November 6, 2015

PLS’s Transportation Recap – Copyright 2015 – Pennsylvania Legislative Services – www.mypls.com

IN THIS ISSUE

Co-Sponsor Memos Bill Actions Upcoming Events

Session Schedule In the News

Co-Sponsor Memos

HCO 155 DeLuca, Anthony Requires all individuals convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) to install an ignition interlock system as a precondition to obtaining a restricted license from PennDOT.

HCO2513 Keller, Mark Establishes a more appropriate definition for a new subtype of federally-certified motorcycle.

HCO2515 Boback, Karen Waives the fees associated with replacing critical state documents for those who find themselves without those documents as a result of the abuse.

HCO2527 Pickett, Tina Designates a portion of State Route 220, from State Route 405 in Hughesville Borough, Lycoming County to State Route 42 in Laporte Township, Sullivan County, as the Lieutenant Commander John J. Peterman Memorial Highway.

Bill Actions

HB 138 Farry, Frank (PN 2256) Amends Title 35 (Health and Safety) providing for first responder organizations to solicit donations at a controlled-intersection approach with the approval of the municipality where the solicitation occurs. Allows the municipality to establish limitations on the solicitation. Requires the first responder organization to be classified as a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization under the Internal Revenue Code. Provides the municipality and the Department of Transportation shall not be liable for any damages on account of any injury to a person or property caused by or resulting from solicitations on highways notwithstanding approvals or conditions. Effective in 60 days. (Prior Printer Number: 122, 1558)

Bill History: 10-26-15 H Signed in the House 10-26-15 S Signed in the Senate 10-27-15 G In the hands of the Governor 11-06-15 G Last day for Governor's action 11-04-15 G Approved by the Governor (Act: 57)

HB 902 Ross, Chris (PN 1101) Amends Act entitled "An act authorizing political subdivisions, municipality authorities and transportation authorities to enter into contracts for the purchase of goods and property," adding language providing for contracts for services setting up a procedure to be followed when a political subdivision, municipality authority or transportation authority is required to advertise for bids in order to enter into a contract for

November 6, 2015

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services and no bids are received. Effective in 60 days.

Bill History: 10-28-15 H First consideration 10-28-15 H Laid on the table 11-05-15 H Set on the Tabled Calendar 11-05-15 H Removed from the table 11-09-15 H Set on the House Calendar

HB 1412 Taylor, John (PN 1969) Amends Title 75 (Vehicles), in commercial drivers, further providing for definitions; providing for employer responsibilities by prohibiting an employer from allowing a driver with a license restriction from operating a commercial motor vehicle; for commercial driver's license qualification standards by prohibiting the use of interpreters, providing for electronic acceptance of skills tests completed in other states, and requiring those suspected of fraud to retake certain tests; for nonresident CDL; providing for commercial driver's license by stipulating that a permit shall be valid for 180 days, requiring an applicant to have a valid driver's license, stipulating that a permit is only valid when in the driver's immediate possession and a driver's license, requiring a permit holder to be accompanied, prohibiting certain passengers, authorize permit holders to drive only empty tank vehicles, requiring permit applicants to be 18, and prohibiting the transport of hazardous materials by permit holders; providing for codes; and providing for disqualification for fraud or retest. Effective in 60 days. (Prior Printer Number: 1942)

Bill History: 09-21-15 H Laid on the table 11-04-15 H Set on the Tabled Calendar 11-04-15 H Removed from the table 11-04-15 H Laid on the table 11-09-15 H Set on the Tabled Calendar

HB 1460 Adolph, William (PN 2055) The General Appropriation Act of 2015 provides from the General Fund for the expenses of the Executive and Judicial Departments, the State Government Support Agencies and the General Assembly of the Commonwealth, the public debt and the public schools for the fiscal year July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2016, for certain institutions and organizations, and for the payment of bills incurred and remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015; to provide appropriations from the State Lottery Fund, the Tobacco Settlement Fund, the Aviation Restricted Account, the Hazardous Material Response Fund, The State Stores Fund, the Milk Marketing Fund, the Home Investment Trust Fund, the Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund, the Tuition Account Guaranteed Savings Program Fund, the Banking Fund, the Firearm Records Check Fund, the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority Fund, the Oil and Gas Lease Fund, the Home Improvement Account, the Cigarette Fire Safety and Firefighter Protection Act Enforcement Fund, the Insurance Regulation and Oversight Fund and the Pennsylvania Racehorse Development Restricted Receipt Account, to the Executive Department; to provide appropriations from the Judicial Computer System Augmentation Account to the Judicial Department for the fiscal year July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2016; to provide appropriations from the Motor License Fund for the fiscal year July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2016, for the proper operation of several departments

November 6, 2015

PLS’s Transportation Recap – Copyright 2015 – Pennsylvania Legislative Services – www.mypls.com

of the Commonwealth and the Pennsylvania State Police authorized to spend Motor License Fund moneys; to provide for the appropriation of Federal funds to the Executive Department of the Commonwealth and for the payment of bills remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015. Effective immediately.

Bill History: 09-21-15 H Laid on the table 11-04-15 H Set on the Tabled Calendar 11-04-15 H Removed from the table 11-04-15 H Laid on the table 11-09-15 H Set on the Tabled Calendar

HB 1601 Vereb, Mike (PN 2455) Amends Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) in other offenses, further providing for drug trafficking sentencing and penalties; in sentencing authority, further providing for sentencing and penalties for trafficking drugs to minors and for drug free zones, further providing for sentences for offenses committed on public transportation, for sentences for offenses against elderly persons, for sentences for offenses against infant persons and for sentences for offenses committed while impersonating a law enforcement officer. The bill provides for application of mandatory minimum sentences for certain offenses. Effective in 60 days. (Prior Printer Number: 2307, 2408)

Bill History: 10-28-15 Third consideration 1:32pm 10-28-15 H House Frankel motion to recommit HB 1601 to the House Judiciary Committee 10-28-15 H House Sims motion to table HB 1601 (Vote N: 130/Y: 67) 10-28-15 H Final Passage (Vote: Y:143/N: 54) 10-30-15 S Received in the Senate and referred to Senate Judiciary

HB 1685 Fee, Mindy Act designating a bridge on that portion of State Route 1026, Section 004 over the Cocalico Creek, Denver Borough, and West Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, as the Samuel L. Snyder Memorial Bridge.

Bill History: 11-05-15 H Filed

SB 748 Argall, David (PN 1313) Amends Title 75 (Vehicles), in general provisions relating to operation of vehicles, further providing for obedience to authorized persons directing traffic; and providing for drivers of certified escort vehicles; in other required equipment, further providing for identification of certain vehicles; and, in size, weight and load, further providing for scope and application of chapter and for conditions of permits and security for damages. No person shall willfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction of any driver of a certified escort vehicle as defined under section 3108 (relating to drivers of certified escort vehicles) and who is acting in the capacity as a driver of a certified escort vehicle. The driver of a certified escort vehicle that is being operated to escort a super load must be certified and licensed by the department and wear attire that complies with 67 Pa. Code 101.3(5) (relating to minimum attire). The department shall establish criteria for certified escort vehicles and for determining certification and licensing of drivers of certified escort vehicles and post the criteria on the department's website. The department, in consultation with the

November 6, 2015

PLS’s Transportation Recap – Copyright 2015 – Pennsylvania Legislative Services – www.mypls.com

Pennsylvania State Police, shall determine whether a Pennsylvania State Police escort is necessary. Effective in 60 days. (Prior Printer Number: 790, 1186, 1264)

Bill History: 10-20-15 S Signed in the Senate 10-21-15 H Signed in the House 10-21-15 G In the hands of the Governor 10-31-15 G Last day for Governor's action 10-30-15 G Approved by the Governor (Act: 55)

SB 765 Brooks, Michele (PN 1302) Amends Title 75 (Vehicles), in preliminary provisions, adding that "emergency service responder" includes contractors or employees of public utilities or electric cooperatives and adding that "emergency vehicle" includes vehicles owned and operated by the Turnpike Commission and used by an emergency service responder as dispatched by the Turnpike's traffic operations center; In rules of the road in general, the bill adds to the definition of emergency response area" the area in which contractors or employees of a public utility, a municipally owned utility or an electric cooperative provide disaster emergency-related services as long as the vehicles used to provide disaster emergency-related services are making use of visual signals. Effective in 60 days. (Prior Printer Number: 824)

Bill History: 10-28-15 S Signed in the Senate 10-28-15 H Signed in the House 10-28-15 G In the hands of the Governor 11-07-15 G Last day for Governor's action 11-04-15 G Approved by the Governor (Act: 61)

SB 890 Blake, John (PN 1041) Act designating the bridge carrying State Route 6011 (Harrison Avenue) over Roaring Brook in the City of Scranton, Lackawanna County, as the Colonel Frank Duffy Memorial Bridge. Effective in 60 days.

Bill History: 10-20-15 H Signed in the House 10-20-15 S Signed in the Senate 10-21-15 G In the hands of the Governor 10-31-15 G Last day for Governor's action 10-30-15 G Approved by the Governor (Act: 56)

SB 925 Rafferty, John (PN 1303) Amends Title 75 (Vehicles), in commercial drivers, further providing for definitions; providing for employer responsibilities by prohibiting an employer from allowing a driver with a license restriction from operating a commercial motor vehicle; for commercial driver's license qualification standards by prohibiting the use of interpreters, providing for electronic acceptance of skills tests completed in other states, and requiring those suspected of fraud to retake the test; for nonresident CDL; providing for commercial driver's license by stipulating that a permit shall be valid for 180 days, requiring an applicant to have a valid driver's license, stipulating that a permit is only valid when in the driver's immediate possession and a driver's license, requiring a permit holder to be accompanied, prohibiting certain passengers, authorize permit holders to drive only empty tank vehicles, requiring permit applicants to be 18, and prohibiting the transport of hazardous materials by permit holders; providing for codes; and providing for disqualification for fraud or retest. Additionally, a school bus driver shall have passed a physical and visual examination

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within the preceding 13 months. Effective in 60 days. (Prior Printer Number 1110)

Bill History: 10-14-15 S Signed in the Senate 10-19-15 H Signed in the House 10-20-15 G In the hands of the Governor 10-30-15 G Last day for Governor's action 10-22-15 G Approved by the Governor (Act: 49)

Upcoming Events

Delaware River Port Authority/PATCO November 10, 2015 - 9:00 a.m., 11th Floor Board Room, One Port Center, 2 Riverside Drive, Camden NJ Finance Committee Meeting. For additional information: (856) 968-2253 Delaware River Port Authority/PATCO November 10, 2015 - 10:30 a.m., 11th Floor Board Room, One Port Center, 2 Riverside Drive, Camden NJ Audit Committee Meeting. For additional information: (856) 968-2253 Pittsburgh Port Authority November 12, 2015 - 9:00 a.m., Neal N. Holmes Board Room, Pittsburgh Port Authority Building, 5th Floor, 345 Sixth Avenue, Pittsburgh Performance and Oversight Monitoring Committee Meeting. For additional information: (412) 566-5137 Pittsburgh Port Authority November 12, 2015 - 10:00 a.m., Neal N. Holmes Board Room, Pittsburgh Port Authority Building, 5th Floor, 345 Sixth Avenue, Pittsburgh Planning and Stakeholder Relations Committee Meeting. For additional information: (412) 566-5137 PA Turnpike Commission November 17, 2015 - 10:00 a.m., Turnpike Admin. Bldg, Large Board Rm, 700 S. Eisenhower Blvd., 3rd Fl., Middletown Commission Meeting. For additional information: (717) 939-9551 Delaware River Port Authority/PATCO November 18, 2015 - 9:00 a.m., 11th Floor Board Room, One Port Center, 2 Riverside Drive, Camden NJ Board Meeting. For additional information: (856) 968-2253 PA Public Utility Commission November 19, 2015 - 10:00 a.m., Commonwealth Keystone Bldg., Hearing Room 1, 400 North St., Harrisburg Public Meeting. For additional information: (717) 783-1740 Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA) Board November 19, 2015 - 3:00 p.m., SEPTA Headquarters, 1234 Market Street, Mezzanine Level, Philadelphia Board Meeting. For additional information: (215) 580-7800 Pittsburgh Port Authority November 20, 2015 - 9:30 a.m., Neal N. Holmes Board Room, Pittsburgh Port Authority Building, 5th Floor, 345 Sixth Avenue, Pittsburgh Board Meeting. For additional information: (412) 566-5137

Session Schedule Senate November 16, 17, 18 December 7, 8, 9

November 6, 2015

PLS’s Transportation Recap – Copyright 2015 – Pennsylvania Legislative Services – www.mypls.com

House November 9, 10, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25 (NV) December 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16

In the News

11-05-2015 Amtrak Prepared for Thanksgiving Holiday Travel (Press Release)

11-05-2015 Stateline Daily: Taxing by the Mile, Not the Gallon (Press Release)

11-05-2015 A.J. Drexel Institute for Energy and the Environment Plots a Course for... (Press Release)

11-05-2015 PUC Continues Efforts to Update Transportation Regulations; Moves to Reduce... (Press Release)

11-05-2015 Barrar Champions Important Legislation to Support First Responders (Press Release)

11-05-2015 ROUND-UP: Governor Wolf Announces Strategic Plan for Port of Philadelphia (Press Release)

11-05-2015 Chesapeake Energy Corporation Reports 2015 Third Quarter Financial And... (Press Release)

11-05-2015 Rice Energy Announces Drop Down of Water Services Business to Rice Midstream... (Press Release)

11-05-2015 Rice Energy Reports Third Quarter 2015 Results, Adjusted EBITDAX of $119... (Press Release)

11-05-2015 Rice Midstream Partners LP Reports Third Quarter 2015 Results (Press Release)

11-05-2015 Penske Top 100 Military-Friendly Employer for Fifth Straight Year (Press Release)

11-05-2015 Keep PA Beautiful: Coudersport Completes One Of Many Projects Supported By... (Press Release)

11-05-2015 Demand that Congress pass the highway funding bill Since 2005, Congress has only addressed funding the nation’s surface transportation system once, in a two-year bill called MAP-21, which was passed in 2012. The Highway Trust Fund, which finances one-quarter of all public roads, bridges and transit spending in the country, is once again... - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

11-05-2015 Pitt should be addressing pedestrian safety issues As a Pitt parent and someone who will always have close personal friends and colleagues on campus, it is my hope that the University of Pittsburgh will step up to fix the pedestrian risk problems that remain on campus. Bike Pittsburgh has been memorializing the second and third people to die... - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

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11-05-2015 Judge: Kane spared Fumo in Turnpike Commission case Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane's office decided not to charge former State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo in the pay-to-play investigation of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, even though a draft presentment called for him to face charges, the grand jury judge in the case said... - Philadelphia Inquirer

11-05-2015 New Jersey bridge lane-closing trial pushed back a month NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - The federal trial of two former allies of Gov. Chris Christie in the George Washington Bridge lane-closing scandal has been delayed... - AP

11-05-2015 Amtrak should upgrade cars, trackside poles By Paul H. Reistrup and Scott R. Spencer The tragic derailment in May of Amtrak Train 188 in Philadelphia has family and friends of the victims, industry officials and regulators, and politicians and the public seeking answers about the cause of the wreck, which killed eight passengers and injured scores of others.... - Philadelphia Inquirer

11-05-2015 Gov. Wolf hopes development of Navy Yard's Southport section starts in 2017 On the banks of the Delaware on Wednesday, Gov. Wolf said his priorities for the Port of Philadelphia are investing in its aging infrastructure, creating jobs, and keeping Pennsylvania economically competitive. The governor said one of his goals is to develop the 196 acres at the... - Philadelphia Inquirer

11-05-2015 Police: BASD school bus driver will be cited for texting while driving A Bethlehem Area School District driver who was suspended after a video showed her texting while driving a fully loaded school bus will be cited, city police said. Police did not identify the person, but said Wednesday the driver will receive a summary traffic citation for texting while driving a commercial... - Allentown Morning Call

11-05-2015 Suspects sought for throwing rocks at vehicles on Pennsylvania Turnpike State police are seeking information on who threw rocks at two vehicles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Scranton early Tuesday morning. The attack came nearly one month after a similar incident in South Abington Township that injured a 20-year-old man. On Tuesday, a 26-year-old Clarks Summit woman who drove a 2012 Subaru... - Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice

11-05-2015 Turnpike officials must ensure all are paying tolls For about a decade, the state Turnpike Commission has moved aggressively and wisely toward exclusively electronic tolling. It has built high-speed E-ZPass lanes at major interchanges, established E-ZPass-only tolling at new interchanges, and set variable toll rates that reward E-ZPass usage and... - Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice

11-05-2015 Heavy toll forhonest drivers For about a decade, the state Turnpike Commission has moved aggressively and wisely towards exclusively electronic tolling. It has built high-speed E-ZPass lanes at major interchanges, established E-ZPass-only tolling at new interchanges and set variable toll rates that reward E-ZPass usage and... - Scranton Times

11-05-2015 Beware of deer on highways. Crashes highlight danger Two incidents of deer and vehicles colliding Wednesday evening on area highways bring focus to the danger this time of year. Such incidents are more prevalent as hunting seasons get underway, mating season arrives and Daylight Saving Time gives way to an extra hour of... - Easton Express-Times

11-05-2015 Airbnb and Uber Mobilize Vast User Base to Sway Policy Over the last few years, so-called sharing companies like Airbnb and Uber — online platforms

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that allow strangers to pay one another for a room or a ride — have established footholds in thousands of communities well before local regulators have figured out how to deal with them.... - New York Times

11-05-2015 Highway Bill Debate Tests Paul Ryan’s Promise for a More Open House Representative Vicky Hartzler, Republican of Missouri, wanted an amendment that would prohibit the use of federal highway money for “landscaping and beautification.” “We should spend our federal highway dollars to improve our roads and bridges, not plant flowers,” Ms. Hartzler declared. Noting that between... - New York Times

11-05-2015 New Cheating Allegations Lead Volkswagen to Stop Some Sales Volkswagen is temporarily halting sales of more diesel vehicles in the United States and Canada after regulators said they cheated on emissions tests. The action affects vehicles with 3-liter V6 diesel engines, including the 2013 Audi Q7, the 2014-15 Audi A6, A7, A8, Q5 and Q7 and the... - New York Times

11-05-2015 Congress misses a chance to improve the transportation bill SPEAKER PAUL D. RYAN (R-Wis.) promised to return the House to good order, and he’s started by touting the “open” process for considering a major bill setting transportation policy for the next six years. But the process apparently isn’t open enough to allow for a vote on the most... - Washington Post

11-05-2015 Regional PennDOT office conducting customer survey With the aim of reviewing its operations and identifying opportunities to improve, PennDOT’s northwest region has launched its 2015 online customer survey to seek input from licensed drivers throughout Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango and Warren counties.... - Titusville Herald

11-05-2015 Red flags for high-speed rail Did the California High-Speed Rail Authority downplay potential cost increases for the state's controversial bullet train? In a draft PowerPoint presentation dated October 2013, the agency's project management consultant estimated that the cost of the first phase of the line, from Burbank to... - Los Angeles Times

11-05-2015 U.S. House votes to keep highway spending level, ignores states' warnings The House voted today to continue transportation programs for six years with no significant increase in spending, despite warnings from the White House and statehouses across the country that the nation’s roads, bridges and transit systems are falling apart... - AP

11-04-2015 PSATS: Funding Available for Alternative Transportation Projects (Press Release)

11-04-2015 PPG debuts online Glass Fabricator Locator tool (Press Release)

11-04-2015 PHIA: PennDOT lets $207 million in October (Press Release)

11-04-2015 City of Philadelphia Joins Coalition of 24 States, Cities & Counties in... (Press Release)

11-04-2015 Governor Wolf Announces Strategic Plan for Port of Philadelphia (Press Release)

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11-04-2015 Japanese company fined $70 million over exploding air bags U.S. auto safety regulators fined Japan’s Takata Corp. $70 million today for concealing evidence for years that its air bags are prone to explode with grisly consequences — a defect linked to eight deaths and more than 100 injuries worldwide... - AP

11-04-2015 Locals fear impact of transit plans on Panther Hollow neighborhood Pittsburgh's Urban Redevelopment Authority expects to learn next week whether it will receive up to $3 million in state funding to help build a road for shuttles through Oakland's Junction Hollow. The shuttle-only road would be part of a larger, $7.2 million project to... - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

11-04-2015 51 miles complete in 2015 Pittsburgh paving initiative Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto's neighbors won't be storming his house anytime soon. The city paved pothole-plagued Hastings Street in Point Breeze, the mayor's thoroughfare, along with 51 miles of city roads as part of its $12.25 million 2015 paving program, according to Public Works Director Mike Gable.... - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

11-04-2015 Automakers post big sales gains for October The nation is speeding toward what could be a record year for auto sales... - AP

11-04-2015 Pennsylvania Turnpike has $33 million in uncollected tolls Pennsylvania Turnpike officials say their inability to sufficiently punish toll violators helped contribute to more than $33 million in outstanding and uncollected tolls... - Philadelphia Inquirer

11-04-2015 Volkswagen shares plunge after new emissions revelation FRANKFURT, Germany — Volkswagen shares are falling after the company said it had understated carbon dioxide emissions for 800,000 cars, widening its scandal over cheating on U.S. diesel emissions tests... - AP

11-04-2015 Pennsylvania Turnpike has $33 million in uncollected tolls HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania Turnpike officials say their inability to sufficiently punish toll violators helped contribute to more than $33 million in outstanding and uncollected tolls... - AP

11-04-2015 Layoffs likely to hit Mack Trucks Mack Trucks' assembly plant in the Lehigh Valley likely will be hit with layoffs, though the extent of the planned reduction is not yet known. Stephen J. Marzen Sr., chairman of United Auto Workers Local 677's Mack unit, said in a letter dated Monday that a layoff is likely in the coming... - Allentown Morning Call

11-04-2015 Volkswagen emissions woes deepen as 800,000 more cars affected Volkswagen AG said an internal probe in the wake of the diesel scandal that has engulfed the German carmaker showed irregularities in CO2 emissions affecting an additional 800,000 cars, deepening a crisis that has already cost long-time Chief Executive Officer Martin Winterkorn his job, depressed... - AP

11-04-2015 Honda Drops Takata as U.S. Issues Huge Fine Over Airbags Honda Motor Company on Tuesday dropped the embattled manufacturer Takata as its airbag supplier, concluding that the company, its longtime partner, had “misrepresented and manipulated test data.” Also on Tuesday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration... - New York Times

11-04-2015 Paul Ryan, Pledging Openness, Eases Path for Amendments The House on Tuesday debated and voted on dozens of amendments to an important highway bill as Paul D. Ryan sought to use his first week as speaker to demonstrate his commitment to a more inclusive style of legislating. But the highway measure, which contains six years of major

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infrastructure... - New York Times

11-04-2015 Rail Industry Had Safety Technology Decades Ago In 1981, while traveling on a corporate jet, Richard M. Bressler, the chairman of the Burlington Northern Railroad, hit on an idea: What if the technology used by airlines to track the location of planes and help prevent accidents was applied to the rail industry?... - New York Times

11-04-2015 The Bill That Would Make Roads Less Safe When it comes to America’s transportation system, Congress seems determined, year after year, to do the wrong thing. The House will vote on a bill as early as Wednesday that does not dedicate enough money to improving the quality of deteriorating highways and mass transit systems,... - New York Times

11-04-2015 Volkswagen Discloses It Submitted False Carbon Dioxide Data Volkswagen’s pollution problems took a costly new turn on Tuesday when the company said it had understated emissions of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, for about 800,000 of its vehicles sold in Europe, and overstated the cars’ fuel economy. A limited number of gasoline-powered cars are affected, said Eric Felber, a... - New York Times

11-04-2015 U.S. Auto Industry Posts Best October Sales in Decade The American auto industry reported its best October sales in a decade on Tuesday, led by double-digit growth at all three Detroit carmakers. But one automaker that did not benefit from strong consumer demand last month was Volkswagen, which had to take some diesel models off the market... - New York Times

11-04-2015 Elon Musk Says Never Mind the Hiccups, Tesla Is on Track Tesla Motors on Tuesday sought to reassure investors and its devoted fans that it was still on track to produce more than 50,000 cars this year, though the electric-car company hinted at some production issues with its new Model X sport utility vehicle. Tesla’s shine has been wearing slightly in recent months. The... - New York Times

11-04-2015 P'burg judge tried to use position to get out of DUI, complaint states For the second time in four years, Phillipsburg Municipal Judge Dennis M. Baptista is facing an ethics complaint from the Supreme Court of New Jersey Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct. Dennis Baptista Baptista,Dennis.jpgPhillipsburg Municipal Judge Dennis... - Easton Express-Times

11-04-2015 Police plan DUI checkpoint Pennsylvania State Police are planning a DUI checkpoint later this month, according to a news release. "The goal of the checkpoint is to deter drivers who are drinking or using drugs/prescriptions from getting behind the wheel and placing other motorists at risk," the release states.... - York Daily

11-04-2015 PennDOT releases online customer survey on Tuesday November 4, 2015 The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation wants to know what you think. A Tuesday release announced the opening of the 2015 online customer surve. more »» - Warren Times Observer

11-04-2015 ‘Great social time’ at Senior Expo November 3, 2015 Several hundred local seniors visited the Transit Authority of Warren County (TAWC) building Friday for the annual Senior Expo sponsored by the Warren/Forest Eldercare Counci. more »» - Warren Times Observer

11-04-2015 PennDOT accepting applications for federal Transportation Alternatives Program HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is accepting

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applications for the federally funded Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) through Jan. 8, 2016. -Towanda Daily Review

11-04-2015 Regional PennDOT office conducting customer survey With the aim of reviewing its operations and identifying opportunities to improve, PennDOT’s northwest region has launched its 2015 online customer survey to seek input from licensed drivers throughout Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango and Warren counties.... - Titusville Herald

11-04-2015 Crash claims life of Cal U student For the second time in just over three weeks, California University of Pennsylvania is mourning the death of a student. Mason Reiff, 21, of Denver, Pa., died at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh on Monday from injuries suffered in a rollover accident on Route... - Tarentum Valley News Dispatch

11-04-2015 At lawmakers' urging, agency reveals report on growing bullet train costs The California high-speed rail authority bowed to pressure from California legislators and members of Congress late Tuesday and released a copy of a 2013 report showing a large estimated increase in the cost of building the initial segment of the bullet train project.... - Los Angeles Times

11-04-2015 LAX air traffic controllers fatigued by understaffing and soaring overtime A record 70.6 million passengers a year now pass through Los Angeles International Airport as it undergoes a multibillion-dollar "world class" modernization. Passenger terminals, like Tom Bradley International, are being remodeled with upscale shopping and dining. Runways are being refurbished, and public... - Los Angeles Times

11-04-2015 Transit issues, Wednesday, Nov. 4 PATCO Passengers report a westbound express brokedown at Ferry Avenue and the riders taken off. Expect delays. PATCO puts the westbound delays at 5-10 minutes. SEPTA BROAD STREET LINE Express and Broad Ridge Spur service have been restored on SEPTA's Broad Street Line. Service on the Broad Street Line is operating with delays... - Philadelphia Inquirer

11-04-2015 Will automated cars have morality? Self driving cars. For me, no future technology more perfectly combines the possibilities of a technological utopia and the tyranny of mechanized dystopia. If they're like these sleek numbers from Minority Report... awesome. I want one. Or you could get this homicidal animatronic from Total Recall.... - Philadelphia Inquirer

11-04-2015 Business owners hope reopened Manayunk Bridge brings new customers The Manayunk Bridge dominates the view from the outdoor deck behind Gaily's Crazy Cow Cafe. The nearly 100-year-old bridge reopened Friday as a pedestrian and bicycle throughway connecting Lower Merion and Philadelphia. "I'm hoping they'll see me from the bridge and come down here," said Gaily... - Philadelphia Inquirer

11-04-2015 Malfunction interrupts T rail service Downtown this morning A door malfunction twice shut down a Port Authority T train Downtown this morning, forcing delays in service, according to an authority spokesman. An inbound Blue Line train unloaded 20 passengers at the Gateway station about 7:30 a.m. when the mechanical issue caused it to stop for about 15... - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

11-04-2015 Venango officers are on the lookout for aggressive drivers PennDOT partnered with local law enforcement agencies Tuesday to draw attention to aggressive driving behavior that can lead to accidents and heavy fines. PennDOT organized a

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media presentation that included police officers from Franklin, Oil City and Sugarcreek Borough to discuss the leading causes of... - Oil City Derrick

11-04-2015 Fix state government by getting rid of career politicians By PATRICK GUIDO I like to be early. It can be a fault of mine. I also like things to work as intended. Needless to say, living in Pennsylvania and watching our state government fail to get anything of significance done in a timely manner is bordering on cruel and unusual punishment.... - Levittown Bucks County Courier Times

11-04-2015 Rt. 219 bridge renamed after vet November 4, 2015 From Mirror staff reports EBENSBURG — The U.S. Route 219 bridge that travels over Route 422 in Ebensburg is now known as the Alexander Miller Abercrombie Memorial Bridge, according to state Rep. more »» - Altoona Mirror

11-04-2015 2 York County police officers win DUI Top Gun awards Two York County police officers were recently honored for their DUI-enforcement efforts, receiving awards they've been given several times. The Pennsylvania DUI Association gave 2014 DUI Top Gun awards to Daniel Zimmerman, an officer in the Northern York County Regional Police... - York Dispatch

11-04-2015 Stop using road funding for state police I commend the Daily Record and reporter Dylan Segelbaum for an excellently written and well researched article on communities that are considering abandoning their municipal or regional police forces, opting instead for “free” police coverage from the Pennsylvania State Police... - York Daily

11-04-2015 Casey asks oil trains to slow down in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia PHILADELPHIA — A Pennsylvania senator is asking two freight railroad companies to reduce the speed of trains carrying flammable crude oil.... - AP

11-04-2015 Police: BASD school bus driver will be cited for texting while driving Police said a suspended Bethlehem Area School District driver videotaped texting while driving a fully-loaded school bus will be cited. Police did not identify the person, but said Wednesday the driver will receive a summary traffic citation for texting while driving a commercial... - Allentown Morning Call

11-04-2015 Consol Energy won't renew ballpark naming rights deal WASHINGTON, Pa. (AP) — Consol Energy Inc. won't renew its naming rights deal with minor league baseball's Washington Wild Things.... - AP

11-03-2015 Office of Attorney General announces results of statewide used car lot sweep (Press Release)

11-03-2015 Leg Reg Review #31 - 11/02/2015 Provided by Phillips Associates (Press Release)

11-03-2015 EPA says Volkswagen cheated a 2nd time on pollution tests WASHINGTON — The Volkswagen emissions scandal widened Monday when the U.S. government accused the German automaker of cheating for a second time... - AP

11-03-2015 PennDOT seeking applicants for alternative transportation program PennDOT says it is accepting applications for the federally funded Transportation Alternatives Program, the goals of which include which aims the improve pedestrian and bike facilties and access to public transportation; create safe routes to school; and preserve historic... - Pittsburgh

November 6, 2015

PLS’s Transportation Recap – Copyright 2015 – Pennsylvania Legislative Services – www.mypls.com

Post-Gazette

11-03-2015 Road closed: When will Congress get serious on transportation? Since 2008, Congress has approved 35 short-term extensions of the nation’s transportation funding law. That’s not leading; it’s driving on cruise control. Lawmakers must hammer out a six-year transportation bill that meets America’s needs and finds ways to pay for them. Last Friday President... - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

11-03-2015 Greensburg Tuesday takes Budget time: Sure as the last leaves fall, borough, township and city officials will be crunching numbers for their 2016 budgets. But rather than simply updating 2015 spending plans, let's see some innovation, with an eye toward better efficiencies and more intermunicipal cooperation. Now's the... - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

11-03-2015 Airport to auction used vehicles, property, lost and found items The Allegheny County Airport Authority is holding a vehicle and equipment auction to dispose of its used property on Saturday, Nov. 7. There are about 20 vehicles and dozens of plows, tractor parts, air compressors and other equipment up for sale, as well as various personal... - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

11-03-2015 Wire work to close Regional Rail tunnel A wire-replacement project and other maintenance work will close the Regional Rail tunnel between the University City and 30th Street stations on two forthcoming weekends: Nov. 14 to 15 and Dec. 5 to 6. The transit agency said the tunnel closure is needed to make emergency... - Philadelphia Inquirer

11-03-2015 I-676 East ramp to I-95 South to close at nights for redecking The ramp from eastbound I-676 to I-95 south in Center City will be closed every Tuesday night into Wednesday morning through the end of November for deck repairs. PennDOT says. The closures, starting this Tuesday (Nov. 3), will begin at 9 p.m. and end at 5 the following morning.... - Philadelphia Inquirer

11-03-2015 PennDOT awards contract for nearly mile-long Susquehanna River bridge MONTOURSVILLE — The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has awarded the contract to build a nearly mile-long bridge across the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. Trumbull Corp. of Pittsburgh last weekwas given notice it could begin work on the 4,545-foot-long, four-lane bridge that is part of the Central... - Harrisburg Patriot-News

11-03-2015 The world's most luxurious rig is a Mack This vehicle boasts 72,000 stitches of gold thread, a six-camera closed-circuit television system linked to giant TVs, and imported South African leather upholstery. Is it the latest tricked-out Cadillac Escalade, Hummer or Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van? Actually it's a custom creation built by Mack Trucks for Sultan Ibrahim... - Allentown Morning Call

11-03-2015 Letters to the Editor 11/3/2015 Reassessment foe Editor: For candidates for Lackawanna County commissioner who oppose property tax increases but favor reassessment, I find this statement contradictory. Property tax bills for county, school district and local levies often would increase based on a new assessment, especially for those owners who... - Scranton Times

11-03-2015 E.P.A. Finds More VW Cheating Software, Including in a Porsche The Environmental Protection Agency said on Monday that it had discovered emissions-cheating software on more Volkswagen and Audi cars than previously disclosed and, for the first time, also found the illegal software in one of the carmaker’s high-end Porsche models.... - New

November 6, 2015

PLS’s Transportation Recap – Copyright 2015 – Pennsylvania Legislative Services – www.mypls.com

York Times

11-03-2015 Wave of New-Car Recalls Raises Questions for Takata Airbags As automakers struggle to repair millions of cars with airbags made by Takata that might explode and spew metal fragments, the recalls continue to widen and now extend even to the newest models. Two automakers have recently announced recalls for 2015 and 2016 models.... - New York Times

11-03-2015 Fast and Free In-Flight Wi-Fi Is Uncharted Territory for Airlines As broadband Internet service becomes increasingly widespread and free in public places, it has remained, to travelers’ annoyance, stuck in the slow lane on airplanes. But with recent developments in technology, sluggish in-flight Internet speed is starting, however fitfully, to change. Still, it might not catch... - New York Times

11-03-2015 Norman Wood Bridge opens to all traffic The Norman Wood Bridge over the Susquehanna River has been opened to all traffic, said Greg Penny, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. "We’re, right now, in the process of restoring the Norman Wood Bridge to all traffic," Penny said shortly after noon Monday. "Which means no more... - York Daily

11-03-2015 Being respectful November 3, 2015 I am writing this letter to express my extreme disappointment in the lack of respect that a group of Pennsylvania Department of Transportation barrier repair workers committed in finishing the... more »» - Williamsport Sun-Gazette

11-03-2015 ‘Great social time’ at Senior Expo November 3, 2015 Several hundred local seniors visited the Transit Authority of Warren County (TAWC) building Friday for the annual Senior Expo sponsored by the Warren/Forest Eldercare Counci. more »» - Warren Times Observer

11-03-2015 Record numbers of people are trying to bring loaded guns on planes Last week, the Transportation Security Administration found a record number of firearms, most of them loaded, in air travelers' carry-ons. Of the 68 firearms they discovered, 61 were loaded and 25 had a round in the chamber. Last week's haul surpasses the previous record of 67 guns, set just a few... - Washington Post

11-03-2015 With funding secured, Schuylkill River swing bridge construction could begin next summer Hammers could start swinging on the Schuylkill River swing bridge as early as summer 2016, thanks to the recently awarded federal TIGER grant. The pedestrian and bicycle bridge will cost about $13 million. The TIGER grant is providing $3.265 million, and previously committed PennDOT funds,... - Philadelphia Inquirer

11-03-2015 What could go wrong with slot machines in Pennsylvania airports? Plenty: PennLive letters A group of legislators is trying to convince us that slot machines should be installed at our state's major airports. Oh, what a wonderful idea! Why stop here? Perhaps the city of Harrisburg can place a slot machine next to every parking meter and give the folks a... - Harrisburg Patriot-News

11-03-2015 Norman Wood Bridge weight restriction lifted PennDOT has lifted weight and width restrictions on the Norman Wood Bridge over the Susquehanna River as repairs continue after a crack in a girder was discovered late September. Traffic will continue to be restricted to one lane during daytime work, but traffic signals have also been removed. Flaggers will control traffic as... - Lancaster Intelligencer

November 6, 2015

PLS’s Transportation Recap – Copyright 2015 – Pennsylvania Legislative Services – www.mypls.com

Journal

11-03-2015 Volunteers Recognized For Their Help During Phila. Train Derailment It’s been almost six months since the Amtrak train derailment, which killed eight people and injured more than 200. There was a ceremony Monday honoring some of the volunteers who assisted at the scene. Frank Bachmayer is with Philadelphia’s Second Alarmers and rushed to... - KYW News Radio 1060

11-03-2015 Pennsylvania Turnpike has $33M in uncollected tolls Pennsylvania Turnpike officials say their inability to sufficiently punish toll violators helped contribute to the more than $33 million in outstanding and uncollected tolls. KDKA-TV reports (http: -Johnstown Tribune-Democrat

11-03-2015 PennDOT seeks public input for long-range plan Officials in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties are revising a long-term plan for the region’s roads and bridges and want the public’s input. The Lackawanna Luzerne Metropolitan Planning Organization, made up of local and state Department of Transportation officials, reviews the Long Range... - Hazleton Standard-Speaker

11-03-2015 Officials: Pennsylvania Turnpike has $33 million in uncollected tolls Pennsylvania Turnpike officials say their inability to sufficiently punish toll violators helped contribute to the more than $33 million in outstanding and uncollected tolls... - AP

11-03-2015 Two midstate used car lots settle suits with Attorney General's Office Credit Connection Auto Sales and Those Car Guys reached settlements with the Attorney General's Office recently related to lawsuits alleging misdeeds. Credit Connection Auto Sales was accused of engaging in fraudulent and deceptive conduct by advertising cars for sale, but only offering leases... - Harrisburg Patriot-News

11-03-2015 SEPTA: Man jumps to death in front of elevated train A man died Tuesday after jumping in front of an elevated train in West Philadelphia and becoming trapped beneath one of the cars, a SEPTA official said. A review of surveillance video showed the unidentified man jumped onto the tracks of an eastbound Market-Frankford El train as it pulled into the... - Philadelphia Inquirer

11-03-2015 With funding secured, Schuylkill River swing bridge construction could begin next summer Hammers could start swinging on the Schuylkill River swing bridge as early as summer 2016, thanks to the recently awarded federal TIGER grant. The pedestrian and bicycle bridge will cost about $13 million. The TIGER grant is providing $3.265 million, and previously committed PennDOT funds,... - Philadelphia Inquirer

11-02-2015 PetroChoice Acquires Badger Lubrication Technologies, Inc. Wisconsin & Yankee... (Press Release)

11-02-2015 PennDOT Driver License, Photo Centers Closed For Veterans Day (Press Release)

11-02-2015 PennDOT Accepting Applications for Federal Transportation Alternatives Program (Press Release)

11-02-2015 PA Turnpike Commission Formal Telephone Meeting Agenda for November 3, 2015 (Press Release)

November 6, 2015

PLS’s Transportation Recap – Copyright 2015 – Pennsylvania Legislative Services – www.mypls.com

11-02-2015 Three nearby bridges in eastern Pittsburgh suburbs face closure The half-mile area where the borders of Braddock, Rankin, North Braddock and Swissvale come together has become the Bermuda Triangle of bad bridges. In that small area, three bridges are in various states of deterioration. By the end of this month, all of them will be closed or severely... - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

11-02-2015 Three nearby bridges in eastern Pittsburgh suburbs face closure The half-mile area where the borders of Braddock, Rankin, North Braddock and Swissvale come together has become the Bermuda Triangle of bad bridges. In that small area, three bridges are in various states of deterioration. By the end of this month, all of them will be closed or severely... - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

11-02-2015 Interlock devices can prevent DUI deaths People used to ask my mother, "Aren't you scared to raise kids in Manhattan ?" That was in the 1980s, when the homicide rate there was six times what it is now, and every car had a sign saying, "Please do not break the window, the radio was already stolen." But my mother always had her answer ready. She would say, "My kids will... - Philadelphia Inquirer

11-02-2015 Letters: Kenyatta, you gotta get real IT'S A SIN for Kenyatta Johnson to have a casino built by the Cordish Cos. with the adverse publicity the company got. The Cordish Cos. have had many racial suits files against them; several were settled out of court. Kenyatta Johnson was planning his birthday party/campaign fundraiser bash... - Philadelphia Daily News

11-02-2015 Alleged Pa. drunk driver blamed for leaving thousands in dark on Halloween Halloween was a little scarier in Allentown, as some 6,000 PPL customers were plunged into darkness on Saturday night after an alleged DUI driver crashed into an electrical substation. Our sister website, LehighValleyLive.com, reports that the incident happened around 7:25 p.m. Halloween night, affecting some 6,289 customers... - Harrisburg Patriot-News

11-02-2015 PennDOT seeks public input for long-range plan - News Officials in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties are revising a long-term plan for the region’s roads and bridges and want the public’s input. The Lackawanna Luzerne Metropolitan Planning Organization, made up of local and state Department of Transportation officials, reviews the Long Range... - Scranton Times

11-02-2015 PennDOT seeks public input for long-range plan Officials in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties are revising a long-term plan for the region’s roads and bridges and want the public’s input. The Lackawanna Luzerne Metropolitan Planning Organization, made up of local and state Department of Transportation officials, reviews the Long Range... - Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice

11-02-2015 Trooper from West Hazleton barracks receives DUI enforcement award State police Trooper Daniel Spath, who is stationed at Troop N in West Hazleton, was among 45 troopers and 21 municipal law enforcement officers honored with the DUI Top Gun Award from the Pennsylvania Driving Under the Influence Association. The award recognizes the officers’ vigilance in DUI enforcement, the... - Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice

11-02-2015 Bridge to open to pedestrians in Columbia It was a nice afternoon for a walk. The Eagles were on their bye week. So what else was there to do than head to Columbia and take a walk on the new bridge that carries Route 441 over Route 30, allowing truck traffic to bypass Columbia Borough. . "I'm just nosy," said Larry Frable, a 74-year-old retired tool and die... - York Daily

11-02-2015 Wire work to close Regional Rail tunnel

November 6, 2015

PLS’s Transportation Recap – Copyright 2015 – Pennsylvania Legislative Services – www.mypls.com

A wire-replacement project and other maintenance work will close the Regional Rail tunnel between the University City and 30th Street stations for two upcoming weekends. SEPTA said the projects will affect service on Nov. 14-15 and Dec. 5-6. The transit agency said the tunnel closure is needed to make emergency... - Philadelphia Inquirer

11-02-2015 Extra parking available nearby as SEPTA begins Levittown SEPTA Station replacement Commuters who usually park at the Levittown SEPTA Station in Tullytown may have to park across Route 13 at St. Michael the Archangel Church and School beginning Monday as SEPTA starts a $35 million to $36 million overhaul of the station and parking lots. Here's what SEPTA spokeswoman Kristin Geiger said commuters can expect... - Levittown Bucks County Courier Times

11-02-2015 County police departments participating in aggressive-driving enforcement Pennsylvania State Police and more than 225 municipal police departments are conducting aggressive-driving enforcement through Nov. 22. The following municipal police departments are participating in the initiative, which started Oct. 26: • Crawford County — Vernon Township and Conneaut Lake Regional... - Meadville Tribune

11-02-2015 Somerset County road project begins Monday The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is advising drivers that crews will be working on the bridge that carries turnpike traffic over state Route 601, North Center Avenue, in Somerset County beginning Monday. The work will be conducted between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. and is expected to be... - Johnstown Tribune-Democrat

11-01-2015 Zipcar adding rental sites at bike-sharing stations in Pittsburgh Zipcar, the business that rents cars by the hour in urban locations, has added seven rental sites near bike-sharing stations in Pittsburgh, the firm announced this morning. The idea is to give people more transportation options, Grant Ervin, the city's chief resilience officer, said.... - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

11-01-2015 Oakland's traffic perils defy easy fix Guy Johnson’s job isn’t easy: As community relations officer for the University of Pittsburgh Police, part of his responsibility is to do all he can to keep the daily crush of motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians safe around the Oakland campus. So Officer Johnson hasn’t been sleeping easy for the past 10 days after... - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

11-01-2015 Biking with Larry Walsh: Final gap filled for Montour Trail in Washington County Montour Trail Council president Ned Williams said the completion of the Venice intersection and the three-span trail bridge that crosses over it was “a great collaborative effort” by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC), PennDOT Districts 11 and 12 and the trail council.... - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

11-01-2015 Robot cars: Up the revolution! Famed entrepreneur Elon Musk recently announced that new models of the Tesla S electric vehicle would be capable of driving themselves. Two weeks ago he released software that allows them to operate semi-autonomously and a threesome promptly drove one across the country almost exclusively on... - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

11-01-2015 Discarded syringes put cleanup workers along Pennsylvania roads at risk Vince Mastrorocco remembers when volunteers for Derry Township's highway cleanup program were unfazed by Saturday mornings spent hauling away old tires and litter. That was before the region's deadly heroin epidemic took hold and roadside garbage became peppered with contaminated hypodermic needles, he said.... - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

11-01-2015 No change expected to truck sizes on highways

November 6, 2015

PLS’s Transportation Recap – Copyright 2015 – Pennsylvania Legislative Services – www.mypls.com

Maximum truck weights on interstate highways will stay where they are for now. The U.S. Department of Transportation will tell Congress in the near future it will not recommend increasing truck weights, after a two-plus year study into whether truck weights should be increased came back inconclusive.... - Scranton Times

11-01-2015 Public meeting on Erie regional transit authority set for Dec. 1 The possibility of establishing a regional transit authority is the subject of a Dec. 1 public meeting at Blasco Library. The meeting will start at 5:30 p.m. in the library's Hirt Auditorium, 160 E. Front St., according to Erie County Clerk Doug Smith. Erie County Council on Oct. 6 signed off on a resolution that authorized... - Erie Times-News

11-01-2015 Turnpike Commission committed to finishing Mon-Fayette and Southern Beltway Pittsburgh will no longer be a city without a full beltway encircling it after two long-stalled toll roads are completed under new state funding streams. The state Turnpike Commission next year will resume engineering and environmental impact studies to complete the Mon-Fayette Expressway to... - Washington Observer-Reporter

11-01-2015 Bridge named for Eric J. Williams may be small but the tribute was huge The concrete wall sits just below the bridge where Lily Lake empties into a creek. It looks like a good place to stand and cast out for trout, or maybe pick up a bass, a bluegill or a perch. It’s the spot where Eric Williams and his older brother, Mark, spent... - Wilkes-Barre Times Leader

11-01-2015 Hazleton officials: Renovations to municipal airport will help region take off Mayor Joe Yannuzzi wants people to get a good first impression of the city of Hazleton. He thinks recent renovations to the Hazleton Municipal Airport will do just that. “When we took over the airport about three years ago, it was in deplorable condition,” he said. “Because of solicited volunteers... - Wilkes-Barre Times Leader

11-01-2015 Bridge at Lily Lake named in memory of fallen officer Eric Williams On a crisp late October Friday, the bridge where Eric Williams loved to fish was dedicated in his memory. With his parents, brother and other family, friends and officials looking on, the “Eric J. Williams Memorial Bridge” at Lily Lake was dedicated Friday. Williams was 34 when he was killed by an inmate at the U.S. Penitentiary... - Wilkes-Barre Times Leader

11-01-2015 Congress grants maddening pass on train safety controls | Editorial The U.S. House may have a lot on its plate, with the election of a new speaker and fending off critical government shutdown deadlines. But never underestimate the power of Congress to move fast to do the bidding of whining big-business interests. Last week, Congress voted to give railroad operators three more long years... - Trenton Times

10-30-2015 PPG announces leadership changes (Press Release)

10-30-2015 Rep. Payne's Capitol Report for October 30, 2015 (Press Release)

10-30-2015 Argall's super load transport bill signed into law (Press Release)

10-30-2015 Rozzi measures recognize commitment of military and their families (Press Release)

10-30-2015 Exelon Announces Third Quarter 2015 Results (Press Release)

November 6, 2015

PLS’s Transportation Recap – Copyright 2015 – Pennsylvania Legislative Services – www.mypls.com

10-30-2015 No more running to the meter: Mobile app for Pittsburgh parking will allow payments by phone Mayor Bill Peduto and the Pittsburgh Parking Authority on Thursday rolled out a long-anticipated new mobile application launched this week that allows users to pay for parking with their phones. The Parking Authority approved an an agreement with Parkmobile LLC in... - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

10-30-2015 Transit deserts: The Port Authority must try to find relief Glaring gaps in bus service in Allegheny County leave many communities unserved, including a major commercial route in the North Hills. With the Port Authority enjoying improved financial health due to lower fuel costs and stability endowed by Act 89, the agency should begin making plans to... - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

10-30-2015 CSX begins clearing site for Intermodal Rail Terminal The railroad tracks located along Route 51 in McKees Rocks and Stowe were closed Oct. 19 to allow for demolition of overhead portions of the 103-year-old Presston pedestrian bridge, part of ongoing site clearing and building demolition in preparation for the construction of CSX... - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

10-30-2015 People mourn Wilkinsburg couple killed in crash near Oakland vets hospital Sharon Griffin didn't know Carol Christine Williamson or Henry “Hank” Walker. But when she heard that the Wilkinsburg couple was killed Monday in a crash involving a Port Authority bus and an SUV near the veterans hospital in Oakland, “it just hurt me,” said Griffin, 64, of the Hill District.... - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

10-30-2015 Rt. 356 hazardous in Buffalo There are two dangerous areas along Route 356 that need to be addressed by the Buffalo Township Commissioners and PennDOT before someone gets killed. The first is across from Freeport Transport going south on 356, where the roadway narrows from two lanes to one. The road sign says, “Left lane... - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

10-30-2015 Alle-Kiski Laurels & Lances Lance: To a terribly uninformed electorate. The election departments in the Alle-Kiski counties have reported a funny, not surprising, but scary tidbit. They've received numerous calls from people asking if Donald Trump and/or Hillary Clinton are on the ballot in next week's election. Yeesh!... - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

10-30-2015 SEPTA tech plays catchup Short entry today, as I spent much of Thursday tracking down details on ESPN's College GameDay shutting down a block of Market Street. Long story short, if you're in the mood to see thousands of Temple football fans psyched to get on ESPN, 5th and Market is the place to be Saturday.... - Philadelphia Inquirer

10-30-2015 Lawyer in derailment case says Conrail misled court A lawyer representing plaintiffs in federal litigation over the 2012 Paulsboro train derailment asserted in a filing Thursday that Conrail misled the court about its training program, leading to an adverse ruling against those suing over the accident and chemical spill.... - Philadelphia Inquirer

10-30-2015 Deer kills motorcyclist in Pa. A collision with a deer in Lehigh County, Pa., has left a Maryland motorcyclist dead after he suffered severe head injuries in the early evening crash on Tuesday. Our sister website, LehighValleyLive.com, reports that the victim was Steve Gillen, 55, of Federalsburg, Maryland. He encountered the deer on a roadway... - Harrisburg Patriot-News

November 6, 2015

PLS’s Transportation Recap – Copyright 2015 – Pennsylvania Legislative Services – www.mypls.com

10-30-2015 COLTS bus hits longtime Times-Shamrock editor in downtown Scranton - News A bus hit a longtime Times-Shamrock Newspapers editor Thursday afternoon as he walked south across Lackawanna Avenue on Penn Avenue toward the Mall at Steamtown. Pete Banko, 51, editor of The Republican-Herald in Pottsville since November 2005, and former senior city editor of The Tribune from 1995 to... - Scranton Times

10-30-2015 Time to take long road By Rep. Matt Cartwright At the end of the month, the federal highway trust fund law once again will expire after a three-month extension, endangering highway projects throughout America, but there is hope. Last week, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure... - Scranton Times

10-30-2015 Officials: Improve parking, signage on Montage Mountain MOOSIC — State Rep. Sid Michaels Kavulich knew it would take more than one meeting to come up with strategies for improving event traffic on Montage Mountain. That’s why he repeatedly referred to a 50-minute gathering Thursday at PNC Field as the start of a process.... - Scranton Times

10-30-2015 Red light to perpetuity Red light cameras are supposed to be public safety devices, but the jury is out in that regard. Some municipalities that have installed the devices report that accidents at intersections have declined, but critics of the systems say that re-timing traffic signals to provide longer caution... - Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice

10-30-2015 Neville Island dirt ordinance could penalize trucks NEVILLE TWP. -- The Neville Island Commissioners are preparing to implement an ordinance to penalize trucks that leave dirt and debris behind on roadways. The ordinance would require trucks leaving nonresidential properties to not leave dirt or debris behind on a public street when exiting a business... - Beaver County Times

10-30-2015 Private car producer looking to settle in Greenville-Reynolds WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, EASTERN OHIO – A Dallas, Texas, company is kicking the tires on building a plant in Mercer County that would be used to supply its new nearby car plant which also is on the drawing boards. During Penn-Northwest Development Corp.'s annual meeting held Thursday... - Sharon Herald

10-30-2015 Scary traffic scenarios prompt study by planners POTTSTOWN >> The potential for looming traffic bottlenecks along Route 73 and its environs has convinced regional planners that they may need to undertake a traffic study of their own to get a handle on the potential problems. Wednesday night’s meeting of the Pottstown Metropolitan Area Regional... - Pottstown Mercury

10-30-2015 Airbus to Significantly Speed A320 Production Before Decade’s End PARIS — Airbus said on Friday that it planned to significantly accelerate production of its best-selling A320 series of jets before the end of the decade, betting that the current boom in aircraft orders will continue amid robust global demand for air travel.... - New York Times

10-30-2015 No more cutting the line at TSA screening You had just checked in, received your boarding pass and there it was –that little notation in the corner: “TSA Pre?.” For travelers, who had not gone through the special screening process and paid the fee required to enroll in TSA’s expedited airport screening... - Washington Post

10-30-2015 Metro board zeros in on an unconventional choice for GM Neal S. Cohen, Metro’s top choice for general manager, has never worked for a subway or bus

November 6, 2015

PLS’s Transportation Recap – Copyright 2015 – Pennsylvania Legislative Services – www.mypls.com

system. But he is highly experienced in steering large companies through severe financial straits — a background that probably makes him attractive to a beleaguered transit agency struggling with an... - Washington Post

10-30-2015 The government may soon commandeer drones near airports CACI International, the defense and intelligence contractor, is working on a system that could soon track and overtake rogue drones flying too close to airports, an increasing concern of the Federal Aviation Administration as it struggles to regulate the proliferation of flying robots.... - Washington Post

10-30-2015 Virginia Republicans concoct a highway horror story about I-66 tolls TURN ON the World Series these days and, at the commercial break, you’ll be subjected to an onslaught of political advertising, courtesy of Republicans running for the Virginia state legislature. Like many political ads, these are crass, misleading and pitched toward exploiting... - Washington Post

10-30-2015 Automakers struggle to bring affordable diesel cars to U.S. market In hindsight, it's clear how Volkswagen, in the 2009 model year, seemed to have nailed the elusive formula for affordable, sporty diesel cars — when none of its competitors could crack the code. At the time, U.S. regulators had been tightening pollution controls on... - Los Angeles Times

10-30-2015 Renzie Road remediation project reported on schedule A PennDOT spokesman said work is moving forward and on schedule on a slide remediation project in Elizabeth Township. Allison Park Contractors Inc. is contractor for a $380,000 project including stabilization and shoulder repairs at the juncture of Renzie Road... - McKeesport Daily News

10-30-2015 Parking authority OKs raising permit fees $10 Monthly parking permit rates will increase $10 in the city next year. The parking authority Wednesday night voted to increase rates for most of its parking spaces to $60 per month from $50. The hike will help cover costs associated with the Centre City parking... - Butler Eagle

10-30-2015 NS: Railway didn’t violate protocol October 30, 2015 Norfolk Southern Railway didn’t violate protocol by not informing local emergency officials about the derailment of several grain cars near Station Medical Center early Wednesday, as stated by City... more »» - Altoona Mirror

10-30-2015 Drone rules needed When drone operators themselves endorse registration, regulators should move full steam ahead. Users in increasing numbers are flying these popular and useful... - Bloomsburg Press Enterprise

10-30-2015 York County Commissioner Chris Reilly unhurt in crash with state police York County Commissioner Chris Reilly on Thursday got an endorsement bump from local Fraternal Order of Police lodges 15 and 75. Later that day, the York Township Republican got a much more literal pump from law enforcement when a state police cruiser crashed into his Chevrolet... - York Dispatch

10-30-2015 Transit regionalization moving forward A plan for regionalization of public transportation between Cumberland County and its surrounding neighbors could be on the table as soon as November and implemented by July. “I laid out on the table essentially what I heard from our board that we are interested in moving forward as quickly as possible, of course as... - Carlisle Sentinel