Brady PieperThe Pennsylvania State Transportation Committee (STC) has adopted an $88 billion plan that focuses on renovating, rebuilding and adding to transportation infrastructure throughout the state.
The 12-year plan (TYP) will fund improvements to roads, bridges, transportation systems, airports, locomotives and active networks. The 2025 TYP, which will address all forms of ground, air and rail transportation and infrastructure, calls for a 5% increase in overall spending compared with the 2023 TYP cycle.
The TYP is Pennsylvania’s official mid-range planning tool for infrastructure and transportation projects. Every two years, several rural planning organizations, metropolitan planning organizations and independent counties partner with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to review and update the TYP.
The Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Transit Administration must approve the TYP. If approved, the initiatives outlined in the plan will be finalized and enacted at the beginning of the federal fiscal year – Oct. 1.
In the past two years, initiatives from the 2023 TYP sought to modernize Pennsylvania’s train stations and develop strategies to improve safety and efficiency.
Over the next 12 years, the $88 billion allocated in the TYP will be divided among five categories:
- $47.6 billion to highway and bridge projects (54.1%).
- $38.2 billion to public transportation (43.4%).
- $1.07 billion to multimodal projects (1.2%).
- $709 million to rail freight (0.8%).
- $457 million to aviation (0.2%).
The State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) outlines funding allocations through the first four years of the TYP. Created by combining 24 regional transportation improvement programs (TIPs) and two statewide TIPs, STIP will use $29.6 billion in federal, state and local funds for projects and initiatives through 2028.
The recently adopted STIP includes $16.4 billion for state highway and bridge projects. The fifth largest state by population, Pennsylvania maintains nearly 120,000 miles in state, municipal and county roads. Projects that have received funds in the past include $400,000 to a bridge extension replacement project on the 34th Street bridge in Philadelphia and $3.44 million for repaving and microsurfacing Interstate 279 outside of Pittsburgh.
Another $12.5 billion will be distributed to public transit projects, including over $20 million to more cost-effective public transportation reserves.
Multimodal transportation projects that improve access to travel options will receive $352 million, including $7.6 million for projects to repair and reconstruct ADA ramps in Delaware and Chester counties. Those projects support PennDOT’s 2019 Active Transportation Plan and its commitment to providing accessible travel options.
In line with PennDOT’s Advancing PA Rail initiative, rail freight will receive $236 million to maintain and innovate its current infrastructure and processes. Pennsylvania’s 5,900 miles of freight railroad lines are a major part of the state’s import and export network. Rail lines running through cities are seeing increased safety measures with new railroad crossing signs and lights. One project in Delaware county will receive $7.3 million to implement new railroad crossings at unsafe car-locomotive intersections.
Aviation is set to receive $175 million, including funds for projects related to electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircrafts, uncrewed aerial systems and the safe integration of new technologies into the National Airspace System.
Photo by John Marino
