Pennsylvania to allocate $61.9 billion to statewide transportation improvements
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief
Pennsylvania’s State Transportation Commission (STC) has announced updates to the state’s 12-Year Transportation program, effective Oct. 1.
The revised plan anticipates $61.9 billion toward improvements to railroads, bridges, roads, transit systems and airports. The last update in 2014 anticipated $63.3 billion being made available.
The revised program designates an expected $8.6 billion toward public transit; $229 million to rail freight improvements; $30 million in funding recommended for rail projects; and $305 million allocated toward multimodal projects in the next four years. Updates also specify that $11.3 billion should be allotted to state highway and bridge projects.
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary Leslie S. Richards attributes the possibility of these updates to “ongoing efficiencies at PennDOT.”
“This update reflects the progress we are making, chipping away at our large backlog of pavement and bridge needs while adding some capacity expansion to address long-standing desires for better mobility,” Richards said. “The new update also includes investments across the modes and underwrites our goal of making sure the people of Pennsylvania have options for their day-to-day travels.”
Pennsylvania laws require the STC to revise the 12-Year Program every two years, and no capital projects can progress unless they are outlined in the program.
The plan has been submitted and is now pending approval by the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) and the Federal Transit Administration. The FHA is expected to evaluate the plan’s adherence to air quality requirements in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection. Officials say that 19 metropolitan planning organizations, four rural planning organizations and one independent county collaborated with PennDOT in developing the updates to the 12-year plan.
