Thursday, February 19, 2015

PennDOT Releases Performance Report

PennDOT today announced that Pennsylvanians can view ratings of the state’s efforts in transportation safety, mobility, system preservation and accountability in the updated Transportation Performance Report.


The report, viewable at www.TalkPATransportation.com, is a combined effort of the State Transportation Commission (STC), the State Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) and PennDOT. The report reviews the system’s status, performance within current resources, and opportunities for progress.

“This report shows that additional resources are allowing us to improve the state of our transportation system, making it safer and improving mobility,” Acting PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards said. “I encourage Pennsylvanians to review the report to see how we’re working for them and understand the challenges and opportunities we face.”

The report rated most highway safety focus areas and travel information as well as resource sharing, innovation and cost-savings initiatives as “good” and improving.

The report also noted that most preservation categories – including state bridge, pavement, rail and transit conditions – are rated as “adequate” but are improving in part due to resources made available through Act 89 of 2013.

The categories of local bridges and pavement conditions are the only categories receiving a “low” performance rating, an improvement from 2013 when the first performance report also labeled capacity enhancements and transit infrastructure with this rating.

While the passage of Act 89 has allowed the state to begin addressing its transportation challenges, the report notes that uncertainties in federal funding create doubts for the future because a loss of federal funding would undercut Act 89’s benefits.

The report will continue to be updated every two years. The 15-member STC includes the Transportation Secretary, 10 private citizens appointed by the governor, and the majority and minority chairs of the state Senate and House Transportation Committees. The TAC is a 30-member body that assists the state Transportation Secretary and STC.