PennDOT updates 12-year transportation plan

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) recently published on its website an updated 12-Year Transportation program, which now foresees $63.9 billion will be available over the next 12 years to improve airports, bridges, railroads roads, and transit systems.

The State Transportation Commission adopted the plan.

The program anticipates $128 million will be available for aviation, $11.53 billion for state highway and bridge projects, $228 million for rail freight, $319 million for multimodal projects, and $9.62 billion for public transit in the first four years.

“We and our planning partners developed this update with an eye on striking the right balance between allowing for some limited capacity expansion and taking the needed steps to ensure our existing system is well maintained,” Leslie Richards, PennDOT secretary, said. “While we are fortunate to have revenues to support an effective program, we understand that we face challenges to maintain this progress.”

One independent county, 19 metropolitan planning organizations, and four rural planning organizations partnered with PennDOT to develop and review the update.

The updates have been submitted to the Federal Transit Administration and the Federal Highway Administration for review approval.

The plan will go into effect on Oct. 1. State law requires the program to be updated every two years.