAC study. The department has established the Truck Parking Task Force, an ongoing collaboration with regional and municipal partners along high priority corridors identified in the study. Additionally, the department has engaged the trucking industry, municipalities, and planning partners to help promote and advance potential solutions at the local level. “Truck drivers are essential to keeping our economy moving, goods on our shelves, and food in our pantries — but they need safe places to stop and rest. With only one parking space for every 11 drivers on the road, too many truckers are forced to choose between breaking hours-of-service laws or stopping in unsafe locations. Every new space added to our highway network means one more trucker who has a safe and secure place to stop tonight. PMTA thanks PennDOT and the Turnpike Commission for their commitment to tackling this problem to help truck drivers and keep our roads safer for everyone,” PMTA President & CEO Rebecca Oyler said. 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 X alerts. Information about state infrastructure in Pennsylvania, including completed work and significant projects, is available online. Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.pa.gov/DOTprojects.
PennDOT, Shapiro Administration Opening Commonwealth’s 20th EV Charging Station Pennsylvania has opened its 20th NEVI site for Pennsylvania travelers, leading the nation in stations built through the program. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced the opening of the state’s 20th federally-funded Electric Vehicle (EV) charging station, putting Pennsylvania in the lead nationally for the number of stations built using funds from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program and representing a total federal investment of approximately $11.5 million. The new station is located atSheetz in Pittsburgh on Freeport Road along Interstate 76 (Exit 48). Since the first NEVI-funded station opened in PA, the charging stations have delivered more than 30,000 charging sessions, powering over 3.5 million estimated miles driven and reducing CO2 emissions by more than 1.7 million pounds (or 750 metric tons). Additionally, PennDOT announced that it is the first state to receive a Full Build-Out Certification under the new federal NEVI guidance issued in August. The build-out certification allows a state to move beyond the initial phase of the NEVI program that focused on building charging stations on the core network of interstate highways, enabling PennDOT to begin the next stage of the NEVI program — Corridor Connections — which will be released on or before October 7, 2025. “Thanks to our team’s diligent work in 2023 and 2024, and Governor Shapiro’s persistent efforts to secure Congressionally appropriated funding, we’re in a position to continue making EVs more accessible for PA travelers,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “That quick action ensured Pennsylvania could adapt to national program changes while locking in investments for Pennsylvania.” Per NEVI guidance issued August 11, PennDOT submitted an updated Pennsylvania NEVI State Plan and a second request for Full Build-Out Certification to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on August 27, 2025. The next phase will begin projects that connect communities. The NEVI State Plan was approved on September 5, 2025, and PennDOT received Full Build-Out Certification on September 22, 2025. Having received approval, the Shapiro Administration is moving forward with the community phase of the NEVI program, beginning with the Corridor Connections Funding Opportunity The Corridor Connections Funding Opportunity focuses on implementing EV charging stations along major roadways to strengthen long-distance travel outside of previously designated Alternative Fuel Corridors. These locations are expected to serve the communities and regions near the charging station locations. Projects funded from the Corridor Connections program will improve range confidence for drivers who are considering travel with an EV across and throughout the Commonwealth. PennDOT anticipates soliciting about 24 projects through the Corridor Connections Funding Opportunity, with up to $20 million in available funding. The Funding Opportunity is expected to include more than 1,000 miles of roadway. The submission period will close on January 30, 2026, at 5:00 PM EST. Full program details will be available on the Corridor Connections webpage on October 6, 2025. National data on the status of the NEVI program by state is available at https://evstates.org/awards-dashboard/. Information about state infrastructure in Pennsylvania, including completed work and significant projects, is available online. Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.pa.gov/DOTprojects.
Shapiro Administration Continues Safety Efforts with Roundabouts Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced that roundabouts continue to provide safe, efficient travel across the Commonwealth. Since 2005,104 roundabouts have been built to improve traffic flow and/or decrease crash severity, and more than 30 additional roundabouts are in various stages of design and construction across Pennsylvania. “For us, it’s simple. Roundabouts remove cross-traffic turns and eliminate T-bone crashes, while improving traffic flow” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “Any design that dramatically reduces the most serious crashes we see on the road is worthy of consideration in our projects.” PennDOT finalized a data review through 2024 using 20 years of crash data from roundabouts around the state. Study findings showed that crashes with injuries were reduced by 51 percent and total crashes decreased by 7 percent. Pennsylvania data reflects national studies that found changing two-way sign-controlled intersections to a single-lane roundabout reduced injury crashes by more than 80 percent. Likewise, changing a signalized intersection to single-lane or multilane roundabout reduced crashes with injuries by up to 78 percent. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) lists roundabouts as a “Proven Safety Countermeasure” that improves safety by reducing vehicle speeds by angling incoming traffic. The crashes that do occur tend to be sideswipe crashes with vehicles traveling at slower speeds rather than T-bone or head-on collisions. Additionally, eliminating left turns across opposing traffic results in dramatically fewer injuries. In addition to safety improvement, roundabouts carry, on average, approximately 30 percent more vehicles during peak traffic than similar intersections. In off-peak hours, roundabouts cause almost no delay, compared to traffic signals. As roundabouts are constructed around the state, it is important to know how to correctly navigate them. Here are a few key things to remember when navigating a roundabout: Slow down and be prepared to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk. Circulating traffic has the right of way. Look left and check for approaching traffic. If there are multiple circulating lanes, yield to both before entering. Do not assume the vehicle in the inside lane will stay there. Do not stop while in the circulatory roadway, and always use your right turn signal to indicate your exit. Click here for PennDOT’s data review Click here for the national studies
Governor’s Office Announces Improved Online Experience on 511PA The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PA Turnpike) today announced that 511PA – Pennsylvania’s free, statewide travel information service – has been upgraded with a new website, mobile app, and phone system. This announcement comes just days after Governor Shapiro launched a new PA.gov meet Pennsylvanians where they are online, deliver human-centered digital experiences, and make Commonwealth services easier to find. “Each year, nearly 100 billion vehicle miles are traveled on Pennsylvania’s roads and bridges,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “The Shapiro Administration continues to improve Commonwealth services, so they are easier to find, more accessible, and readily available. The more information we can make available to the traveling public, the better. We’re proud of these enhancements and encourage travelers to check out the improved 511PA and ‘know before they go.’” Launched in 2009, 511PA is a statewide travel information service operated by PennDOT and PA Turnpike that helps reduce congestion and improve safety on Pennsylvania roadways. 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 X alerts. Through the “Driving Mode” feature, motorists can receive these alerts hands-free so they can focus on safely driving. “We are committed to the safety of the 550,000 customers who choose the PA Turnpike daily and know that unforeseen incidents can happen on any road at any time,” said PA Turnpike Chief Operating Officer Craig Shuey. “We are excited that these changes to 511PA will improve the customer experience. This additional tool readily assists drivers before they get on the road with real-time information so they can stay informed with what is happening on the roadways.” Here are some of the updates users can expect: The redesigned 511PA mobile app has several new features, including the ability to limit alerts to your route, a new “My Cameras” feature and the option for alternate routes. The updated website has been completely redesigned to be more user-friendly and includes new personalization and customization to make it even easier to access the information users most care about. The phone system now provides a more streamlined menu to get callers the information they need faster. Users can also sign up for personalized travel alerts on the website. Current 511PA personal-alert subscribers need to create a new account in the updated system and set up their preferences to continue receiving alerts. A transformed 511PA app is part of the new system, so users will need to update their Apple or Android app to access the latest version. Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in your county at www.PennDOT.pa.gov/RegionalOffices. Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov. The PA Turnpike’s mission is to operate a safe, reliable, customer-valued toll road system that supports national mobility and commerce. Find resources and planned construction projects at Traveling on the PA Turnpike | PA Turnpike.
