State Transportation Commission
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PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION n o i A better quality of life built on transportation excellence. s i V M i s To provide a sustainable transportation system and quality services that are embraced by our communities s and add value to our customers. i o n PennDOT operates under a basic set of values. Integrity - Earn the public’s trust every day. Performance – We provide excellence through s innovation and continuous improvement. e Safety - We promote the delivery of a safe work u environment and a safe transportation system in our l products and services. a V Customer Service - We are committed to providing the highest level of public service and value to our customers. Team PennDOT – We value and respect one another while supporting teamwork and workforce development. 2012 ANNUAL REPORT We are proud to present you with the 2012 PennDOT Annual Report. This report details our accomplishments, challenges and milestones achieved in 2012. One particular accomplishment that is detailed in this report is the success of our Next Generation effort. Last year, PennDOT Next Generation helped us identify more than $50 million in cost savings. Also, this effort helped PennDOT’s district offices to look beyond their borders to better share resources and help do a better a job for Pennsylvania citizens. Yet another milestone that you’ll learn about in this report is how, in 2012, a process called Mapping the Future helped draw PennDOT, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and other state agencies more closely together to save money, discover new efficiencies and become better stewards of state government. This year’s report also explains our efforts to modernize operations with our transportation partners. For instance, several transit agencies are participating in consolidation studies and initiatives that have shown significant administrative savings can be achieved by consolidating single-county transportation systems into transportation systems serving multiple counties. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but we are committed to continuing our efforts to look for new ways to help us be a better business partner, a better neighbor and a better employer. We made much progress in 2012 in our role as stewards of the commonwealth’s infrastructure. We hope that this report gives you more insight not only into our accomplishments, but also, looking to the future, we hope that this report gives you an idea of where your state’s transportation system is heading. We look forward to continuing to find innovative ways to support the lifestyle, economy and transportation needs of the nearly 13 million people who call Pennsylvania home, and all of those who travel on our network every day. EXECUTIVE MESSAGE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Improving Your Lifestyle 1 2012 ANNUAL REPORT New Programs Designed to Save Lives in Emergency Situations In 2012, PennDOT launched two free safety programs designed to save lives: the Emergency Contact Information and Yellow Dot programs. These programs allow Pennsylvanians to provide medical and contact information in the event of an emergency, so that emergency responders are informed and can act more quickly. nia Ye lva llo sy w n D n o e t P w w v o w .g .Y a e .p llo w D ot > Yellow Dot Participants in the Yellow Dot program fill out the program form with their photo and emergency contact, medical contact and medical information, insert it in the program’s folder and then place it in their vehicle’s glove compartment. Participants then place a yellow dot sticker on their vehicle’s rear window. This sticker alerts emergency responders to check a vehicle’s glove compartment for the folder, helping emergency responders provide specific care to participants after a crash. People can visit www.YellowDot.pa.gov to > Emergency Contact Information submit a request for a packet. The program’s medical information sheet, The Emergency Contact Information People can participate in the Emergency information card and instructions can also program offers Pennsylvania driver’s license Contact Information program by visiting be printed on the website. Please note that and PennDOT-issued ID holders the www.dmv.state.pa.us and clicking on the only one folder is needed per vehicle. Each opportunity to log into a secure database Emergency Contact Information icon. family member can participate in the and list two emergency contacts. program by inserting an information sheet into the vehicle’s folder. Customers can update the information as needed, but only law enforcement officials The program is a cooperative effort among can view their information in the system. In the Pennsylvania Departments of the event of an emergency, law e nforcement Transportation, Health and Aging, the can use the participant’s driver’s license to Pennsylvania State Police, the find their emergency contact information. Upload Emergency Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and Pennsylvania IDs are available to children as Contact Information first responders and local law enforcement. young as 10 years old. IMPROVING YOUR LIFESTYLE 2 2 PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 511PA Improves, Increases Customer Reach 511PA, Pennsylvania’s traveler navigational links for popular information system, saw pages, enhanced traffic maps with improvements in 2012 and also personalization options and increased the number of people additional incident information. using the service. Through 511PA, motorists can dial 5-1-1 or visit The site also provides easy-to-use, www.511PA.com before they travel color-coded winter road conditions to see conditions on more than for all interstates and other routes 2,900 miles of Pennsylvania covered in the 511 reporting roadways. The system provides network. Regional Twitter alerts traffic-delay warnings, weather can also be accessed through the forecasts, average traffic speeds on 511PA website. urban interstates and access to more than 670 traffic cameras. In 2012, 511PA had more than 2.4 million website visits, 17,000 text In 2012, the website was given a and email alert subscribers, and significant upgrade to improve 8,000 Twitter followers. overall service including quick Driving Safety through Red Light Program Grows, Education Improves Safety Since 2005, the Automatic Red Light In an effort to emphasize the danger of unsafe driving Enforcement (ARLE) program has installed behaviors, PennDOT implemented the enhanced Special Point cameras at various intersections in Examination study guide and exams. Philadelphia for the purpose of reducing red light running violations where red light The enhancements were based on recommendations resulting running has been an issue. Today, 21 from a study of the impact of PennDOT’s point system on driver intersections are equipped with 96 cameras. safety. PennDOT incorporated the suggestions to expand Intersections where the cameras are installed content on the consequences of unsafe driving and provided a have seen a 50 percent reduction in red light better explanation of the point system. violations resulting in a reduction of over 750 violations monthly. PennDOT requires drivers who accumulate six points on their driving record to take a special point exam in order to maintain After several years of documented safety their driving privilege. A study guide is provided to individuals improvements, legislation was passed in that reviews safety practices and evaluates how well the driver 2012 allowing ARLE deployments in cities of understands the lessons. the second class and other select municipalities that meet specific population For more information, visit PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle thresholds and have a Pennsylvania Chiefs of Services website at www.dmv.pa.state.us , click on Forms and Police Association accredited police agency. This Publications, then on All Driver License forms, then on Special legislation opens the door for future red light running Point Examination Study Guide under Publications. deployments in Pittsburgh as well as 30 other municipalities in the suburbs of Philadelphia. More Services Available, Enhanced Customer Service In an effort to increase business partnerships, PennDOT expanded the available transactions that can be completed online by Online Agent Service Centers. Online Agents can now process In-Transit Plates, Persons with Disability Plates and Placards online. While expanding opportunities for PennDOT’s business partners, expansion of services at Online Agent Service Centers also provides customers with more immediate and timely access to the services they need. 3 2012 ANNUAL REPORT PennDOT, Partners Create Online Mature Driving Courses As part of an ongoing program to slower reaction times. Participants enhance driver safety, PennDOT who complete the course may worked with business partners to qualify for discounts from their offer customers the opportunity to insurance companies. take mature driving improvement courses online. The online course offers the same information as the classroom course, PennDOT approved online courses but it can be completed at the offered by The American Association participant’s own pace in the of Retired Persons (AARP), the comfort of his or her home. By American Automobile Association extending the benefit of insurance (AAA) and Seniors for Safe Driving. discount eligibility to online course The three organizations train more participants, the three groups hope than 40,000 mature drivers in to reach more drivers in Pennsylvania each year with “55 Pennsylvania and to help them stay Alive” classroom