Pennsylvania

[74/171FAN]

The project to reconstruct PA 61 between St. Clair and Frackville has been awarded just over $21 million through an INFRA grant.

This project is much needed as truck traffic is growing in the area due to the large number of warehouses throughout eastern PA and with Route 61 serving as a link between I-78 and I-81. Currently PA 61 is in pretty rough shape here, up to the point where southbound is limited to one lane due to the roadway collapsing.

https://www.skooknews.com/2021/06/penndot-awarded-21012220-million.html

https://www.revitalize61.com/

I did not realize that.  Thank you for mentioning it.  I do not think I will need to update PA 61 in Travel Mapping as the centerline does not seem to change very much.

[Crown Victoria]

The project to reconstruct PA 61 between St. Clair and Frackville has been awarded just over $21 million through an INFRA grant.

This project is much needed as truck traffic is growing in the area due to the large number of warehouses throughout eastern PA and with Route 61 serving as a link between I-78 and I-81. Currently PA 61 is in pretty rough shape here, up to the point where southbound is limited to one lane due to the roadway collapsing.

https://www.skooknews.com/2021/06/penndot-awarded-21012220-million.html

https://www.revitalize61.com/

I did not realize that.  Thank you for mentioning it.  I do not think I will need to update PA 61 in Travel Mapping as the centerline does not seem to change very much.

You're welcome! Thank you for all the project updates that you provide for us.

[74/171FAN]

The project to reconstruct PA 61 between St. Clair and Frackville has been awarded just over $21 million through an INFRA grant.

This project is much needed as truck traffic is growing in the area due to the large number of warehouses throughout eastern PA and with Route 61 serving as a link between I-78 and I-81. Currently PA 61 is in pretty rough shape here, up to the point where southbound is limited to one lane due to the roadway collapsing.

https://www.skooknews.com/2021/06/penndot-awarded-21012220-million.html

https://www.revitalize61.com/

I did not realize that.  Thank you for mentioning it.  I do not think I will need to update PA 61 in Travel Mapping as the centerline does not seem to change very much.

You're welcome! Thank you for all the project updates that you provide for us.

For some reason, District 5 is not the best when it comes to news releases.  Outside of maybe District 4 at times, the other districts seem to do a solid job at them.

[74/171FAN]

PennDOT - District 8 News: Diverging Diamond Interchange Opens at I-83 Exit 4 (Route 851) in Shrewsbury Township, York County  (I-83 at PA 851)

PennDOT - District 12 News: Emergency Closure Route 40 - Henry Clay Township  (Well no clinching US 40 for the 4th of July)

PennDOT - District 12 News: Wolf Administration Previews 2021 Construction Season for Southwest Region

[ixnay]

PennDOT - District 12 News: Emergency Closure Route 40 - Henry Clay Township  (Well no clinching US 40 for the 4th of July)

Reminds me of the closure of US 30 in the North Versailles(?) area east of Pittsburgh to stabilize that cliffside stretch.

ixnay

[74/171FAN]

PennDOT - District 12 News: Ramp Closures Interstate 70 - Exit 54

PennDOT - District 6 News: U.S. 202 (Dekalb Pike) Long-Term Lane Closures Planned for Construction in Montgomery County

[74/171FAN]

PennDOT - District 6 News: (Route 352) Edgmont Avenue over I-95 to Reopen Today Following Bridge Rehabilitation in the City of Chester

PennDOT - District 3 News: Route 220 Safety Improvement Project Updates

[Flyer78]

PennDOT has created a detailed website for improvements to US 1 in the Middletown (Delco) area at https://pa352us1delco.com/

Some major changes to the very antiquated cloverleaf interchange at PA352. Also a new ramp will be added to allow traffic heading south on Baltimore Pike to access the bypass directly, which I think will actually be useful, even if it is "out of the way" from Media to get on its own bypass.

Improvements also detailed for the US1/PA452 and PA352/PA452 interchanges.

[Crown Victoria]

PennDOT - District 12 News: Ramp Closures Interstate 70 - Exit 54

Having traveled the Washington PA-New Stanton stretch of I-70 recently, it's interesting to see the contrast between the improvements made over the last decade and the unimproved sections. Once all upgrades are completed, that stretch of I-70 will be a much more enjoyable ride.

[ekt8750]

PennDOT has created a detailed website for improvements to US 1 in the Middletown (Delco) area at https://pa352us1delco.com/

Some major changes to the very antiquated cloverleaf interchange at PA352. Also a new ramp will be added to allow traffic heading south on Baltimore Pike to access the bypass directly, which I think will actually be useful, even if it is "out of the way" from Media to get on its own bypass.

Improvements also detailed for the US1/PA452 and PA352/PA452 interchanges.

That 1-352 interchange is an absolute nightmare during rush hours. I really like the idea of making it an SPUI and moving the ramps to the Media Bypass to the left lanes.

[74/171FAN]

PennDOT - District 9 News: Section of Route 2031 (Garrett Shortcut Road) Closed Due to Sinkhole in Somerset County

[Roadsguy]

PennDOT has created a detailed website for improvements to US 1 in the Middletown (Delco) area at https://pa352us1delco.com/

Some major changes to the very antiquated cloverleaf interchange at PA352. Also a new ramp will be added to allow traffic heading south on Baltimore Pike to access the bypass directly, which I think will actually be useful, even if it is "out of the way" from Media to get on its own bypass.

Improvements also detailed for the US1/PA452 and PA352/PA452 interchanges.

That 1-352 interchange is an absolute nightmare during rush hours. I really like the idea of making it an SPUI and moving the ramps to the Media Bypass to the left lanes.

I love how both alternatives involve technically extending the freeway.

[ekt8750]

PennDOT has created a detailed website for improvements to US 1 in the Middletown (Delco) area at https://pa352us1delco.com/

Some major changes to the very antiquated cloverleaf interchange at PA352. Also a new ramp will be added to allow traffic heading south on Baltimore Pike to access the bypass directly, which I think will actually be useful, even if it is "out of the way" from Media to get on its own bypass.

Improvements also detailed for the US1/PA452 and PA352/PA452 interchanges.

That 1-352 interchange is an absolute nightmare during rush hours. I really like the idea of making it an SPUI and moving the ramps to the Media Bypass to the left lanes.

I love how both alternatives involve technically extending the freeway.

Just a tad. It also alleviates the bottleneck caused by the lane drop at the end of the freeway. Another choke point at rush hour.

[74/171FAN]

PennDOT - District 11 News: Northbound I-79 Neville Island Bridge Weekend Closure July 9-12
PennDOT - District 10 News: Weekend Closure of Freedom Road in Butler County (Cranberry Township)

[PHLBOS]

PennDOT has created a detailed website for improvements to US 1 in the Middletown (Delco) area at https://pa352us1delco.com/

Some major changes to the very antiquated cloverleaf interchange at PA352. Also a new ramp will be added to allow traffic heading south on Baltimore Pike to access the bypass directly, which I think will actually be useful, even if it is "out of the way" from Media to get on its own bypass.

Improvements also detailed for the US1/PA452 and PA352/PA452 interchanges.

Having viewed the above, my preferences are as follows:

Area 1 (US 1/PA 352 & Baltimore Pike): Alternate B - the SPUI interchange for US 1/PA 352, one less signal along US 1

Area 2 (US 1/PA 452): Alternative A - Loop Road with no left turns, one less signal along US 1

Area 3 (PA 352/452): Alternative A - I'm not completely sold on the roundabout option in Alternate B.

That 1-352 interchange is an absolute nightmare during rush hours. I really like the idea of making it an SPUI and moving the ramps to the Media Bypass to the left lanes.

Having given a friend of mine a ride from his home in the Glenolden area to his job at Fair Acres during the early afternoons multiple times over the past year; that ramp from 352 southbound to US 1 northbound for my return trip at/around 2:30-3 PM can be very congested.

[74/171FAN]

PennDOT - District 12 News: Road Closure Route 356 - Allegheny Township

[74/171FAN]

PennDOT - District 11 News: Northbound I-79 Neville Island Bridge Weekend Closure July 9-12
PennDOT - District 10 News: Weekend Closure of Freedom Road in Butler County (Cranberry Township)

PennDOT - District 10 News: Change of Date for Weekend Closure of Freedom Road in Butler County (Cranberry Township)

EDIT:  PennDOT - District 10 News: Route 286 Oakland Avenue Road Closure Next Week

[Crown Victoria]

A draft of the TROC report, due in August, is proposing eliminating the gas tax, while establishing a mileage fee, a package delivery fee, and increases to other fees related to transportation:

https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2021/07/14/penndot-transportation-funding-mileage-driven-fee-package-delivery-shared-rides-uber-lyft-troc/stories/202107140143

[MASTERNC]

A draft of the TROC report, due in August, is proposing eliminating the gas tax, while establishing a mileage fee, a package delivery fee, and increases to other fees related to transportation:

https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2021/07/14/penndot-transportation-funding-mileage-driven-fee-package-delivery-shared-rides-uber-lyft-troc/stories/202107140143

This is going to have a hard time gaining support.  Someone driving 12k miles per year would pay nearly $1,000, on top of a value-based registration fee and an 8-10% sales tax at purchase.  What is paid with the gas tax is multiples less.  There is also a question about out-of-state vehicles (both PA vehicles driving outside PA and non-PA vehicles driving in PA).

[jeffandnicole]

A draft of the TROC report, due in August, is proposing eliminating the gas tax, while establishing a mileage fee, a package delivery fee, and increases to other fees related to transportation:

https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2021/07/14/penndot-transportation-funding-mileage-driven-fee-package-delivery-shared-rides-uber-lyft-troc/stories/202107140143

This is going to have a hard time gaining support.  Someone driving 12k miles per year would pay nearly $1,000, on top of a value-based registration fee and an 8-10% sales tax at purchase.  What is paid with the gas tax is multiples less.  There is also a question about out-of-state vehicles (both PA vehicles driving outside PA and non-PA vehicles driving in PA).

With a $8 billion deficit, the point is to raise money, and someone paying more than than they do via taxes at the pump is very much the goal. 

Several other issues though is raising the money thru other means that are loosely tied with driving, or creates another "double taxation" scenario.  Any sort of delivery fee or business costs are passed onto the consumer anyway, directly or indirectly.

PA no doubt has a serious funding issue, and they really should be talking to the feds about getting more $$$, rather than constantly looking at the taxpayer to grab more money from them.

[vdeane]

Or admit that they can't keep subsidizing transit at the rate they currently do, or do system expansions the way they do.  There's a reason neighboring NY is in preservation mode.  The issue here is that it's not just a little more, it's a LOT more.  I drive around 15k miles/year.  That comes out to $1,215 under the mileage tax.  If we assume my Civic averages around 30 miles/gallon, it comes out to an equivalent gas tax of $2.43/gallon, or more than four times the existing gas tax.  And that's before doubling the registration fee and adding a property tax on the car.  Or the out of state issue.  I can't imagine people will be pleased to get slapped with a big bill every year.  It would have the effect of disincentivizing driving, which to certain advocates would be a feature rather than a flaw.

[74/171FAN]

PennDOT - District 6 News: U.S. 1 North Ramp to I-295 West to Close for Bridge Rehabilitation Project in Middletown Township - Lane restrictions also planned next week on several ramps at the U.S. 1/I-295 Interchange

[Crown Victoria]

What we need to remember here is that, whatever the recommendations in the report, the state legislature will alter them substantially. There's no way they're going to approve $8.1 billion in new annual revenue (which is the stated gap in funding), never mind the $11.5 billion that following all the recommendations would generate long term. Act 89 of 2013 only generated about $2.5 billion annually.

One major issue facing this whole thing is the mileage tax. There needs to be a national policy of some kind regarding the collection of the tax, or at least cooperation between the states, before it can be truly viable and acceptable. With the large volume of out-of-state travelers passing through PA, we need a way to pass on the mileage tax to them, and insure that they will pay the tax.

I will add to this discussion one other point...there is a way to charge everyone per-mile being used in PA right now, regardless of where they're from, and it's got an almost 81-year track record. Had Act 44 not soured the public's mood regarding tolls, they might be one solution ready for use right now, at least on freeways.

[74/171FAN]

PennDOT - District 8 News: Traffic Switch Next Week on State Road at the Landisville Interchange Project in Lancaster County (meant to post this last week)

PennDOT - District 3 News: Route 220 Safety Improvement Project Updates

[MASTERNC]

It's interesting that PennDOT was saying that flashing yellow arrows would be used for new and replacement signal installations in lieu of the doghouse signals.  However, it seems, at least in District 6, they are still using doghouse setups for new installations and there are random installations of FYA.  I'm guessing it's because they need to install two new signals (a FYA assembly and a second thru signal), whereas using the doghouse covers both the turning and thru movements.