IN THIS ISSUE Co-Sponsor Memos

December 2, 2016

IN THIS ISSUE

Co-Sponsor Memos PA Bulletin Upcoming Events Session Schedule In the News

Co-Sponsor Memos

HCO 1 Neuman, Brandon Designates a bridge on State Route 980 over the Chartiers Creek in Canonsburg Borough, Washington County, as the Officer Scott L. Bashioum Memorial Bridge.

HCO 3 Moul, Dan Provides for a General Assembly member of the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin to have a designee with voting rights.

HCO 6 Moul, Dan Raises the grading of Vehicular Homicide while DUI from an F- 2 to an F-1 and increases the mandatory sentence from the current 3 years to 5 years.

HCO 8 Snyder, Pam Increases the annual maintenance payment rate allocated to municipalities from the State Highway Transfer Restoration Restricted Account to $6,000 per mile.

HCO 10 Snyder, Pam Adds motorcycles to the Automobile Lemon Law.

HCO 16 Cox, Jim Exempts all vehicles less than 7 years old from requirements of emissions testing but requires a visual ant-tampering inspection of emissions control components.

HCO 17 Cox, Jim Allows any county that receives an Act 44 allocation to use any remaining funds to assist their municipalities through a grant program.

HCO 39 Moul, Dan Ensures that school districts are not required to provide pupil transportation to any school or school district located outside the Commonwealth.

HCO 41 Moul, Dan Establishes a temporary emergency disability placard that will be valid for 30 days and will not be renewable.

HCO 47 Moul, Dan Provides for an education license plate and for a technology in education fund.

HCO 51 Greiner, Keith Increases the third DUI offense within 10 years of other DUI offenses, as well as any 4th or subsequent offense during a person's lifetime will be upgraded to a felony of the third degree.

HCO 61 Simmons, Justin Applies the good Samaritan civil immunity to school bus drivers who administer epi-pens to students, provided the school bus driver complies with policy and completes necessary training.

PA Bulletin

PENNDOT: PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS BOARD MEETING The Public-Private Partnerships Board will hold a meeting on November 29 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Keystone Building, Harrisburg. For more information, contact Kathryn Tartaglia at 717-214-7222 or [email protected].

PENNDOT: STATE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION MEETING The State Transportation Commission will hold a meeting on Thursday, December 15 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Commonwealth Keystone Building, Harrisburg. For more information, contact Ellen E. Sweeney at 717-787-2913, [email protected].

PENNDOT: TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING The Transportation Advisory Committee will hold a meeting on Thursday, December 8 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Commonwealth Keystone Building, Harrisburg. For more information, contact Ellen E. Sweeney at 717-787-2913, [email protected].

IRRC: ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMISSION The Independent Regulatory Review Commission met publicly at 10 a.m., Thursday, November 17, 2016, and announced the following: • Department of Transportation # 18-461: Authorizing Appropriately Attired Persons to Direct, Control or Regulate Traffic (Approved)

PID: PRIVATE PASSENGER MOTOR VEHICLE LIABILITY INSURANCE POLICIES; LIMITED AND FULL TORT DATA REPORTING; NOTICE 2016-16 The Insurance Department provided notice to alert private passenger motor vehicle insurers that the Insurance Department has revised its plans to collect certain ratemaking data by the tort selection of the policyholder and the tort selection of the claimant as described in Department Notice 2016-08. In recognition of the difficulties associated with recording and reporting third party claimant data in such a manner, the Department will instead initially collect historical ratemaking data for uninsured and underinsured motorist’s coverages only. Questions on the notice should be directed to Michael McKenney, Property and Casualty Actuarial Supervisor, 717-705-0166, [email protected].

PPA: NOTICE OF RESCHEDULING OF SALES OF WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE TAXICAB MEDALLIONS The Philadelphia Parking Authority announced removal of certain WAV medallions from the scheduled bid opening date on November 19, 2016 due to lack of participation of responsive bids. The sales have been rescheduled for December 7. Instructions and other information is available at www.philapark.org/resources-and-forms/.

Upcoming Events

Delaware River Port Authority/PATCO December 6, 2016 - 9:00 a.m. 11th Floor Board Room, One Port Center, 2 Riverside Drive, Camden NJ Operations & Maintenance Committee Meeting. For additional information: (856) 968-2253

Delaware River Port Authority/PATCO December 6, 2016 - 10:30 a.m. 11th Floor Board Room, One Port Center, 2 Riverside Drive, Camden NJ Labor Committee Meeting. For additional information: (856) 968-2253

PA Turnpike Commission December 6, 2016 - 10:00 a.m. Turnpike Admin. Bldg, Large Board Room, 700 S. Eisenhower Blvd., 3rd Fl., Middletown Commission Meeting. For additional information: (717) 831-7333

PA State Transportation Advisory Committee December 8, 2016 - 10:00 a.m. Conference Room 8N1, 8th Floor, Commonwealth Keystone Building, 400 North Street, Harrisburg Committee Meeting. For additional information: (717) 787-2913

PA Public Utility Commission December 8, 2016 - 10:00 a.m. Commonwealth Keystone Building, Hearing Room 1, 400 North St., Harrisburg Public Meeting. For additional information: (717) 783-1740

Delaware River Port Authority/PATCO December 14, 2016 - 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 December 14, 2016 - 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 State Transportation Commission December 15, 2016 - 10:00 a.m. Commonwealth Keystone Building, Room 8N1, Harrisburg Commission Meeting. For additional information: (717) 787-2913

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA) Board December 15, 2016 - 3:00 p.m. SEPTA Headquarters, 1234 Market Street, Mezzanine Level, Philadelphia Board Meeting. For additional information: (215) 580-7800

Session Schedule Senate January 3, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31 February 1, 6, 7, 8 March 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29 April 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26 May 8, 9, 10, 22, 23, 24 June 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

House January 3, 23, 24, 25 February 6, 7, 8 March 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22 April 3, 4, 5, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26 May 8, 9, 10, 22, 23, 24 June 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

In the News

12-01-2016 Please stop these police chases, which can lead to tragedy I appreciate our men and women in blue. You couldn’t pay me enough to go through what they do every day. It’s a job fraught with dangerous situations and instant decisions. But I’m angry, very angry. I know most people don’t agree with me, but these high-speed police chases must stop. Too many innocent lives are... - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

12-01-2016 Cutting the chase: A crash highlights need for police alternatives The tragic deaths of three innocent people during a police chase on Thanksgiving compel local police departments to take two important steps: Revisit their policies on pursuits to make sure they reflect the profession’s best practices and explore the tools available to reduce... - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

12-01-2016 The Thursday wrap Finally common sense will replace the commonwealth's convoluted law governing beer sales. Starting Jan. 17, customers will be allowed to buy beer in any retail quantity they want. It's among revamps to Pennsylvania's Prohibition-era liquor and beer laws, which have been evolving toward... - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

12-01-2016 How Uber built self-driving cars in Pittsburgh A former vice president from Twitter heads software development. Employees from SpaceX, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and other aerospace companies work on safety. An engineer who ran the back end of Duolingo's language learning app teaches autonomous cars to recognize what they see on Pittsburgh roads.... - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

12-01-2016 Why SEPTA's railcar woes aren't over yet: It's the beams, stupid! Nearly six months after SEPTA pulled from service a third of its Regional Rail fleet due to flawed weight-bearing beams, 33 of 120 cars remain out of service. The delay occurred because SEPTA is pursuing a more durable repair job for those cars, which should be completed by the last week of December, SEPTA... - Philadelphia Inquirer

12-01-2016 Controller: Streets Department not paving fast enough The city Streets Department has been lagging behind on repaving Philadelphia's roads, leading to an increase in potholes, the City Controller's Office said Wednesday. The Controller's Office found that the Streets Department paved 40 miles or less each year between 2011 and 2015, about a third of the city's goal. The... - Philadelphia Inquirer

12-01-2016 Exclusive: Board members selected to oversee Amtrak's $24 billion Gateway project The government corporation charged with overseeing Amtrak's $24 billion Gateway rail project between New York and New Jersey has filled out its governing board, sources told Reuters on Wednesday. The Gateway project, one of the most important and urgent rail projects in... - Philadelphia Inquirer

12-01-2016 PennDOT hopes interstate barrier will stop crossover crashes The state Department of Transportation plans to spend more than $2 million erecting median barriers on two major interstates through Monroe and Carbon counties with the aim to stopping crossover crashes, PennDOT said. The construction project should begin sometime after the new year along... - Scranton Times

12-01-2016 Not sold on driverless technology While the presidential election hypnotized us, the era of driverless vehicles has crept closer to reality. That, for me, is truly creepy. The concept is beguiling. It may be technologically feasible, but it certainly is not foolproof. Inserting this into our society and culture... - Washington Observer-Reporter

12-01-2016 Change orders would hike 2016 Washington County paving contract An Allegheny County-based contractor is asking for $145,942.67 in change orders on top of a $1,122,597.60 group pact for paving work on five jobs, including Mingo Creek Park near Finleyville. - Uniontown Herald-Standard

12-01-2016 Fleetwood road project produces headaches From the windows of his barbershop, Jerry Shuker has a front-row seat to view traffic moving along Main Street. But for a few months next fall, there won't be much to see. After years of planning, PennDOT in February began work on a nearly $13 million project that will fully reconstruct sections of Main Street and... - Reading Eagle

12-01-2016 As Auto Lending Rises, So Do Delinquencies Regulators are airing “significant concern” about the millions of Americans who are falling behind on their car loans, even as auto lending continues to boom at a near record pace. On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York noted increasing distress among auto borrowers with shaky credit, as subprime delinquencies... - New York Times

12-01-2016 OPEC Reaches Deal to Limit Production, Sending Prices Soaring The deal shows that “the weight and resilience of OPEC is still there and will continue to be,”

Qatar’s energy minister, Mohammed bin Saleh al-Sada, said at a news conference on Wednesday. What’s the Current Price of Oil? The market optimism, though, may soon be tempered.... - New York Times

12-01-2016 Kasich hopes to transform Rt. 33 into ‘smart road’ Gov. John Kasich bristles — becomes a tad defensive, in fact — when the term “Rust Belt” is applied to Ohio. Standing in Dublin, in front of a “driverless” tractor-trailer and the section of Route 33 it soon traversed, Kasich announced a planned $15 million state investment on Wednesday to create a "smart mobility... - Columbus Dispatch

12-01-2016 Moul didn't help get needed road repairs (letter) A few years ago, Dan Moul and myself attended a meeting with PennDot, and I voiced my concern about the lack of maintenance on Bulk Plant as well as some other back roads. I found out that PennDot has a policy where certain roads such as Bulk Plant, Sells Station Road and Hickory Road are... - Hanover Evening Sun

12-01-2016 Lengthy prison terms upheld for $136 million business fraud scheme A federal court has upheld lengthy prison terms imposed on two businessman in what the U.S. attorney describes as the "largest disadvantaged business enterprise fraud in the nation's history." Joseph Nagle, 55, of Deerfield Beach, Fla., and Ernest G. Fink Jr., 71, of... - Harrisburg Patriot-News

11-30-2016 Year In Review: PennDOT Supports Local Economies, Improves Customer Service (Press Release)

11-30-2016 DBi Services Acquires Mercier's Inc. (Press Release)

11-30-2016 Trump taps Chao, Price for top jobs; Mnuchin expected for Treasury President-elect Donald Trump was viewed as enlisting a trio of nominees with deep ties to Washington and Wall Street to fill out his Cabinet, including former Goldman Sachs executive Steven Mnuchin as secretary of the Treasury Department... - AP

11-30-2016 Uber, Seeking to Expand, Defends Itself at Europe’s Highest Court Uber asserted on Tuesday that it was helping to bolster Europe’s digital economy as part of its defense in a long-awaited hearing to decide how the popular ride-hailing service should be able to operate across the region. The case at the European Court of Justice comes as the American company... - New York Times

11-30-2016 Trump Picks Elaine Chao for Transportation Secretary She is a woman and an immigrant, a fixture of the Republican establishment for two decades. She is a savvy and professional practitioner of the capital’s inside game. And now she is going to work for President-elect Donald J. Trump. Mr. Trump named Elaine L. Chao on Tuesday as his choice to be the next... - New York Times

11-30-2016 Traders Bet on Big Stimulus Spending. Congress May Not Go Along. Stock traders celebrating Donald J. Trump’s election have been bidding up equity prices on a risky bet: that the new president will steer congressional Republicans in a U-turn away from their tightfisted fiscal policies — and bring Democrats along for the ride.... - New York Times

11-30-2016 McConnell says he won’t recuse himself from wife’s cabinet confirmation President-elect Donald Trump isn’t the only one getting questions about mixing family affairs with work. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), whose wife Elaine Chao is Trump’s pick for transportation secretary, was asked if he plans to recuse himself from her Senate confirmation process.... - Washington Post

11-30-2016 Airport authority sets $57 million airport renewal plan No longer cash-strapped and buried in debt, the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority is ready to embark on a $57 million airfield renewal that will start where the rubber meets the road — literally. The authority Tuesday approved a five-year capital improvement program that... - Allentown Morning Call

11-30-2016 After Bay Area Ransomware Attack, Is SEPTA Ready? Are You? San Francisco’s mass transit system is recovering from an attack that knocked its ticketing system offline over the weekend. It’s a cautionary tale for SEPTA and other agencies and businesses — and for the rest of us. That the ransomware allowed for free rides in the Bay Area and didn’t... - KYW News Radio 1060

11-30-2016 Uber drivers strike for $15 minimum wage An LNP staff writer awaits his Uber ride just as the ride-hailing service launched in Lancaster. Add Uber driver to the ranks of jobs demanding $15 minimum wage rates. Drivers for the popular ride-hailing app are joining fast food, home care, child care, airport and higher education workers in the national movement,... - Lancaster Intelligencer Journal

11-30-2016 Pennsylvania school bus crashes and injuries at lowest level in at least 23 years in 2015 Recent school bus accidents have claimed lives in Tennessee and caused injuries to Lancaster County students traveling to a band exhibition. But overall, the safety record for school buses in Pennsylvania has improved markedly in recent years. Related: How safe are your kids on Pennsylvania school buses?... - Lancaster Intelligencer Journal

11-30-2016 Bucks County signs contract for justice center shuttle service The Bucks County commissioners agreed to hand over operations of the shuttle service between the Doylestown Borough parking garage and the county justice center to a private transport company. The walk from the garage to the new courthouse can be a long, 2,000- foot... - Levittown Bucks County Courier Times

11-30-2016 County seeking funding to repair 146-year-old bridge Somerset County is known for its covered bridges. - Somerset Daily

11-30-2016 Lancaster township paints blue line on road, puts it at odds with PennDOT You’ve heard of the thin blue line referring to police, but a Lancaster County township is taking that literally. Supervisors in Conoy Township added a little extra paint to the main road through Bainbridge to support emergency responders, and now they’re at... - Carlisle Sentinel

11-30-2016 PennDOT: Route 422 damage was subsidence, not sinkhole Damage to the roadway on Route 422 in North Londonderry Township was not caused by a sinkhole, according to PennDOT. “We made major repairs a few years ago after a sinkhole opened in front of the (Palmyra Bowling Center),” Greg Penny, community relations coordinator at PennDOT, said. “East of that location, a subsidence of 2... - Lebanon Daily News

Allentown Morning Call

11-29-2016 Tuesday takes Computer “smarts”: A Franklin Regional high schooler, obviously technically gifted, faces charges for launching cyber attacks against more than a dozen local school districts and Westmoreland County government. More's the pity that, when asked by investigators, Michaela Gabriella King,... - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

11-29-2016 Trump's threat to end Cuba detente may rouse GOP opposition President-elect Donald Trump's threat Monday to "terminate" the U.S. detente with Cuba could trigger opposition from some Republican lawmakers and corporate leaders who favor continued engagement with Havana... - AP

11-29-2016 Trump supporter banned from Delta following tirade on Lehigh Valley flight A Donald Trump supporter's in-flight tirade on a Delta flight to the Lehigh Valley has earned him a lifetime ban from the airline. Delta's CEO announced the ban in a memo issued companywide on Monday and later posted on Delta's website. "After questioning the customer, our team members made the best decision... - Easton Express-Times

11-29-2016 Fleetwood changes snow emergency routes The Fleetwood Borough Council on Monday approved changes to snow emergency routes that will make it easier for snowplows and other equipment to travel through the area. Council members said the new route takes into account the emergency snow routes of neighboring Richmond and Ruscombmanor townships. Unlike in the... - Reading Eagle

11-29-2016 Delta Air Lines Bans Disruptive Donald Trump Supporter for Life Delta Air Lines has banned a disruptive passenger who shouted pro-Donald Trump and anti- Hillary Clinton remarks at fellow passengers on a flight from Atlanta to Allentown, Pa., last week, the airline’s chief executive said on Monday. The chief executive, Edward H. Bastian, said in a memo published on... - New York Times

11-29-2016 Airline bans rude Trump supporter for life, refunds other passengers' tickets Delta Air Lines is banning for life a passenger who rudely professed his support for Republican President-elect Donald Trump and insulted those who didn't on a flight to Pennsylvania, the company's CEO said Monday. Edward Bastian said in an internal memo that the airline is also refunding... - Harrisburg Patriot-News

11-29-2016 Pa. town that painted blue road line to honor first responders could face 'legal liability': PennDOT While PennDOT has no current plans to take action against Conoy Township for painting a blue line on the road to honor first responders, it has warned that the community could face legal issues in the future. Earlier this month, the township's road crew painted blue stripes between... - PARIOT

11-29-2016 Feds: Railroads slow to make progress on train technology The nation's three busiest commuter railroads — which together serve nearly 1 million riders in the New York City area each day — continue to lag behind their smaller West Coast counterparts in installing sophisticated train-control technology that's seen as an antidote to... - Allentown Morning Call

11-29-2016 Trump to nominate Elaine Chao for transportation post -source President-elect Donald Trump plans to nominate former Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, to be his transportation secretary, a source with knowledge of the decision said on Tuesday. The source, who requested anonymity, confirmed the pick to Reuters. Chao... - Philadelphia Inquirer

11-28-2016 Governor Wolf Announces Investment in Infrastructure and Job Creation at Port... (Press Release)

11-28-2016 Air travel normal as Thanksgiving holiday weekend winds down Millions of Americans made their way back home Sunday after a long Thanksgiving weekend, facing minimal stress and strain as they traveled by air, rail or road... - AP

11-28-2016 Monday Update: Razing of old terminal at airport will have to wait The long-delayed demolition of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport’s former passenger terminal should finally happen in the new year. Airport officials originally thought contractors would take down the two-story, 70,000-square-foot building in the spring and build new parking... - Scranton Times

11-28-2016 Winter preparedness on track in Mon Valley communities Even though the Mon Valley is still awaiting its first major snowfall, many municipalities in the area are ready to respond to practically any form of winter weather. - Uniontown Herald- Standard

11-28-2016 Cyber Monday Hits as the U.S. Awaits Jobs Data The end of a four-day (shopping) weekend. Retailers have geared up for Cyber Monday, the last day of deals in what has become a four-day shopping weekend. After Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Super Sunday, retailers will offer online deals on Monday on... - New York Times

11-28-2016 Turnpike Commission's cash crunch: The road to reality Given the reality of its dire bottom-line situation, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission should go beyond merely listing expensive projects for possible suspension and abandon them. Turnpike commissioners have said they'll suspend the Mon-Fayette Expressway... - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

11-28-2016 Toll of trucking facility fire could pass $1M Damage to a Harmar trucking facility that burned to the ground Friday night could cost more than $1 million. Joe Luera, assistant chief at Allegheny Valley Volunteer Fire Company, said that figure could climb as the Allegheny County Fire Marshal's office and... - Pittsburgh Tribune- Review

11-28-2016 Hatboro-Horsham considers switch to propane school buses As its diesel buses age and are sold off, the Hatboro-Horsham School District plans to purchase propane vehicles and become an all-propane fleet. "We feel propane buses are a financially sound investment that's also good for the environment," said Robert Reichert, the district's business... - Levittown Bucks County Courier Times

11-28-2016 Study in works about potential Lancaster-Berks bus route The South Central Transit Authority wants to study whether offering bus service between Lancaster and Berks counties makes sense. The authority oversees the Red Rose and Berks Area Regional transit authorities. David Kilmer, executive director of South Central, said the authority has... - Lancaster Intelligencer Journal

11-28-2016 Luzerne vehicle fee represents philosophical shift It’s just $5. The proposal for a vehicle registration fee in Luzerne County’s 2017 budget represents an attempt at sharing the tax burden that funds government. It also represents a small philosophical change in the way the county government raises its funds, because it could be the first time since home... - Hazleton Standard-Speaker

11-28-2016 Official: Johnstown flights part of Pittsburgh airport rebirth Johnstown’s new commuter flights to and from Pittsburgh International Airport are expected to benefit both airports, leaders say. On Nov. 19, Southern Air Express began operating 19 flights a week to Pittsburgh, including three round-trips every weekday. Fares start at $29 each way, if booked at least two weeks in advance.... - Johnstown Tribune-Democrat

11-28-2016 Public meeting planned on Beech Creek Township bridge replacement The community is invited to a public open house regarding the replacement of a Beech Creek Township bridge as part of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s (PennDOT) Rapid Bridge Replacement Project. The open house will be focused on important information including the... - Lock Haven Express

11-28-2016 Gasoline prices in Pittsburgh region steady at $2.39 a gallon Average retail gasoline prices in the Pittsburgh region sit around $2.39 a gallon this morning, down about 2 cents a gallon in the last week, according to GasBuddy’s survey of more than 700 stations in southwestern Pennsylvania. That compares with a U.S. average that has fallen 1.3 cents per gallon in... - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

11-28-2016 Glenn 'Hurricane' Schwartz: Rain on way for Philly, expect commute problems tomorrow The NBC10 First Alert Weather Team has issued a "first alert" for Tuesday and Wednesday. Here’s why: 1. Many hours of rain-affecting multiple rush hours 2. The first rain following a dry spell results in more accidents 3. Wet leaves make roads even more slippery... - Philadelphia Inquirer

11-28-2016 Feds: Railroads slow to make progress on train technology PHILADELPHIA — The nation's three busiest commuter railroads — which together serve nearly 1 million riders in the New York City area each day — continue to lag behind their smaller West Coast counterparts in installing sophisticated train-control technology that's seen as an... - AP

11-28-2016 Pa. town that painted blue road line to honor first responders could face 'legal liability': PennDOT While PennDOT has no current plans to take action against Conoy Township for painting a blue line on the road to honor first responders, it has warned that the community could face legal issues in the future. Earlier this month, the township's road crew painted blue stripes between... - Harrisburg Patriot-News

11-27-2016 More bike lanes to bring change for Downtown thoroughfares Making more room for bicyclists in Downtown Pittsburgh will trigger lane adjustments on three thoroughfares next year, including a reduction in street parking along Fort Pitt Boulevard, a city planner said this week. City Council last month approved spending $772,000 to add bike lanes on the... - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

11-27-2016 Airports add surcharges for limousine, taxi, Uber and Lyft rides Ever feel like the taxi ride from the airport costs more than the trip there?.. - AP

11-27-2016 County vehicle fee represents philosophical shift It’s just $5. The proposal for a vehicle registration fee in Luzerne County’s 2017 budget represents an attempt at sharing the tax burden that funds government. It also represents a small philosophical change in the way the county government raises its funds, because it could be the first time since home... - Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice

11-27-2016 Own a car? Here's how you'll pay $36M tab to fix local bridges Vehicle registration fees may be raised $5 to pay for replacing or rehabilitating 33 Northampton County bridges with a type of plan never tried before on its scale in Pennsylvania. Northampton

County Council plans on Thursday, Dec. 1, to consider the registration fee increase -- it's now at $36 -- to help pay for the... - Easton Express-Times

11-27-2016 Rep. Lou Barletta in line to meet Donald Trump; transportation secretary post on agenda? Rep. Lou Barletta, who is rumored to be in line for the post of Transportation secretary under in the incoming Trump Administration, is scheduled to meet with the president-elect on Monday, according to a report in PoliticoPro. Barletta, a Republican from the 11th congressional district, sits on the... - Harrisburg Patriot-News

11-27-2016 Infrastructure projects aren’t jobs programs History has a sly sense of humor. It caused an epiphany regarding infrastructure projects — roads, harbors, airports, etc. — to occur on a bridge over Boston’s Charles River, hard by Harvard Yard, where rarely is heard a discouraging word about government. Last spring, Larry Summers, former treasury secretary and Harvard... - Washington Post

11-23-2016 EPA Finalizes Increase in Renewable Fuel Volumes (Press Release)

11-23-2016 Keep Yourself and Emergency Responders Safe This Holiday Travel Season (Press Release)

11-23-2016 PennDOT's Quarterly Newsletter - November 2016 (Press Release)

11-23-2016 Group sues over lack of info in Alaska Railroad LNG project ANCHORAGE, Alaska — An environmental group filed a lawsuit Monday against the Federal Railroad Administration for failing to disclose the approval process for the Alaska Railroad’s application for rail shipments of highly volatile liquefied natural gas... - AP

11-23-2016 Reg Henry: Getting there in the air is none of the fun The holidays are upon us, so it must be time to visit relatives. Unfortunately, a holiday trip is often not as easy as going across the river and through the wood to grandmother’s house. Grandpa and grandma may have retired to Florida. That is when life becomes difficult. A family visit often requires a plane... - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

11-23-2016 Driverless vehicle makers push back on data sharing, fleet size More test cars on the road, fewer human-enabled controls like steering wheels and brake pedals, and more protections for sensitive industry information are all on the wish list this year for developers working to make vehicles fully autonomous. In comments filed on Tuesday, the Self-Driving Coalition for Safer Streets... - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

11-23-2016 GM's air bag recall delayed DETROIT — U.S. auto safety regulators are allowing General Motors to delay a large recall of potentially defective air bags, giving the company time to prove that the devices are safe and to possibly avoid a huge financial hit... - AP

11-23-2016 Attorneys involved offer insights into $265M Amtrak derailment settlement The plaintiffs’ lawyers representing victims of the deadly May 12, 2015, Amtrak derailment in Philadelphia had more challenges than simply bringing the passenger-railroad service to the bargaining table or arriving at a suitable settlement. There was the sprawling nature of the litigation itself – 64 separate... - Philadelphia Inquirer

11-23-2016 Who should pay for faulty projections of Harrisburg's parking system?

HARRISBURG— Harrisburg's parking system isn't generating the kind of cash that originally was predicted when the city turned over control of its garages and lots in a 2013 debt-reduction deal. That's been clear for more than a year as city and state officials have... - Harrisburg Patriot-News

11-23-2016 Pennsylvania Turnpike faces nearly 3.5M vehicles for holiday HARRISBURG, Pa. The Pennsylvania Turnpike is expecting nearly 3.5 million vehicles to travel the toll road throughout the Thanksgiving holiday... - AP

11-23-2016 Letters to Editor 11/23/2016 License to grouse Editor: It’s time to renew my driver’s license and PennDOT’s license centers use a system that is years out of date. First, they send me a letter and form telling me it’s time to renew. I have to fill out said form and return it with a check. Then, they send me... - Scranton Times

11-23-2016 Uber offers group rides in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre Uber has rolled out a group-ride alternative option for its customers in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre market. The ride-hailing service that uses a mobile app and an army of drivers in their own cars has introduced UberXL, which includes larger SUVs like Ford Explorers and Toyota Highlanders for group rides up to six passengers.... - Scranton Times

11-23-2016 More travelers expected to hit area roads this Thanksgiving One million more Americans will be traveling today and tomorrow to celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends than last year thanks to cheaper gasoline prices, according to the American Automobile Association. Plus, it helps that none of the white stuff is expected for the area and... - Uniontown Herald-Standard

11-23-2016 Editorial: Volunteers key to making Appalachian Trail a success The Issue: Berks County's own Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club celebrates its 100th anniversary. Our Opinion: More people need to step up to help the group continue its valuable work helping to maintain a national treasure. The millions of people who enjoy the Appalachian Trail each year might not realize just... - Reading Eagle

11-23-2016 Roads expected to be busy this Thanksgiving holiday Drivers taking to the road during the Thanksgiving holiday will find themselves joined by many other motorists, as more are expected to hit the highway this year. In the mid-Atlantic region, which includes Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey, AAA is predicting that 5.17 million people will travel by vehicle.... - Washington Observer-Reporter

11-23-2016 Distribution centers pose traffic concerns Larry Lapinski, vice president of NorthPoint Development, talks about the 750,000 square-foot logistics hub his group built at a former Harley-Davidson manufacturing site. Brett Sholtis Winnie Dawson sits for a portrait inside her home, which is located just... - York Daily

11-23-2016 Get a discounted Uber ride Thanksgiving Eve in York Thanksgiving Eve is one of the biggest drinking nights of the year. And this year, Ace Distributing and Brewery Products is doing its part to help ensure everyone who’s drinking also gets home safely. The York beer distributors are partnering with Uber to offer $10 off Uber... - York Daily

11-23-2016 Thanksgiving: One of New Jersey's deadliest holidays TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - State officials say Thanksgiving is one of New Jersey's deadliest holidays on the highways... - AP

11-23-2016 Thanksgiving travel getaway day: The latest

It looks like a perfect day to travel and since it's Thanksgiving, it's another reason to be grateful. The weather today in the Philadelphia area will be sunny with a high near 50 before turning cloudy after dark. About 48.7 million Americans are expected to take a car, plane, bus, or... - Philadelphia Inquirer

11-23-2016 Police: Woman accosted during Uber ride Police are investigating after a woman told authorities an Uber driver made unwanted sexual advances toward her Tuesday night in the North Hills. Police said the woman was picked up in Ross by the Uber driver, who was asked to take her to the Barrel Junction restaurant on Route 8 in Shaler.... - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

11-23-2016 Thanksgiving travel getaway day: The latest It looks like a perfect day to travel and since it's Thanksgiving, it's another reason to be grateful. The weather today in the Philadelphia area will be sunny with a high near 50 before turning cloudy after dark. About 48.7 million Americans are expected to take a car, plane, bus, or... - Philadelphia Inquirer

11-23-2016 California transportation efforts are officially dead for 2016 Speculation over a potential last-minute push on a transportation funding plan ended Tuesday, when Gov. Jerry Brown and legislative leaders declared there would be no lame-duck negotiations this month. The current two-year session of the Legislature officially ends on Nov. 30,... - Los Angeles Times

11-23-2016 Bucks County DUI Task Force planning roving patrols on Thanksgiving Eve Bucks County District Attorney Matthew Weintraub has a clear message for drivers traveling during the Thanksgiving holiday. - Levittown Bucks County Courier Times