Pay Extra $100 on Traffic Tickets to Fund Road Repairs?

Ran a red light? $100, please: PA proposal would add traffic fines for road repairs.

By Melissa Daniels/Pa Independent HARRISBURG — The latest proposal to fund repairs to Pennsylvania’s aging roads and bridges could mean steeper costs for all drivers, especially those with a lead foot. Sen. John Rafferty, R-Montgomery, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, unveiled his proposal for $2.5 billion worth of transportation funding Tuesday. The plan uncaps the oil-franchise tax, which is paid on the wholesale price of gasoline, to raise about $1.6 billion, and brings in millions more by increasing Pennsylvania Department of Transportation fees and a new surcharge on top of traffic tickets. “If we want to be competitive and we want to move the state forward, we have to do something in the way of transportation funding…

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Merge Turnpike Commission with PennDOT, Lawmakers Say

Group of GOP lawmakers call for abolishing PA Turnpike citing scandal, redundancy.

By Melissa Daniels/Pa Independent HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania has two transportation agencies. One controls more than 40,000 miles of state roads and 25,000 bridges, and another maintains 545 miles of tolled highway. The former has seven executives, one for every 5,857 miles of roadway; the latter nine executives, one for every 60 miles of roadway. For a group of Republican lawmakers, this doesn’t add up, especially when one of those agencies was the subject of a 44-month long grand jury investigation over alleged bid-rigging. Standing alongside a dozen other GOP lawmakers, Rep. Donna Oberlander, R-Clarion, introduced legislation Wednesday to abolish the “corruption-infested” Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and fold the route’s operation …

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9:04 am on Saturday, April 20, 2013

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Route 222 Bypass Traffic Study Completed

Upper Macungie planners will examine a traffic study that was recently completed for the busy intersection of the Route 222 bypass and Mill Creek Road.

The Upper Macungie Planning Commission will examine a recently completed traffic study of the intersection of Route 222 and Mill Creek Road at its April 17 meeting. The traffic study could be the first step in a possible development, dubbed Liberty at Mill Creek, involving the Air Products campus and its adjacent fields. Last month, Director of Community Development Ken Molony said the township, its engineers and PennDOT are reviewing improvements to the problem intersection. "If these improvements are made, they will greatly increase the safety and traffic flow in that area," Molony said at the time. PennDOT records show 65 accidents with no fatalities occurring at the intersection from January 2007 through January 2011, which is the …

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PennDOT to Patch Potholes on I-78

Plan your commutes.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation plans the following road work in the Parkland area this week.

Problem Intersection May See Improvements

The Route 222 bypass at Mill Creek Road is one of the busiest in Upper Macungie Township, with 65 accidents reported from 2007-2011.

Upper Macungie Township drivers know that the intersection of the Route 222 bypass and Mill Creek Road can be a dangerous one to negotiate. But, relief may be in sight. PennDOT records show 65 accidents with no fatalities occurring at the intersection from January 2007 through January 2011, which is the latest reporting period, according to spokesman Ron Young. Possible improvements to the intersection might be forthcoming in the near future, according to township officials. Director of Community Development Ken Molony said the township, its engineers and PennDOT are reviewing improvements to the problem intersection. "If these improvements are made, they will greatly increase the safety and traffic flow in that area," Molony said. Young …

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PennDOT Road Work: Week of March 17

Plan your commutes. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has scheduled road work in Upper Macungie and North Whitehall.

Upper Macungie/Weisenberg North Whitehall

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Gas Tax Shift Could Help Fix Pa. Roads

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett is proposing a multi-year transportation funding plan that would raise the oil company franchise tax and lower the flat gasoline tax.

By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania could finally see some serious improvements in roads and bridges, but only if lawmakers are willing to follow the governor’s plan to raise funds through a plan that might also boost gas prices. On the same day Gov. Tom Corbett introduced his 2013-2014 budget proposal, he announced a plan to generate more than $5 billion in transportation funding over five years, mostly from a change in the way gas taxes are levied. Under Corbett’s plan, funds would come from lowering the flat tax paid by consumers while increasing the tax gas stations pay on fuel. Related story: Corbett Budget: Pension 'Reform' Now, Big Costs Later Corbett and other administration officials maintain this wouldn’…

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Speed Limits Cut on Lehigh Valley Highways During Snowstorm

Routes 22, 78, 309 and 33 among area highways that have had speed limits reduced because of winter storm.

PennDOT is urging motorists to avoid unnecessary travel but those who must head out will see speeds reduced to 45 mph on the following highways: PennDOT is urging motorists to avoid unnecessary travel but those who must head out will see speeds reduced to 45 mph on the following highways:   A winter storm is expected to bring several inches of snow to the Lehigh Valley through Wednesday night. Although PennDOT has crews treating roadways around the clock, the department's primary goal is to keep roads passable, not completely free of ice and snow. PennDOT will continue to treat roadways throughout the storm until precipitation stops and roads are clear. Although PennDOT recommends not traveling during winter storms, motorists can check …

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PennDOT Replacing Walnut Drive Bridge in Lehigh Township

A one-year bridge replacement project in Lehigh Township will begin Dec. 26.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has announced that work will begin Wednesday, Dec. 26 to replace the structurally deficient Walnut Drive Bridge over Indian Creek in Lehigh Township, Northampton County. The contractor will replace the existing masonry arch bridge with a new concrete arch bridge. The project is expected to be complete in November 2013. All schedules are weather dependent. Grace Industries, Inc. of Bath, Pa. is the general contractor on the $633,207 project. The Walnut Drive Bridge was constructed in 1834. The Bridge is 32 feet long and 21 feet wide. The new Bridge will be 36 feet long and 24 feet wide. Walnut Drive has an average daily traffic volume of 632 vehicles. Follow local PennDOT information …

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Visit PennDOT Website Before You Hit the Road for the Holidays

Get travel info via PennDOT's 511PA system

Pennsylvania’s 511PA system, which provides free travel information including construction alerts and real-time traffic cameras, reached a milestone of 2 million total website visits this summer. The website is a good resource to check before you hit the road for the holidays. The 511PA system is accessible 24-hours-per-day, seven days a week at www.511PA.com or by calling 5-1-1. The 511PA telephone system has received more than 1 million calls and more than 15,000 people have signed up for personalized text or email alerts. Launched in 2009, the 511PA service provides travel information such as active and planned construction, incident alerts and weather alerts for more than 2,900 miles of Pennsylvania highways. Average traffic speeds are…

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