- Editorial: Pennsylvania Open-Road Tolling Is “A Step Toward Sanity”
- Mark Gillett Retires As Wyoming Chief Engineer
- North Texas Highway Crews Prepare Response To Dreaded “Wintry Mix”
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Editorial: Pennsylvania Open-Road Tolling Is “A Step Toward Sanity”
In a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette editorial, the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s ongoing conversion to fully electronic, open-road tolling is held up as one important step for the turnpike commission (PTC), which is just starting to climb out of a debt burden traced to the state legislature’s passage of Act 44 in 2007. “For 15 years, the PTC was forced to shell out $450 million a year for other transit priorities, which led to huge annual toll increases, deferred maintenance on Turnpike roadways, and the delay of expansion projects.” That mandated payout has since been reduced to $50 million.
Open road tolling, expected to reach western Pennsylvania by 2027, will allow for new collection points while also easing congestion for drivers. However, the editorial board cautions, higher-than-inflation rate increases likely will be needed for years to come as the agency retires debt. The editorial board notes that a 2022 audit found PTC held $13.2 billion in debt — more than the state government itself.
Along the way, the editors say, PTC will need to be vigilant in its efforts to minimize leakage. “Toll-by-plate systems must become more efficient, especially as the PTC continues to ask for more from toll-payers.”
AET (All-Electronic Tolling) Company and Agency Financial Issues And Reports Open-Road Tolling Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC)Mark Gillett Retires As Wyoming Chief Engineer
Wyoming DOT announced the retirement of its chief engineer, Mark Gillett. Mr. Gillett started his career at WYDOT in 1980, immediately after graduation from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. He held increasingly responsible engineering posts before being appointed chief engineer in 2020.
Gillett was responsible for overseeing transportation planning, highway design, and operations statewide, including highway construction, winter maintenance, highway safety, highway and bridge design, and equipment and building maintenance.
WYDOT executives will work with the state transportation commission on selection of a new engineering chief.
Appointments-Promotions-Retirements Wyoming Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT)North Texas Highway Crews Prepare Response To Dreaded “Wintry Mix”
As an unpredictable mix of wintry weather bears down on the region, North Texas Tollway Authority and TxDOT crews have been spraying highways with a briny solution to help cut down on potential ice accumulation, NBC News Dallas-Fort Worth reports. “‘That’s going to help us get a little bit of advantage over the ice once it starts happening, but we do want to remind drivers it’s not a cure all,’ said Kenna Mitchell, spokesperson for TxDOT’s Dallas district.”
NTTA spokesperson Michael Rey also stressed that drivers need to watch their speeds, no matter how much the agency responds to poor driving conditions. “We’ll prepare for a slow speed environment but there’s only so much we can do in this type of weather,” Rey stated.
Dallas-Ft. Worth Metro Region (DFW) Highway-Tunnel-Bridge Maintenance Highway-Tunnel-Bridge Safety (Includes COVID-19 Impacts) North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) Texas Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)