Latest news with #PennsylvaniaTurnpikeCommission
CBS News
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
Stretch of Coal Valley Road in Jefferson Hills to close for the next two months
A section of Coal Valley Road in the Mon Valley is going to be closed for the next two months as work continues on the Mon/Fayette Expressway project. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission says Coal Valley Road will be closed between Rt. 885 in Jefferson Hills Borough and Rt. 837 in Clairton for approximately two months. A map shows the stretch of Coal Valley Road that will be closed between Rt. 885 in Jefferson Hills and Rt. 837 in Clairton for the next two months. KDKA The 1.7 mile stretch of road is being closed so that crews can rebuilding the road around the bridges for the new stretch of the Mon/Fayette Expressway. Coal Valley Road has been closed a number of times in recent months as crews have been working on the new part of the expressway that will eventually connect Pennsylvania 43 to Interstate 376 in Monroeville. The Turnpike Commission says a detour around the closure will stretch four miles and will direct drivers along Rt. 885 and Walnut Avenue through Clairton to get back onto Rt. 837 near the Clairton-Glassport Bridge. "Depending on weather conditions, Coal Valley Road should be reopened in early August," the Turnpike Commission said.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania Turnpike launches ‘Turnpike TV'
(WHTM)– The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission today launched its new video series, 'Turnpike TV.' According to the PA Turnpike, the new video series will provide Pennsylvania drivers with information about infrastructure projects and safety improvement efforts statewide. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now The PA Turnpike said the new resource will cover environmental initiatives, infrastructure improvements, and other frequently asked questions. 'The Turnpike is a vital part of Pennsylvania's transportation network, and we know our customers and communities have questions about how we operate,' said PA Turnpike CEO Mark Compton. ''Turnpike TV' provides straightforward answers to help foster positive relationships with the communities we support.' Some of the new videos will feature topics like 'Being a Good Neighbor,' Right of Way, Noise Walls, capital plan, general construction, new access and expansion, bridges, and more, per the PA Turnpike. 'We recognize that infrastructure projects impact residents, businesses and travelers,' said PA Turnpike Chief Engineer Brad Heigel. 'Many of the decisions we make – about construction timelines, bridge repairs, or noise mitigation – are rooted in extensive planning and community feedback. 'Turnpike TV' allows us to share these insights in a way that's easy to understand.' Turnpike TV can be watched on the PA Turnpike website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
PennDOT, PA Turnpike, construction industry highlight work zone safety
Apr. 26—WILKES-BARRE — The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and the Pennsylvania State Police this week hosted an event urging motorists to slow down and pay attention in work zones. Gov. Josh Shapiro proclaimed April 21-25 "National Work Zone Awareness Week" as part of his administration's mission to provide a safe transportation system for all Pennsylvanians. The theme of this year's observance is — "Respect the zone so we all get home." Many precautions are taken in work zones to keep workers safe, including proper training and routine safety inspections for workers, enhanced signing and information for motorists and the use of positive protective equipment like crash trucks, barriers and rumble strips. Drivers also play a role in keeping workers, themselves and other motorists safe while traveling through work zones. "PennDOT implements many safety measures in our work zones, but we need drivers to work with us to ensure work zones are safe for everyone," said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. "Make the safe choice to always follow the posted speed limit and never drive distracted, especially in work zones where conditions can change every day." According to PennDOT data, in 2024 there were 1,250 work zone crashes, resulting in 22 fatalities. Some of the most frequent contributing factors in fatal work zone crashes were driving too fast for conditions, careless passing or lane change, and tailgating. "Safety drives everything we do at the Pennsylvania Turnpike — especially during construction projects," said PA Turnpike CEO Mark Compton. "While construction may cause a temporary inconvenience for drivers, these improvements bring long-term benefits for all who use our roadway." "Engaging in dangerous driving behaviors can have deadly consequences, so please remember to slow down, stay alert, and drive responsibly," said PSP Commissioner Colonel Christopher Paris. "National Work Zone Awareness Week is a powerful reminder that every work zone is occupied by real people — fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, friends and neighbors — working hard to keep Pennsylvania moving forward," said Scott L. Rocuskie, president of Construction for New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co. Inc., who is also a board member for Associated Pennsylvania Constructors. As part of the event, PennDOT District 8 officials highlighted more than 62 road and bridge projects expected to be bid this year in the eight-county south-central Pennsylvania region, reflecting an estimated investment of $402 million. For information on the 2025 construction season and for a list of notable projects that are expected to begin or continue this year, visit "These construction projects mean improved roads and bridges, but it can also mean hazards for roadway workers," Carroll said. "Please slow down and pay attention. These men and women deserve to get home safely." Department of Aging to increase transparency The Pennsylvania Department of Aging this week delivered on yet another promise to increase public transparency and accountability of the Area Agency on Aging network — which provides a host of services to older Pennsylvanians in their communities. The Department began publicly posting performance results on its website for the first batch of AAAs to be monitored under the agency's new Comprehensive Agency Performance Evaluation, or CAPE — an innovative tool designed to boost transparency and accountability of Pennsylvania's 52 AAAs. This new initiative transforms the Department's prior monitoring approach into a more holistic philosophy, where each AAA is evaluated for different performance metrics during a singular monitoring review. "We're sharing the first results of CAPE, the first major overhaul and upgrade of the Department's monitoring system in decades," said Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich. "In less than two years, we have developed, tested and launched a system that enables us to monitor AAA performance consistently and accurately — and make those results easily available to the public." Performance evaluations include things like: —Older Adult Protective Services (documentation requirements, data management, administrative oversight, risk mitigation and safety and investigative activities). —OPTIONS, which provides help with tasks of daily living, and the Caregiver Support Program (documentation requirements, data management, administrative oversight, care management, program eligibility and policy and fiscal operations). Multiple performance measures feed into each category score. Results of CAPE will be routinely posted to the Department's website, with clearly defined, simple key categories for each AAA. Last month, the Department of Aging unveiled details of the new monitoring system to the legislature in a public hearing. The Pennsylvania Department of Aging works with a network of 52 AAAs covering Pennsylvania's 67 counties to deliver services to older adults that help them stay healthy, safe and able to continue thriving in their homes of choice as they age. The Department disburses millions of dollars annually to AAAs to fund these services, and one of the Department's most important responsibilities is to monitor the performance of each AAA to make sure they are meeting performance standards. AG Sunday leads bipartisan coalition for veterans, older adults Attorney General Dave Sunday this week co-led a letter to Congress — joined by 39 other Attorneys General — urging to keep in place critical funding for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), which aids vulnerable residents who need civil representation. LSC's network of legal aid organizations assists veterans in securing benefits they are entitled to, enables domestic violence survivors access to safety resources and protects older adults from scams and financial exploitation. LSC services are particularly beneficial to people and families living in rural populations — such as Sullivan, Potter, Forest and Tioga counties — where attorney shortages are more likely to exist. There are 77 legal aid offices in Pennsylvania funded by LSC. "Everyone should have access to legal representation to maintain safe and stable housing, rightful benefits that keep them healthy, and protection against violence and scams," Sunday said. "As a co-leader of this letter, I commend my colleagues who are adamantly telling Congress that the Legal Services Corporation must keep necessary funding to provide these basic rights to under-served communities." The letter is addressed to the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees and the House and Senate Subcommittees on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies. LSC operates a network of 130 independent legal aid organizations in over 900 offices in 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories, assisting millions of Americans in every congressional district with legal needs Attorneys General have a long history of supporting federal funding for LSC. With Congressional leaders debating potential budget cuts, the bipartisan group of attorneys general are joining forces to urge leaders from both parties to prioritize funding for LSC, calling the organization a good steward of taxpayer dollars. The letter also notes the corporation distributes 95% of its funding directly to the legal aid organizations providing services to Americans. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
CBS News
19-04-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
Pa. Turnpike Commission expects more than 2 million travelers to hit the road this weekend
It's Easter Weekend, and that means many people have plans to hit the road and spend time with family and loved ones. According to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, they're expecting nearly 2.2 million people to use the Turnpike this weekend. Relatively speaking, Saturday will be the lull period, if you will, for Pennsylvania Turnpike travel, meaning it is supposed to be the day with the fewest travelers. The Pa. Turnpike Commission's projections have 480,000 travelers using the road on Saturday, which is down from the peak of Friday, 610,000. The bulk of travelers used Good Friday as their getaway day. On Saturday, the number increases by 20,000 to 500,000 travelers. As many people will return home from their destinations on Monday, the number will once again go up, this time to nearly 600,000 travelers. In all, that's a total of nearly 2.2 million people traveling on the turnpike this holiday weekend. These projections, overall, are about 1.5% higher than last year's Easter Weekend. Now, if you've got to fill up before hitting the road, just know it's going to cost you. According to AAA, the current average is $3.62/gallon in the Pittsburgh region. That's compared to the state average of $3.35/gallon. In West Virginia, it's $3.06, and in Ohio, it's $3.09. One last thing to note - right now, all turnpike construction work is suspended through Monday night at 11 p.m. in an effort to keep as many lanes open as possible. There will also be heightened patrols to make sure that drivers are driving safely.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Yahoo
State Police release results of ‘Orange Squeeze'
(WHTM) — The Pennsylvania State Police have released the results of their 'Orange Squeeze' traffic detail in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. It was part of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month and allowed troopers to monitor work zones from construction vehicles to catch violations. The Troop T Eastern Section conducted 'Orange Squeeze' on Wednesday in their eastern section. In that, they filed 116 citations and 47 warnings. One person was arrested for DUI with drug possession. Download the abc27 News+ app on your Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Apple TV devices Officials said the initiative is critical, as 176 crashes occurred in active Turnpike work zones last year, resulting in two deaths and 48 injuries. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
