PA Turnpike News

[jeffandnicole]

The PA Turnpike was ready to close down a portion of the Northeast Extension this weekend for another sliding bridge replacement.

Except...they found out the slide mechanism was misaligned!

Current timeline for the replacement may be later in October.

http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-nws-turnpike-closure-postponed-bridge-20170926-story.html

[jemacedo9]

Very quietly, the northern section of the MM20-31 6-lane widening on the NE Ext/i-476, through Exit 31, is fully opened and completed.  I didn't see any announcements or anything. 

[PHLBOS]

Very quietly, the northern section of the MM20-31 6-lane widening on the NE Ext/i-476, through Exit 31, is fully opened and completed.  I didn't see any announcements or anything.

I drove on that stretch 3 weeks ago & it was fully open/completed back then.

[Mr_Northside]

Even though this is more in the "Ohio Valley" portion of the state, the Trib has run a story saying that the Irwin <-> Monroeville section is "on hold" due to lack of money.

Also of interest, but no real additional information, is the notion of a new ramp touching down at Arona Rd & US-30

http://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/12808786-74/plans-to-widen-the-pennsylvania-turnpike-near-irwin-on-hold

[cpzilliacus]

Even though this is more in the "Ohio Valley" portion of the state, the Trib has run a story saying that the Irwin <-> Monroeville section is "on hold" due to lack of money.

Also of interest, but no real additional information, is the notion of a new ramp touching down at Arona Rd & US-30

http://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/12808786-74/plans-to-widen-the-pennsylvania-turnpike-near-irwin-on-hold

Act 44 and Act 89 strike again?

[jeffandnicole]

Even though this is more in the "Ohio Valley" portion of the state, the Trib has run a story saying that the Irwin <-> Monroeville section is "on hold" due to lack of money.

Also of interest, but no real additional information, is the notion of a new ramp touching down at Arona Rd & US-30

http://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/12808786-74/plans-to-widen-the-pennsylvania-turnpike-near-irwin-on-hold

Act 44 and Act 89 strike again?

Tough to say.  As noted in the article: "Turnpike officials in 2013 had predicted the final phase of the project would begin in 2020 or 2021."  When transportation agencies around the country introduce such long timelines for projects, other things come up, and less important things get pushed back. 

Then again, maybe the fact that a 5 mile widening project in a relatively rural area will potentially cost $300 million may cause them to rethink this project a bit. 

[ARMOURERERIC]

That stretch has alot of Pittsburgh commuter traffic, has for 30 years.

[Mr_Northside]

Then again, maybe the fact that a 5 mile widening project in a relatively rural area will potentially cost $300 million may cause them to rethink this project a bit. 

I think the 300 million is for all 10 miles between Irwin & Monroeville (that looks like they are breaking down into 2 different construction segments, instead of all at once).
I don't know that I would classify it as rural.  Part of the stretch has a fairly significant bridge over a valley, railroad tracks and at least one road (that isn't really that old, given it was replaced in the late 80's or early 90s) that is probably a big chunk of the cost.

[Beltway]

Then again, maybe the fact that a 5 mile widening project in a relatively rural area will potentially cost $300 million may cause them to rethink this project a bit. 

I think the 300 million is for all 10 miles between Irwin & Monroeville (that looks like they are breaking down into 2 different construction segments, instead of all at once).
I don't know that I would classify it as rural.  Part of the stretch has a fairly significant bridge over a valley, railroad tracks and at least one road (that isn't really that old, given it was replaced in the late 80's or early 90s) that is probably a big chunk of the cost.

$25 to $30 million per mile is typical today for PA Turnpike total reconstruction to 6 lanes projects.

[ARMOURERERIC]

As part of my periodic surfing of the PTC website, I yesterday noted that the final design contract for the next segment of the Mon-Fayette toll road was awarded in early November.  This is for the PA51 to PA 837 segment ending near Kennywood.  IIRC, they contemplate a construction start in 20 or 21.

[Great Lakes Roads]

PA Turnpike is raising the toll prices up 6 percent... AGAIN for the tenth straight year!! 

Article:
http://www.poconorecord.com/news/20171204/pennsylvania-turnpike-tolls-going-up-again-in-january

[Bitmapped]

PA Turnpike is raising the toll prices up 6 percent... AGAIN for the tenth straight year!! 

Article:
http://www.poconorecord.com/news/20171204/pennsylvania-turnpike-tolls-going-up-again-in-january

PTC expects annual increases through 2044. They've built up a lot of debt because of transfer payments to PennDOT, and the Turnpike itself is an aging roadway with significant capital improvement needs. http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/breaking-news/index.ssf/2015/07/pennsylvania_turnpike_tolls_ri.html

[ekt8750]

PA Turnpike is raising the toll prices up 6 percent... AGAIN for the tenth straight year!! 

Article:
http://www.poconorecord.com/news/20171204/pennsylvania-turnpike-tolls-going-up-again-in-january

PTC expects annual increases through 2044. They've built up a lot of debt because of transfer payments to PennDOT, and the Turnpike itself is an aging roadway with significant capital improvement needs. http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/breaking-news/index.ssf/2015/07/pennsylvania_turnpike_tolls_ri.html

By then it'll be more cost efficient to drive up to I-80 to get across the state.

[cpzilliacus]

PA Turnpike is raising the toll prices up 6 percent... AGAIN for the tenth straight year!! 

Article:
http://www.poconorecord.com/news/20171204/pennsylvania-turnpike-tolls-going-up-again-in-january

PTC expects annual increases through 2044. They've built up a lot of debt because of transfer payments to PennDOT, and the Turnpike itself is an aging roadway with significant capital improvement needs. http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/breaking-news/index.ssf/2015/07/pennsylvania_turnpike_tolls_ri.html

I think it's important to note that those transfer payments are not going to PennDOT to be used for anything having to do with the Pennsylvania Turnpike, but to be spent on transit subsidies across the state, starting with  SEPTA (Philadelphia) and  the Port Authority of Allegheny County (Pittsburgh).  As best as I can  tell, none of the transit service being subsidized by Turnpike customers has anything to do with the Turnpike either.

[Hurricane Rex]

PA Turnpike is raising the toll prices up 6 percent... AGAIN for the tenth straight year!! 

Article:
http://www.poconorecord.com/news/20171204/pennsylvania-turnpike-tolls-going-up-again-in-january

PTC expects annual increases through 2044. They've built up a lot of debt because of transfer payments to PennDOT, and the Turnpike itself is an aging roadway with significant capital improvement needs. http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/breaking-news/index.ssf/2015/07/pennsylvania_turnpike_tolls_ri.html

I think it's important to note that those transfer payments are not going to PennDOT to be used for anything having to do with the Pennsylvania Turnpike, but to be spent on transit subsidies across the state, starting with  SEPTA (Philadelphia) and  the Port Authority of Allegheny County (Pittsburgh).  As best as I can  tell, none of the transit service being subsidized by Turnpike customers has anything to do with the Turnpike either.

Another waste of money then. Why can't any state near the coasts seen to fit road funding right. Tolls are for that specific road, not for public transit subsidies, or at least they shouldn't be.

[Chris19001]

Another waste of money then. Why can't any state near the coasts seen to fit road funding right. Tolls are for that specific road, not for public transit subsidies, or at least they shouldn't be.

Welcome to PA...  SEPTA was always the pauper before ACT 44 passed through, and I appreciate it because I take their regional rail every day.  Tripping down memory lane, the PATP wasn't in the most generous mood for expansions before ACT44.  That seems to have opened the floodgates for all sorts of expansion/reconstruction projects, since they are "allowed" to increase tolls every year without needing a new justification. 
Obviously, the gravy train will come to an end once that debt can't be financed by low interest rates, and enough people just shunpike..  So in my opinion, without the debt the turnpike would still be crying poor and we'd arguably have less expansion projects east of Harrisburg.

[SignBridge]

Hurricane Rex, I believe all of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority's toll revenues stay with the roads they control, the Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway. As a result, the NJ Turnpike is extremely well engineered and maintained and it's my favorite American Autobahn. 

[Beltway]

Hurricane Rex, I believe all of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority's toll revenues stay with the roads they control, the Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway. As a a result, the NJ Turnpike is extremely well engineered and maintained and it's my favorite American Autobahn. 

NJTA hasn't built any extensions since the 1960s, and PTC has built 90 miles since the 1990s.  That said, the 16-mile Beaver Valley Expwy. is the only actual extension of the Turnpike, the others are off the system and are subsidized by mainline toll revenues.

PTC has made a lot of progress on the original turnpike, may reach 30% of the mileage upgraded to modern 6-lane standards in about 5 to 7 years.   That said, a lot of toll revenue is siphoned off to off-system toll highway extensions and to mass transit systems, and as SignBridge said the NJTP is built and maintained to much higher standards.

[jeffandnicole]

Hurricane Rex, I believe all of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority's toll revenues stay with the roads they control, the Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway. As a result, the NJ Turnpike is extremely well engineered and maintained and it's my favorite American Autobahn. 

The NJTA actually diverts a significant amount of money to the state.  In 2016, $294,000,000 was paid to the State from the NJTA.  See Page 42 (PDF page 54) of the audited financial statements: http://www.njta.com/media/3448/2016-annual-report-final-complete.pdf .  You'll see the line item "Payments to the State of New Jersey".  It should be noted that the payment in 2016 was down quite a bit from 2015's payment of $354 million. 

Because the NJTA is flush with money, it doesn't require the toll increases that the PA Turnpike needs to do.  However, while it still works well, there's a noticeable decline in some of the maintenance that's normally done.  In the past, one would never see ruts in the lanes.  And there's a significant amount of paving work that needs to get done in the very heavily traveled portions of the Turnpike North of Exit 14.

[Alps]

NJTA hasn't built any extensions since the 1960s, and PTC has built 90 miles since the 1990s.  That said, the 16-mile Beaver Valley Expwy. is the only actual extension of the Turnpike, the others are off the system and are subsidized by mainline toll revenues.

PTC has made a lot of progress on the original turnpike, may reach 30% of the mileage upgraded to modern 6-lane standards in about 5 to 7 years.   That said, a lot of toll revenue is siphoned off to off-system toll highway extensions and to mass transit systems, and as SignBridge said the NJTP is built and maintained to much higher standards.

The NJTA built the 6-9 widening just now. From Ints. 6-8A was brand new dualized roadways in a very expensive state for new right-of-way. They've also widening large swaths of the Garden State Parkway and built several new interchanges. The key is absolutely Act 44, it has nothing to do with where the money goes in the toll system.

The NJTA actually diverts a significant amount of money to the state.  In 2016, $294,000,000 was paid to the State from the NJTA.  See Page 42 (PDF page 54) of the audited financial statements: http://www.njta.com/media/3448/2016-annual-report-final-complete.pdf .  You'll see the line item "Payments to the State of New Jersey".  It should be noted that the payment in 2016 was down quite a bit from 2015's payment of $354 million. 

Because the NJTA is flush with money, it doesn't require the toll increases that the PA Turnpike needs to do.  However, while it still works well, there's a noticeable decline in some of the maintenance that's normally done.  In the past, one would never see ruts in the lanes.  And there's a significant amount of paving work that needs to get done in the very heavily traveled portions of the Turnpike North of Exit 14.

The money that has gone to the State is for projects like Pulaski Skyway. The NJTA is only allowed to pay the state for projects that demonstrate a direct benefit to the NJTA's assets. The ARC tunnel was an example. Demonstrating the benefit is key, and individual to each project.
As for your noted lack of maintenance - there's a very good reason for that. The entire system of both Turnpike and Parkway largely dates to the early 1950s. All of the bridges are now hitting their end of lives and need significant work. So a) with such a large volume of bridges, money gets spread thinner, and b) the bridges are a much higher priority (structural integrity) than pavement quality.

[mrsman]

The money that has gone to the State is for projects like Pulaski Skyway. The NJTA is only allowed to pay the state for projects that demonstrate a direct benefit to the NJTA's assets. The ARC tunnel was an example. Demonstrating the benefit is key, and individual to each project.
As for your noted lack of maintenance - there's a very good reason for that. The entire system of both Turnpike and Parkway largely dates to the early 1950s. All of the bridges are now hitting their end of lives and need significant work. So a) with such a large volume of bridges, money gets spread thinner, and b) the bridges are a much higher priority (structural integrity) than pavement quality.

I like this approach.  There is a strong case to be made that a well designed transit project will improve traffic in the same corridor.  Same idea for highway improvements in the neighborhood of the turnpike (like maybe fixes for some incomplete interchanges between the turnpike and other expressways like I-70 and I-99).  Now for something like the PA turnpike, the parts near Philly should subsidize SEPTA.  The parts in the middle of the state probably shouldn't.

[SignBridge]

J&N, Thanks for the info re: NJTA's diversion of funds to the State. I never knew they did that, and I'm very surprised to learn this. And yes, I have noticed some deteriorating pavement on the Northern sections of the Turnpike. I remember being dismayed at how unusual it was for NJTA to allow such conditions to exist......

[MASTERNC]

According to this article, the Turnpike will be piloting a mobile payment program.  Details are unknown.

http://www.masstransitmag.com/news/12388122/after-raising-43m-passport-jumps-into-tolling-and-eyes-international-expansion

[jemacedo9]

The next widening project on the NE Ext/I-476 is beginning - MM31-38.

https://www.paturnpike.com/Press/2018/20180206113455.htm

[ixnay]

The next widening project on the NE Ext/I-476 is beginning - MM31-38.

https://www.paturnpike.com/Press/2018/20180206113455.htm

Will it eventually be six lanes all the way to exit 56?

ixnay