- Crane Collapses onto Tappan Zee Bridge. "A Miracle" There Were No Serious Injuries.
- PA Pike Votes to Hike Tolls and Review All Construction Projects
- Virginia Hopes to Lure "Self-Driving Cars" and Their Manufacturers with FASTLANE Grant
- Stretch of Highway 101 in the Bay Area Could See "Pay-to-Play" Express Lanes
- IL Environmental Groups Are Backing Proposed I-80 Toll Bridge
- MPO Eyes TIGER Grant for HOT Lanes in Northern Colorado
- Lake Pontchartrain Causeway's Potential Safety Improvements
- WSDOT Eyes New Toll Math for State Road 99 Tunnel
- How Many Gantries in Rhode Island's Truck Toll Plan?
- MassDOT Announces Electric Charging Stations on Pike Service Plazas
- Governor Christie Is "Very Sad" over Former PANYNJ Chair's Guilty Plea
- DRJTBC Awards Bridge Repair Contract
- MDTA Announces Start of Toll-Funded Bridge Project
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Crane Collapses onto Tappan Zee Bridge. "A Miracle" There Were No Serious Injuries.
The New York Times reports, “A crane collapsed on the Tappan Zee Bridge in the midst of work on the bridge’s replacement on [July 19], injuring [at least four] people and shutting down traffic in both directions. . . .” The report adds, “‘This was nothing short of a miracle,’ Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said . . . citing the lack of serious injuries from the accident.”
Associated Press reports this morning that, “Most of the lanes of the Tappan Zee Bridge north of New York City have reopened after a crane collapsed across the entire width of the bridge, but transportation officials are still advising motorists to plan for extra delays during the Wednesday morning commute.”
New YorkPA Pike Votes to Hike Tolls and Review All Construction Projects
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission voted on July 19 to increase tolls by six percent in 2017 and ordered a review of all proposed construction projects to make sure the agency can afford them. The report adds that Commission Chairman Sean Logan said the toll increase, project review and close scrutiny of all new hires are not indications the agency is in serious financial trouble, but are necessary for the commission to sound the alarm and take steps now before it reaches that point. Click here for the Turnpike’s news release.
Pennsylvania Toll Rate ChangesVirginia Hopes to Lure "Self-Driving Cars" and Their Manufacturers with FASTLANE Grant
The Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg) editorial board looks at the $165 million federal FASTLANE grant to Virginia and focuses on the “plans for installing high-tech pavement on I–95 ‘for autonomous vehicle enhancement.’” The editors note that Governor Terry McAuliffe believes “investing in cutting-edge highway enhancements could bring manufacturers of autonomous car technology and the jobs they provide to Virginia.”
Virginia Washington (DC) Metro RegionStretch of Highway 101 in the Bay Area Could See "Pay-to-Play" Express Lanes
KGO-TV News (San Francisco) reports, “A notoriously congested stretch of Highway 101 in the Bay Area could be getting some relief. Transportation officials are looking into adding a pay-to-play express lane between Interstate 380 near [San Francisco’s airport] and Whipple Avenue in Redwood City.”
CaliforniaIL Environmental Groups Are Backing Proposed I-80 Toll Bridge
Chicago Tribune reports that environmental groups believe the proposed I-80, Houbolt Road P3 toll bridge project “is a key piece in improving the local transportation system, and a cost-effective alternative to the 47-mile Illiana toll road. . . .” However, other voices are still calling for a resumption of the Illiana Corridor project.
IllinoisMPO Eyes TIGER Grant for HOT Lanes in Northern Colorado
KUNC Public Radio (Greeley) reports that representatives of a local MPO will apply for a TIGER grant to obtain the final piece of the approximately $215 million needed to add two new HOT lanes (one in each direction) on I-25 in northern Colorado.
ColoradoLake Pontchartrain Causeway's Potential Safety Improvements
The Times Picayune (New Orleans) reports on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway safety improvements contemplated by the officials who are proposing to pay for them with a toll increase and $103 million in borrowing.
LouisianaWSDOT Eyes New Toll Math for State Road 99 Tunnel
KIRO-TV News (Seattle) reports, “The state is preparing a new study to figure out what you’ll pay to drive the State Route 99 tunnel, and it could be between $1 and $2.50 per trip. If the state settles on that higher number, it will be more expensive than tolls [$1 to $1.25] recommended by an advisory panel two years ago.” Patty Rubstello, WSDOT’s assistant secretary for tolling, tells KIRO the 2014 recommendation was based on outdated modeling using 2006 traffic data, and the department plans to update its models and its data for the new study.
Washington StateHow Many Gantries in Rhode Island's Truck Toll Plan?
Johnston Sun Rise (Johnston, RI) reports that “Chris Maxwell, president of the Rhode Island Trucking Association, claims that [the RhodeWorks truck toll plan] calls for 33 gantries in the state,” rather than the 14 estimated by state officials. A RIDOT spokesman says the number of gantries will be determined through the procurement process. The newspaper adds that FHWA and RIDOT may be close to finalizing a project MOU.
Rhode IslandMassDOT Announces Electric Charging Stations on Pike Service Plazas
Boston Herald reports, “Electric vehicles will soon be able to power up at 50-kilowatt charging stations on the Massachusetts Turnpike. The state Department of Transportation plans to install fast-charging stations at six Mass Pike service plazas by the end of this year.”
MassachusettsGovernor Christie Is "Very Sad" over Former PANYNJ Chair's Guilty Plea
NJ.com reports Governor Chris Christie says he is sad that his friend and former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey chairman David Samson pleaded guilty last week “to using his considerable clout to coerce one of the nation’s largest airlines to accommodate his desire for a regularly scheduled, non-stop flight to his South Carolina summer home.” Pressed by reporters, the governor would make no further comment.
PANYNJDRJTBC Awards Bridge Repair Contract
Lehighvalleylive.com reports that the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission announced the award of a $708,707 contract for Riverton-Belvidere bridge repairs to Road-Con Inc.
PennsylvaniaMDTA Announces Start of Toll-Funded Bridge Project
WTOP-FM News (Washington) reports that construction has started on a multi-year, $48.5 million project to replace the bridge deck and superstructure of the bridge that carries I-895 over the Patapsco River Flats near Baltimore. The project is funded entirely by toll revenue. For more, see MDTA’s news release.
Maryland Washington (DC) Metro Region