Skip to main content

Approval for proposal to upgrade Pennsylvania’s transportation

Pennsylvania’s Senate leaders have approved a comprehensive proposal to fund the state’s transportation needs, saying the measure is vital to public safety and economic development. Once approved by the House of Representatives, the proposal will allow the state to invest more than US$2.5 billion in highways and bridges, transit agencies, railways, airports and ports. Pennsylvania has more structurally deficient bridges – nearly 4,400 – than any other state, and 23 percent of its 44,000 miles of state-owned
June 10, 2013 Read time: 1 min
Pennsylvania’s Senate leaders have approved a comprehensive proposal to fund the state’s transportation needs, saying the measure is vital to public safety and economic development.

Once approved by the House of Representatives, the proposal will allow the state to invest more than US$2.5 billion in highways and bridges, transit agencies, railways, airports and ports.

Pennsylvania has more structurally deficient bridges – nearly 4,400 – than any other state, and 23 percent of its 44,000 miles of state-owned roads are in poor condition.

A recent report by a national transportation group found that the poor state of Pennsylvania's roads and bridges costs state residents US$9.4 billion annually in vehicle operating costs, congestion delays and traffic accidents.

Related Content

  • Ukraine turns to ITS to cope with traffic increases
    June 9, 2015
    With increasing road fatalities the Ukrainian government is planning to introduce ITS technology in 2016-2017. Eugene Gerden finds out more. The government of Ukraine is considering a massive introduction of ITS in the national system of traffic during the period 2016-2017, according to a recent statement by the Ukrainian Ministry of Transport. According to the Ukrainian government, implementation of the project is an acute need, as in recent years the number of road accidents in Ukraine has significantly
  • US economic stimulus package highlights ITS technology
    July 17, 2012
    US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood talks to ITS International about economic stimulus funding and the absolute need to maintain and increase the use of technology in transportation. Of the total of $787 billion of funding announced under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the economic stimulus package which was signed into law by US President Barack Obama on 17 February 2009, $48.1 billion will go to the US Department of Transportation (USDOT). Of that, $27.5 billion is for highway in
  • Momentum builds for increase in US fuel tax
    January 12, 2015
    The possibility of a gasoline tax increase to help pay for federal highway improvements was attracting increased attention in the US Congress as a prominent conservative Republican on Thursday said he was willing to consider the move. According to Reuters, Senator Orrin Hatch, the new chairman of the Senate Finance Committee that oversees tax measures, told reporters he has an open mind on raising the 18.4 cents per gallon tax levied at the gasoline pump. "I prefer not to increase taxes, but to me tha
  • State panel looks for ways to fix roads
    September 4, 2014
    A special panel, the Transportation Funding Task Force, which includes legislative leaders and others, is about to launch a study of ways to boost state aid for Louisiana's often-criticised road and bridge system. "There is not a legislator across the state that does not have some kind of issue with getting a project done, starting a project, finishing a project," said state Representative Karen St Germain, chairwoman of the House Transportation Committee and a member of the panel.