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PA Turnpike Fiber Optic Upgrade May Also Help Eliminate State’s “Broadband Deserts”

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Technical.ly explains how the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s (PTC’s) major investment in a nearly complete fiber optic network installation project will make the agency’s tolling operations faster and more economical — and in the process, possibly expand the deployment of broadband resources to underserved communities around the state. The network “can be described as ‘middle mile connectivity,’ meaning that while it isn’t providing broadband infrastructure directly to individual households, it does expand the infrastructure that service providers need to bring internet access to those communities. . . .”

The article also mentions PTC’s participation in the Smart Belt Coalition, “a collaborative of transportation agencies and research institutions across Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The goal of the partnership is to share knowledge about transportation technology, including the fiber optic network.”

Trump Nominates Former USDOT General Counsel For Department’s Second-Highest Post

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Smart Cities Dive reports, on Wednesday, President Trump nominated Steven Bradbury, a lawyer, for the post of USDOT deputy secretary.

Bradbury served as USDOT general counsel — and intermittently performed the duties of deputy secretary — during the first Trump administration. He was acting secretary of transportation for a brief time after Elaine Chao resigned in protest over the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. During the George W. Bush administration, Bradbury held executive positions in the Department of Justice. He clerked for US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

The nominee is currently a “distinguished fellow” at the conservative Heritage Foundation and, according to the article, a critic of Biden administration policies on electric vehicles and vehicle  emissions standards.

“Mass Transit” Magazine reports on what Trump and Bradbury are saying about the nomination and on Bradbury’s professional career. (The brief article suggests he had no transportation system experience prior to his three years as USDOT’s chief lawyer.)

In 2017, Bradbury’s nomination as general counsel barely achieved the Senate votes necessary for confirmation. As POLITICO reported at the time, he was a controversial choice because of his role in Justice Department legal review of interrogation techniques used in terrorism investigations. In a social media post explaining his vote against Bradbury, Kentucky Republican Rand Paul stated, “you shouldn’t get to author memos on torturing people & then get another government job.”

SRTA’s Launch Of Peach Pass Website And App Upgrades Starts Tomorrow

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WSB-TV reports, Georgia’s State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) announced that the delayed launch of updated versions of the MyPeachPass.com website and Peach Pass GO! mobile app are now scheduled for January 30.

Facilitating the upgrades involves a migration of Peach Pass back-office-system account data, which means some  service interruptions will be necessary from tomorrow, January 24, through Wednesday, January 29. On those days, the website, mobile app, Peach Pass Airport parking, and SRTA phone system services will be temporarily interrupted. “All Peach Pass digital platforms will be inaccessible. The Peach Pass Customer Service Center and retail locations will also be closed,” according to SRTA. (Additional information about the transition and the updated resources can be found on the current website.)

SRTA initially contemplated a December launch but postponed the process to avoid a conflict with year-end holidays. The upgrades will introduce digital enhancements and user benefits, such as improved navigation and design, and easier access to account management tools and customer support.

Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Issues Toll Invoice Printing And Mailing RFP

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The Port of Hood River, Oregon, has issued an RFP inviting qualified vendors to submit proposals for toll invoice printing and mailing services. The RFP follows the port’s decision to implement cashless tolling of the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge on April 1, 2025.

The selected contractor will be responsible for timely and accurate printing, processing, and mailing of toll system invoices issued to motorists through the BreezeBy toll system. The port estimates a weekly output of 10,000 to 20,000 invoices per week, depending on the season. Volume is highest from May to September.

Proposals must be submitted by the afternoon of February 7, 2025. The port will not hold a pre-submission conference. Inquiries about the RFP should be addressed to Debbie Smith-Wagar, Finance Director, at 541-386-1645 or dsmith-wagar@portofhoodriver.com.

Indiana Toll Road Operator Plans Construction Season Improvement Project

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Inside INdiana Business reports on a forthcoming Indiana Toll Road Concession Company improvement project. From March through November, crews will repave about 34 miles of roadway and carry out safety upgrades, toll barrier improvements, and plaza beautifications along the corridor, one interchange and 26 bridges included. “Once the project is completed, ITR Concession Co. will have reconstructed 94% of the pavement and invested more than $1 billion in infrastructure upgrades on the Indiana Toll Road since 2016, the company said.”