Latest news with #PennDOT
Axios
19 hours ago
- Business
- Axios
What we know about the future of Philly's Chinatown Stitch project
Will the Chinatown Stitch project get its federal funding? No one can seem to piece it together. Why it matters: A traffic jam of conflicting voices is creating confusion about whether Philly will ever see the nearly $159 million it was promised to cap the Vine Street Expressway. Catch up quick: Congress recently passed President Trump's " big, beautiful bill," which, among other things, clawed back funding for projects through the federal government's Neighborhood Access and Equity Program. That's the program that awarded the Chinatown Stitch project a roughly $159 million grant last year to fund its final design and construction. Then, Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) told the Inquirer last week the Trump administration would release more than $1 billion in federal grants for dozens of infrastructure projects across the Commonwealth approved under the Biden administration. Yes, but: The Chinatown Stitch project isn't among the projects on the list of grants Fetterman's office provided to Axios. Fetterman's spokesperson didn't immediately respond to Axios' request for clarity on Chinatown Stitch's future. What they're saying:"Everybody's confused," Philadelphia Councilmember Mark Squilla tells Axios. Some state officials expressed optimism that the funding is coming. PennDOT is awaiting "official word" from the Federal Highway Administration, spokesperson Krys Johnson tells Axios, though the agency is "encouraged" by signs that long-promised funding is finally moving. Philly's Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems, meanwhile, says it hasn't received any new guidance from the feds, spokesperson Matt Cassidy tells Axios. The other side: Squilla doesn't believe the newly released funding applies to the project, and U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle is skeptical. "I will continue to demand answers from the Trump administration on the status of this grant," Boyle says. What we're watching: Despite no assurances, the city and its project partners are moving forward with planning, Squilla says. PennDOT had previously told Axios it committed $10.2 million in initial federal funding to the project's initial study and preliminary design. What's ahead: Over the coming months, the project team will refine designs for the highway park cap and Vine Street traffic lanes, Cassidy says. Plus: A business plan for the park.
Axios
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Axios
Pennsylvania's latest banned license plate list is a riot
Pennsylvania, U-FNNY-AF. Why it matters: Call us vainglorious, but Pennsylvanians are getting more creative withnew, crass catchphrases to put on our vanity plates. The big picture: The state's most recent banned plate list has grown to more than 4,500 entries, up from roughly 2,000 in 2023. Entries reflect political machinations, historic and pop cultural events and a taste for the tawdry. And it all comes as state lawmakers are considering a proposal requiring drivers to have two license plates on their vehicles. How it works: Rules, rules, rules. The state has a whole list of them, but basically you can't include sexual innuendo, profanity, scat references (grow up, everyone) or things that'll confuse law enforcement or make you seem like you're a cop. Axios Philly went line-by-line through the list to better understand what the state deems clever or canceled. Here are some of the rejected submissions that caught our eye: POTUS47, F-ELON, EF ELON: One Pennsylvanian's political tribute is another's insult. Bonus irony points if this had ended up on a Tesla. The drawback: It's very easy to read it as "FELON." NOMAMES: A Spanish slang term to express surprise ... and something you mutter under your breath when the PennDOT clerk tells you that you can't put it on your plate. LFGENZ: OK, boomer! EDGING: Yep, someone went there. We're edging toward a very, very dark place in Pennsylvania license plate history. FAFO: Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner's go-to catchphrase ended up on T-shirts, but PennDOT was like "FAFO" when someone tried replicating the cringeworthy meme on a plate. FITFO: Apparently, this stands for "Figure it the f--k out." We just did. FLUFF-U: It's where you go to get a bachelor of science (BS). FWAGON: Keep your mind out of the G-utter, folks. Clearly, this is a typo — F and G are right next to each other on the keyboard — from someone chest-pounding about their new Mercedes Benz G-Class. UZAHO: AKA E-ZPass' licentious cousin. Get it, or is that too subtle? GOVNA: That's Mr. Shapiro to you, bloke. PENNDOT: If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.
CBS News
23-07-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Two PennDOT projects could slow down travel for fans going home from Steelers training camp
As the Pittsburgh Steelers are reporting to training camp today and as the first open practice is held tomorrow, a couple of PennDOT projects could slow down the ride home for fans in attendance at Saint Vincent College. There are two projects going on that will primarily impact the ride home after a fun day at Camp Tomlin. Seasoned Steelers fans know the joys of what traveling along Rt. 30 in Westmoreland County can bring, but this year, it'll be smooth sailing on the way to camp. However, your travel towards Ligonier will be challenging at the end of the day. "If you're leaving training camp and you're heading to the east, you can expect single lane closures in that area," said PennDOT District 12 Assistant Executive Bill Beaumariage. The impacted area is located along the bridge over the Loyalhanna Creek and is down to a single lane in each direction for bridge reconstruction. When camp wraps up around 5 p.m. and you head west towards Greensburg and onto the Pennsylvania Turnpike, expect to see tree trimming crews closing a lane of Rt. 30 between PA-66 and the Turnpike. "That will start at 5 p.m. to 7 a.m., so if you're leaving training camp late, or you're stopping for dinner and you're heading to or from the Turnpike, you might see or might expect some delays in that area," Beaumariage said. The good news this year is that if you're using Rt. 22 and Rt. 981 through Latrobe to get to or from Saint Vincent, the work you encountered last year is gone and that's a construction-free route. For fans going to Saint Vincent on Thursday, the campus opens for parking at 11:45 a.m., the gates open at Noon, and practice starts just before 2:00 p.m.
CBS News
21-07-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
Long-term paving project getting underway today in Westmoreland County
A long-term paving project is getting underway today in several parts of Westmoreland County, including a busy stretch of Rt. 30 in North Huntingdon Township. The project will impact five state roads throughout the county in total. The resurfacing work will be taking place along Route 30 in North Huntingdon Township and Unity Township, Clopper Street in Greensburg, Pittsburgh Street in East Huntingdon Township, Youghiogheny Street in Adamsburg, and Hancock Avenue in Allegheny Township. All of the routes will see single-lane, alternating traffic and the work is expected to take place on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The work is expected to continue until October. Flaggers will be in the area to guide people around the work, which PennDOT says is part of an $11.3 million project.
CBS News
18-07-2025
- CBS News
Leaders move to clear homeless encampment under 31st Street Bridge while trying to keep another from springing up
PennDOT on Monday will be decommissioning a new encampment under the 31st Street Bridge. The decommissioning comes with offers of help, but it also comes with a new resolve to prevent their return. Responding to complaints from homeowners on Washington's Landing of drug activity and aggressive panhandling above Route 28, PennDOT removed that encampment, but those living there have simply relocated to a spot under the 31st Street Bridge. "They congregate under the bridge, they sleep under the bridge, there's obviously activities happening under that bridge that frankly nobody would want 50 yards from their home," said Gerry Delon of Washington's Landing. "Unfortunately, as I think, what you see now has become evident, is it's a problem that does tend to migrate from place to place," Delon added. PennDOT is also moving again, posting signs warning those living there to vacate by Monday, at which time a hired contractor will clear the encampment and trash any tents and debris that remain. In recent days, outreach workers from the county have been on site providing alternatives. The decommissioning of the encampment comes with offers of help for both shelter and treatment, but the city, county, and in this case, the state, want to be clear: they don't want a new encampment springing up, and they will move quickly to remove another. After years of encampments lining the city's riverfronts, the city and county have moved aggressively in the past several months to decommission one on the Three Rivers Heritage Trail on the Allegheny, a sprawling encampment on the Eliza Furnace Trail behind the county jail and most recently, the removal of an entrenched encampment along the Mon on the South Side. Not wanting to see their return, the city has posted the trails and its parks, stating that its no camping ordinances will be strictly enforced, and Allegheny County Human Services Director Erin Dalton recently said the county would reach out to anyone who pitches a tent. "There will always be probably some people staying outside. But we will come to where they are. We're not giving up in offering housing to people," Dalton said.
