The State Transportation Commission has updated the 12-Year Transportation program for Pennsylvania.
The new plan anticipates $61.9 billion being available over the next 12 years for improvements to roads, bridges, transit systems, airports and railroads. That compares with $63.3 billion in the last update in 2014.
“Through on going efficiencies at PennDOT, we continue to stretch taxpayers’ dollars to reach as many transportation needs as possible,” said PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards in making the announcement. “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.”
“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,” she added.
The newly adopted program, which takes effect October 1, anticipates $11.3 billion being available for state highway and bridge projects in the first four years. Public transit is in line for $8.6 billion; aviation, $354 million; rail freight, $229 million, and multi-modal projects, $305 million.
Four rural planning organizations, 19 metropolitan planning organizations and one independent county partnered with PennDOT in the review and development of the update. The plan is now submitted to the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration for review and approval. The Federal Highway Administration coordinates with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to review the plan’s conformity with air quality requirements.
Public input early in the 12-Year planning process played a key role in identifying investments in the various transportation modes.
The Commission is chaired by the Secretary of PennDOT and consists of 10 appointed citizens and the majority and minority chairs of the state House and Senate Transportation committees.
State law requires the commission to review and update the 12-year program every two years. No capital project can move forward unless it is included in the 12-year program.
The key project in Bucks County included in the updated plan is the reconstruction of U.S. 1.
