Welcome to the 2023 Pennsylvania
Transportation Performance Report

Note: The Transportation Performance Report is best viewed on a desktop in Chrome, Firefox, and Edge browsers.

About

Pennsylvania by the Numbers
(as of Aug. 2022)

...

$11.5 Billion

Annual Budget


...

40,000

Miles of Roadway

...

25,400

Bridges

...

51

Transit Systems

...

65

Operating Railroads


...

10.1 Million

Licensed Drivers & ID Holders

...

12.1 Million

Registered Vehicles

...

$2.84 Billion

Annual Construction Contracts Bid in 2022

...

11,579 Employees

7,095 Maintenance Employees

...

3

Ports

...

121

Public Use Airports

...

102.7 Billion

Annual Vehicle Miles Traveled*

*Total miles on all PA roadways.

The Transportation Planning Process

Planning

Sets Direction
  1. Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) 20-Year Plan (Updated every 6-10 years)
    1. Where do we want to go?
      • Goals
      • Objectives
      • Measures
    1. How are we going to get there?
      • Implementation Strategies
      • Policies
      • Priorities
      • Functional Plans
      • MPO/RPO LRTPs

Programming

Prioritizes Projects
  1. 12-Year Program (TYP)
    1. How can we best use available funding?
      • Lists funded projects for a 12-year period
      • First four-year period is the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)
      • STIP complies MPO/RPO Transportation Improvement Programs (TIP)

Performance

Measures Progress
  1. Transportation Performance Report (TPR)
    (Updated in odd-numbered years)
    1. How did we do?
      • Monitor
      • Report
      • Evaluate
    1. Where do measures come from?
      • State and Federal Requirements
    1. What do we measure?
      • Safety
      • Mobility
      • Accountability
      • Funding
      • Preservation
      • Freight

Navigating Our Performance and Trends

Performance measures are organized into six categories: Safety, Mobility, Preservation, Accountability, Funding, and Freight. Click each performance measure to view details and explore the interactive charts. The table below explains the ratings icons.

Key Graphic with Color indicator illustrating Green is good, Yellow is marginal performance; red is poor performance. Text Trends indicate Improving, Steady or Declining.


Safety

Safety

Reducing Fatalities and Injuries

PennDOT takes a multi-faceted approach to improve safety statewide through initiatives like safety campaigns, behavioral programs, and infrastructure improvements. Since the pandemic, Pennsylvania has experienced an overall rise in roadway fatalities. The COVID-19 pandemic greatly impacted how typical road users traveled in 2020-2021 and may continue influencing trends in the future.

Charting the Course for Highway Safety

The 2022 Strategic Highway Safety Plan details the Commonwealth's blueprint to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes through 2027. The plan targets Priority Emphasis Areas and Safety Focus Areas that have the most influence on improving highway safety statewide.

Crash fatalities are increasing

Pennsylvania recorded 1,230 roadway crash fatalities in 2021, the highest total in nine years. Annual crash fatality totals have been rising since the record-breaking year of 2019, when an all-time low of 1,059 was recorded. The two consecutive years of increased roadway crash fatalities are the first since 2002.

Automated speed enforcement

The Pennsylvania legislature amended the state's Vehicle Code through Act 86 of 2018, which introduced automated speed enforcement in Pennsylvania's work zones and on a portion of Roosevelt Boulevard in the City of Philadelphia through a 5-year pilot program. The state Transportation Advisory Committee evaluated the Roosevelt Boulevard pilot in 2022 and recommended the program's continuation and statewide expansion after the law's December 2023 sunset.

Safety Measures

Number of Roadway Fatalities Keystone Icon

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Operations

Number of Roadway Fatalities

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Operations

Number of Roadway Fatalities


  • The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported a surge in traffic fatalities nationally that started in 2020 as the pandemic began. The spike in deaths has been attributed to less congestion amid changed driving patterns, which has allowed more dangerous speeds.
  • The increase in traffic fatalities is a reflection of an uptick in reckless behavior, such as driving impaired or without wearing a seat belt. (Although the number of “unrestrained fatalities” reached an all-time low of 330 in 2019, Pennsylvania has since recorded year-over-year increases, with 378 such fatalities in 2021.)
  • In 2021, Pennsylvania fell short of meeting its performance measure target (1,113) for roadway fatalities, and the 1,230 fatal crashes recorded represented a nearly 9 percent increase from the year before.
  • PennDOT has continued to promote a diversified safety program encompassing infrastructure improvements, education and outreach, and support for enforcement activities.
  • The public can access commonly requested crash and fatality information and create their own custom searches with the Pennsylvania Crash Information Tool

[New] DUI FatalitiesKeystone Icon

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Operations

DUI Fatalities

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Operations

DUI Fatalities


  • After recording an all-time low of 420 DUI fatalities in 2017, there were 450 such fatalities in the state in 2021.
  • Impaired driving consists of a driver under the effect of alcohol, drugs, medication, or any combination of those. Impaired driving has been a contributing factor for 30 percent of the statewide fatalities over the past five years, making this one of Pennsylvania's priority emphasis areas.
  • There has been a consistent focus on alcohol impairment along with many measures to increase high visibility enforcement and driver accountability.
  • An issue on the rise is driver impairment due to illegal or prescription drugs. This trend will be a key area of focus for PennDOT in upcoming years.
  • Act 59 of 2022 – referred to as “Deana's Law” – adds more stringent penalties for repeat DUI offenses.

[New] Vulnerable Road User FatalitiesKeystone Icon

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Operations

Vulnerable Road User Fatalities

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Operations

Vulnerable Road User Fatalities


  • Pedestrians are one of the most vulnerable groups of roadway users. One out of eight highway fatalities involve a pedestrian, making this one of Pennsylvania’s priority emphasis areas. To address this situation, PennDOT aims to provide safe, reliable, cost-effective, and convenient facilities.
  • PennDOT’s emphasis on bicyclist safety ensures that it is predictable, consistent, and blends safely with other highway users. Another component is ensuring that motorists and bicyclists understand the rules of the road. The attention begins with elementary school children, teaching the basics of bicycling and the importance of wearing helmets. It continues with instructional publications and website information for teens and adults.
  • Pennsylvania registered 24 bicyclist fatalities in 2021, the highest number in many years. There were 182 pedestrian fatalities statewide in 2021, representing a three-year high.
  • PennDOT is developing implementation actions to support of the goals outlined in its new Active Transportation Plan.
  • PennDOT is updating its Traffic Engineering Manual (Publication 46) and Design Manual (Publication 13) to refine and enhance the sections pertaining to bicycle and pedestrian facility design.
  • Pennsylvania was one of three states to receive grant funding from the National Road Safety Foundation (NRSF) to conduct a Youth Active Transportation Safety Pilot.

Work Zone CrashesKeystone Icon

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Operations

Fatalities in Work Zone Crashes

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Operations

Fatalities in Work Zone Crashes


  • To effectively improve safety in work zones, the safety needs of our road users, highway workers, and communities must be considered. Traffic patterns are constantly changing during road work, which requires additional focus on the part of motorists. Additionally, workers are often present, which magnifies the potential of a fatal or serious injury crash.
  • For the decade ending 2021, Pennsylvania has averaged 19 work zone fatalities annually.
  • The annual number of work zone crashes has been halved over the past 20 years. Work zone crashes have been an emphasized safety focus area in PennDOT's Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) since 2006.
  • The Pennsylvania General Assembly enacted a law in 2018 allowing an Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement (AWZSE) program in the Commonwealth. The program was named one of the top 12 projects in America's Transportation Awards competition.
  • PennDOT administers the AWZSE program collaboratively with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.

Motorcyclist FatalitiesKeystone Icon

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Operations

Motorcyclist Fatalities

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Operations

Motorcyclist Fatalities


  • Total motorcyclist fatalities have surged since the COVID-19 pandemic. After reaching a two-decade low of 164 in 2018, fatalities increased dramatically to 226 in 2021 – the highest number in 13 years.
  • PennDOT continues to provide education and training to support and encourage motorcycle safety.
  • Motorcycles have been involved in 16 percent of the total fatalities in Pennsylvania. Key factors contributing to motorcycle fatalities include impaired riding, lack of helmet use, lack of training, and aggressive riding. Motorcycle safety remains an area of great concern in Pennsylvania.
  • Motorcycle Safety Training is available across Pennsylvania for individuals interested in taking a motorcycle safety course through the Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program. Find more information on PennDOT's Motorcycle Safety Program webpage.

[NEW] Lane Departure Crash FatalitiesKeystone Icon

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Operations

Lane Departure Crash Fatalities

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Operations

Lane Departure Crash Fatalities


  • Over half of the highway fatalities statewide involve a lane departure crash making this one of Pennsylvania's priority emphasis areas.
  • Run-off-the-road fatal crashes are still one of the more significant factors in roadway fatalities. This topic drives many infrastructure countermeasures that PennDOT applies annually.
  • Many strategies PennDOT employs to address run-off-road crashes involve low-cost safety improvements.
  • Installing systemic improvements such as centerline/shoulder rumble strips, high friction surface treatments, and cable median barriers are some of the most cost-effective countermeasures PennDOT deploys throughout the state. However, even after engineering improvements are completed, lane departure crashes due to unsafe driving behavior can still occur.
  • Pennsylvania's varied topography makes this issue difficult to address. The curvature of roadways due to rolling terrain and the proximity of fixed objects (trees, poles, etc.) to the roadways are frequent issues PennDOT must address when examining infrastructure improvements to improve safety.

Local Road FatalitiesKeystone Icon

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Operations

Local Road Fatalities

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Operations

Local Road Fatalities


  • For the decade ending 2021, local road fatalities averaged 201 a year, yet have climbed higher during COVID-19. The number of local road fatalities statewide totaled 214 in 2021.
  • Local road fatalities have remained relatively constant over time. Additional coordination is often necessary for addressing safety on these roadways since the roads themselves often do not fall under PennDOT jurisdiction.
  • PennDOT's top strategies to enhance safety on local roads include engineering improvements as well as providing training, technical assistance, and safety audits.
  • PennDOT has updated guidelines to make it easier for municipalities to purchase pavement markings and signs for safety improvements by their municipal road crews.
  • PennDOT's Strategic Highway Safety Plan has identified local safety as a focus area. This document lists Pennsylvania's strategies to enhance safety on Local Roads.
  • PennDOT is working with the Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) to develop a process to assist municipalities to receive Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funding for local road low-cost safety improvements.

Safety

Mobility

Mobility

Moving People and Goods

Pennsylvania's mobility is provided primarily by its nearly 121,000-mile network of roadways that support over 281 million miles of travel daily. As a multimodal transportation agency, PennDOT manages a range of programs from highways, bridges, aviation, water ports, public transportation, rail freight, passenger rail, and active transportation that facilitate the movement of people and goods.

Electric Vehicle Infrastructure

PennDOT supports key technology advancements through initiatives like the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) plan to build electric charging infrastructure. The formula program will provide more than $171 million to the state through 2026.

Public transportation ridership trends

PennDOT faces ongoing challenges with a post-pandemic decline in transit ridership. While ridership is recovering, it still lags pre-pandemic volumes. The Department has provided additional funding to systems and is in the process of distributing a second round of funding for those still in need.

Strategic investments needed for Pennsylvania aviation

A 2022 study by the state Transportation Advisory Committee identified an annual state funding gap of $53.5 million for Pennsylvania's aviation system. The funding shortfall means that airports must defer projects, resulting in a state aviation system that is less competitive and poorly positioned for future growth.

Mobility Measures

Connected and Automated Vehicles Keystone Icon

Connected and Automated Vehicles

Targets are established two years in advance
(2018 targets were established based on 2016 data)

  • Pennsylvania has emerged as a leading destination for on-road testing of automated vehicles (AVs). As of October 2022, there are eight authorized AV testers in Pennsylvania. To facilitate AV testing across Pennsylvania, PennDOT has issued guidance to enhance the safety and oversight of Highly Automated Vehicles in Pennsylvania.
  • PennDOT has convened an annual Pennsylvania Automated Vehicle Summit since 2017 to foster a broader public understanding and dialogue around the benefits and issues related to AV technologies.
  • PennDOT is a member of the Smart Belt Coalition, which fosters collaboration in research and testing, policy and standards development, deployments, and outreach and funding pursuits in connected vehicle technology, automated vehicle technology, vehicle electrification, and other innovations.
  • PennDOT has partnered with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and the Regional Industrial Development Corporation (RIDC) of Southwestern PA to establish the Pennsylvania Safety, Transportation and Research Track (PennSTART).
  • PennDOT has a representative serve on the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) Automated Vehicle sub-committee. The sub-committee gathers, organizes, and shares information related to the development, design, testing, use, and regulation of automated vehicles and other emerging vehicle technology.
  • For more information, view the Statewide Connected and Automated Vehicle Strategic Plan.

CongestionKeystone Icon

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Operations

Congestion

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Operations

Congestion


  • PennDOT continues to develop and enhance tools to monitor the magnitude and causes of traffic congestion within the state.
  • PennDOT is assisting planning partners by building tools to have better information for data-driven planning.
  • A Congestion Calendar tool was recently developed and released as a way to allow operations personnel and planners to better understand congestion in their area of interest.  This tool combines congestion data with a graphical representation of the congestion in a chosen area by day of week and time of day.

Highway CapacityKeystone Icon

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Planning and Research

Highway Capacity

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Planning and Research

Highway Capacity


  • Pennsylvania has over 120,000 linear miles of roadway. Over 40,000 of these miles are owned and maintained by PennDOT.
  • Current capacity-adding projects include I-95 South reconstruction in Philadelphia County, US 322 widening in Delaware County, I-70 reconstruction in Washington County, and the Southern Section of the Central Susquehanna Valley Transportation (CSVT) Project in Northumberland, Snyder, and Union counties.
  • The total demand for travel (DVMT) has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, and in 2021 was 281 million, after a decline in demand to 233.6 million in 2020.

Traveler InformationKeystone Icon

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Operations

Traveler Information

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Operations

Traveler Information


  • A new communications tool, 511PAConnect, allows travelers who are trapped in a roadway backup to communicate directly with response teams in emergency incidents via automated phone or text message.
  • COVID-19 pandemic mitigation efforts drove down 511PA usage as regular commuting patterns reduced, but on average the use of the traveler information platform continues to grow.
  • PennDOT continually enhances 511PA.com to provide better traveler info to the public. Map layers showing electric vehicle charging stations and state bridges with low clearances have been added.
  • By 2023, PennDOT will use the PA 511 website to solicit public feedback during the Regional and Statewide Transportation Improvement Program public comment periods.

Traffic SignalsKeystone Icon

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Operations

Traffic Signals

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Operations

Traffic Signals


  • There are approximately 14,000 signalized intersections in Pennsylvania. Most of these are owned and operated by the state's municipalities.
  • Traffic signal performance helps motorists by improving travel efficiency and often reducing the cost of signal operation/maintenance over time.
  • Act 54 of 2022 created the Traffic Signal Technologies Grant program, which reimburses municipalities for updating and improving the efficiency and operation of existing traffic signals. Funding can be used for operational improvements including new traffic signal systems, adaptive signal control technology, automated traffic signal performance measures, and connection to PennDOT's unified command and control software.
  • In 2022, 70 municipalities received over $37.9 million to support traffic signal upgrades to increase safety and mobility statewide through PennDOT's “Green Light-Go” program. In distributing this grant funding, the benefits and the costs are key selection criteria to weigh the investment funding statewide.
  • PennDOT's Automated Red Light Enforcement program (ARLE) provides competitive grant funding to municipalities for improving highway safety and mobility.

Traffic Incident ManagementKeystone Icon

Traffic Incident Management

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Maintenance and Operations

  • PennDOT's command and control software for traffic management centers can now predefine “virtual queue protection corridors” for work zones.
  • Using INRIX speed data, this feature can automatically change upstream message signs when speeds drop below a defined threshold.
  • Without the need for additional field detection equipment, this tool helps reduce rear-end crashes by alerting motorists ahead of stopped/slowed vehicles.

Airport EnplanementsKeystone Icon

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Operations

Airport Enplanements

Source: Federal Aviation Administration

Airport Enplanements


  • According to the Bureau of Aviation, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant decrease in enplanements in 2020. Some recovery occurred in 2021, but total enplanements have yet to rebound to pre-COVID levels.
  • The State Transportation Commission in December 2022 approved a statewide Aviation Strategic Investment Plan that identified statewide aviation system needs and recommended an action plan aimed at addressing the state's most pressing concerns in aviation, including workforce, technology, freight, commercial air service, and funding.

Public Transportation RidershipKeystone Icon

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Operations

Public Transportation Ridership

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Public Transportation

Public Transportation Ridership


  • Fixed-route ridership encompasses trips on regularly scheduled bus routes, commuter rail, and light rail. These ridership trends in Pennsylvania, as well as nationwide, have experienced a decline over the past two years. However, state and federal relief packages allowed transit agencies to continue to operate.
  • Public transit ridership decreased significantly due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the unprecedented impacts it caused to daily life. Public transportation services operated throughout the pandemic, offering lifeline services to transit-dependent populations.
  • Public transit usage continues to steadily increase from its lowest point in the pandemic when ridership was down 90 percent. A combination of factors, including vaccines, increases in fuel prices, and a return to normal work/commute patterns have helped ridership increase.

Amtrak RidershipKeystone Icon

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Public Transportation

Amtrak Ridership

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Public Transportation

Amtrak Ridership


  • By April 2022, Amtrak was able to restore most of its Keystone service to pre-COVID service levels. Service was fully restored in October 2022. Keystone ridership is slowly increasing and is at approximately 60 percent of pre-COVID levels, which is consistent with other Amtrak routes with high commuter ridership.
  • Upgrades to several Keystone stations are planned for 2023, including Lancaster (parking and new pedestrian bridge), Parkesburg (ADA accessibility), and Coatesville (new station).
  • In June 2022, PennDOT and Norfolk Southern (NS) agreed on the next steps required to design and implement improvements to facilitate additional passenger rail service on the NS-owned corridor west of Harrisburg. This agreement will initiate more than $200 million in rail infrastructure and safety improvements to support the Pennsylvanian service to two trains, each direction, each day.

Water Ports Freight VolumeKeystone Icon

Source: Bureau of Rail, Freight, Ports, and Waterways

Water Ports Freight Volume

Source: Bureau of Rail, Freight, Ports, and Waterways

Water Ports Freight Volume


  • PennDOT established the Pennsylvania Intermodal Cargo Incentive Program to maintain and attract new containerized cargo to the Port of Philadelphia. The program is authorized until June 30, 2023.
  • The Pittsburgh Port Commission (PPC) focuses on the State of Good Repair of the locks and dams and support of industrial and recreational use of the rivers. They work closely with legislative bodies and the Army Corp of Engineers to ensure funding of the lock and dam projects to maintain nine-foot navigable waters and keep commerce moving on the inland waterways.
  • Tonnage increased at the Port of Erie for the last two consecutive years due to the import of windmill components which are transported via highway to their final destinations.
  • Funding grants to privately-owned terminals from Act 89's Multimodal Transportation Fund exceed $8 million, while additional operating and capital funding for the three ports exceed $69 million. In total, all Act 89 funds committed and expended at private- and publicly-owned ports are approximately $77 million.
  • The PhilaPort received over $500 million in funding to purchase new cranes, construct new warehouses, create a vehicle processing center for more automobiles, and construct a new berth.
  • In June 2022, a new direct, all-water container service with Asia started at PhilaPort.

Winter MaintenanceKeystone Icon

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Operations

Winter Maintenance

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Operations

Percent of State Roads within 15 Miles of RWIS


  • PennDOT is responsible for 96,000 snow lane miles, with a winter maintenance budget of $212 million for FY 2022.
  • Once all planned Road Weather Information Systems (RWIS) monitoring devices are deployed, 92 percent of state roads will be within a 15-mile radius of a monitoring device. This is up from 81 percent in 2020.
  • The Winter Services Guide provides winter weather information and statistics for each District and County. Information provided includes tons of salt used, number of operators, and number of plow trucks.
  • PennDOT is always in need of CDL drivers during the winter to help with snow plowing.
  • The Weather Event Speed/Restriction Plan was developed to help with safety and operations during winter weather. This winter restriction framework was developed due to help with safety and operations during winter weather. Commercial vehicles are involved in approximately 55 percent of winter crashes.
  • Learn more on PennDOT's Website on Winter Safety

Winter Weather Traveler InfoKeystone Icon

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Operations

Winter Weather Traveler Info

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Operations

Winter Weather Traveler Info


  • In early 2022, PennDOT surveyed 2,675 travelers regarding winter services and found that 68 percent of those surveyed rate winter interstate performance as “good” or better, compared to 58 percent for traffic routes and 40 percent for secondary roads.
  • This same survey found that 30 percent said they use 511PA.com or the 511PA app to look up winter road conditions, however nearly 60 percent said they do not use either.
  • PennDOT began using Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) technology in 2014, allowing website users to track the locations of 119 plow trucks during the winter months. The program has now expanded to equip roughly 2,200 PennDOT-owned and rented plow trucks with AVL systems.

Weather ResiliencyKeystone Icon

Weather Resiliency

  • PennDOT continues to evaluate strategies and actions to improve systemwide resiliency.
  • The 2017 Extreme Weather Vulnerability Study includes methodologies to track historic flooding vulnerabilities and risks. These analyses are updated periodically to support investment prioritization and decisions.
  • The new PROTECT formula program provides additional funding for PennDOT and MPOs/RPOs to support resiliency planning initiatives and projects. PennDOT is currently evaluating methods to select and prioritize projects for this funding source.
  • PennDOT has also completed an FHWA-sponsored pilot study in 2020 to evaluate how resiliency can be integrated into the project design process. Efforts are underway to formalize this process in PennDOT's Design Manuals. Once integrated, project engineers will have checklists to support evaluation of adaption strategies at high-risk flooding locations.
  • Historic Flooding Vulnerability Locations and Risk Assessment Scores (2007-2021)

Safety Service PatrolKeystone Icon

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Maintenance

Safety Service Patrol

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Maintenance

Safety Service Patrol


  • The Freeway Safety Patrol program continued during the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase in teleworking resulted in lower traffic volumes and a decrease in the assistance provided.
  • As lockdowns eased and more workers began returning to work, the Program's number of assists began approaching pre-COVID annual averages in most districts.

Mobility

Preservation

Preservation

Maintaining Transportation Assets

Pennsylvania's transportation network requires effective resource management to upgrade and maintain. One of PennDOT's primary challenges is preserving and maintaining its assets at the lowest practical life cycle cost. Lowest Life Cycle Cost (LLCC) project selection strategies (promoting the proper treatment at the right time) will help PennDOT better manage assets and program budgets to create longer-lasting infrastructure.

Project Selection and Prioritization

PennDOT continues to work with its network of MPOs and RPOs to evolve project selection processes for future long-range transportation plans and Transportation Improvement Programs. This includes introducing more information on equity and the environment as project selection criteria, and more public engagement earlier in the planning process.

Planning work continues for major bridges

Planning work and federal environmental reviews have resumed for six bridge replacement projects proposed as part of the Major Bridge Public-Private Partnership (MBP3). PennDOT’s P3 partners will design, build and maintain the bridges.

Civil engineers give Pennsylvania infrastructure a grade of “C-”

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) in its 2022 Report Card on Pennsylvania's Infrastructure gave the state a grade of “C-” – the same as the 2018 report card. While there has been progress, challenges remain, particularly with inflation and resiliency to climate change.

Preservation Measures

State Bridges Keystone Icon

Source: PennDOT Bridge Management System

State Bridges

Source: PennDOT Bridge Management System

State Bridges


  • PennDOT continues to drive down the number of poor state-owned bridges statewide. The percentage of poor bridges is currently 9.5 percent, or just over 2,400 state-owned bridges – roughly half the total from a decade ago.
  • Additional investment in infrastructure by both traditional and non-traditional means, such as Public-Private Partnerships (P3's), has allowed PennDOT to greatly reduce the number of poor bridges in the commonwealth. However, there is inadequate funding to continue this method of prioritization.
  • PennDOT continues to address system infrastructure using a Lowest Life Cycle Cost (LLCC) based project selection and prioritization process to keep good bridges from becoming poor and yield additional years of service from existing structures.

Local BridgesKeystone Icon

Source: PennDOT Bridge Management System

Local Bridges

Source: PennDOT Bridge Management System

Local Bridges


  • Locally owned bridges are improving, with the number of those rated "poor" now under 1,800, compared to 2,235 a decade ago. Extensive investment is required to bring local bridges into a state of good repair.
  • Act 89 of 2013 established a special fund allowing counties to implement a $5 fee on vehicle registrations. Twenty-six counties participate in this transportation funding initiative, which, as of January 2023, has raised $216 million for local transportation projects.

Weight-Restricted BridgesKeystone Icon

Source: PennDOT Bridge Management System

Weight-Restricted Bridges

Source: PennDOT Bridge Management System

Weight-Restricted Bridges


  • Pennsylvania has made significant progress to reduce the number of weight-restricted bridges. This number has declined for eight consecutive years, from 862 in 2014 to approximately 444 at the end of 2022. (The 2014 spike reflects the adoption of a more stringent rating standard.)
  • Initiatives such as the recent Rapid Bridge Replacement Project addressed 558 bridges statewide and reduced the state's total number of weight-restricted bridges.

Pavement ConditionsKeystone Icon

"Excellent" or "Good"

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Operations

"Fair"

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Operations

"Poor"

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Operations

  • Pavement conditions, on average, have been slowly improving over the past several years.
  • PennDOT has maintained the state's percentage of poor International Roughness Index (IRI) (a measure of pavement condition) through Lowest Life-Cycle Cost approaches.
  • IRI values have been holding steady with a small decrease in “excellent/good” pavements and a small increase in “poor” conditions.
  • The Interstate System is faring slightly better than lower order roadways given the greater focus on this network.
  • PennDOT's Transportation Asset Management Plan provides data-driven approaches to help select the most cost-effective improvements.

[NEW] Project LettingKeystone Icon

[NEW] Project Letting

  • PennDOT's goal for on-time project delivery is 90 percent.
  • Trends for both metrics (on time and within budget) have remained consistent over the past decade.
  • A COVID-related factor included the suspension of projects immediately following the COVID-19 pandemic. These resulted in overruns due to Legal Work Orders.

Preservation

Accountability

Accountability

Managing Resources & Business Processes

Transparency and accountability are top priorities for PennDOT. The Commonwealth, in May 2022, launched the Mentor Protégé Program, which will enhance the ability of Small Diverse Businesses (SDBs) to compete for Commonwealth non-highway capital construction and supplies and services procurement opportunities. PennDOT hosted a one-day, “Pathways to PennDOT” conference in 2022 to connect Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) to the resources and opportunities at PennDOT that can help their firms grow.

Accountability Measures

Project DeliveryKeystone Icon

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Design and Delivery

Project Delivery

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Design and Delivery

Project Delivery


  • On-time and on-budget performance has been steady for PennDOT's highway construction contracts.
  • For over a decade, more than 90 percent of highway construction projects have been completed on time each year. In mid-March 2020, all construction projects were suspended due to COVID-19.

Transit PerformanceKeystone Icon

Source: Federal Transit Administration, National Transit Database, 2020

Transit Performance

Source: Federal Transit Administration, National Transit Database, 2020

Transit Performance


  • Act 44 provides a framework to assess transit agency performance through a review process
  • Conducted once every five years, the review identifies ways to improve system efficiency and effectiveness, financial status, and general management. The review process also documents best practices to share with other transit systems
  • In FY 2020, SEPTA had a farebox recovery ratio of 27.1 percent, the fifth highest of any metropolitan transit agency in the country, and Pittsburgh Regional Transit ranked 16th with a ratio of 18.2 percent.

[NEW] Find My RideKeystone Icon

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Public Transportation

Find My Ride

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Public Transportation

Find My Ride


  • Find My Ride PA (FMR) includes tools to help citizens apply for transportation programs, learn more about public transportation, facilitate travel planning, and schedule shared-ride services. It is organized into three modules: Find My Ride Apply, Find My Ride Education, and Find My Ride Schedule.
  • FMR was released in May 2021 to streamline assistance-program applications. So far, over 8,000 applications have been processed, significantly benefitting transit agencies, PennDOT, and the Department of Human Services.
  • Currently, FMR is available in Adams, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Franklin, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder, Union, and York Counties. PennDOT will expand the service to additional counties in the future and foresees expanding the service to include commercial services and other non-profit transportation services.
  • Utilize these services by visiting: Findmyridepa.org

Driver and Vehicle ServicesKeystone Icon

Source: PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services

Driver and Vehicle Services

Source: PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services

Driver and Vehicle Services


  • Public feedback from interaction with PennDOT's Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) personnel remains highly favorable. Driver and Vehicle Services is also seeking to further enhance the customer's experience by ensuring each interaction with the department is positive and exceeds their expectations.
  • The DVS serves approximately 25,000 people every day. It is the face of PennDOT.
  • DVS has added website content showing suspended safety and emission inspection stations, inspectors, new and used vehicle dealers, and issuing agents. Reports are updated daily to help vehicle owners make informed choices regarding services and adds transparency of PennDOT processes and oversight.
  • DVS has processed 10.1 million customers, with 1.96 million opting to obtain a REAL ID-compliant driver's license, or an opt-in rate of 19 percent. Federal enforcement of REAL ID begins May 7, 2025.

PennDOT ConnectsKeystone Icon

PennDOT Connects

  • PennDOT Connects is a planning initiative that has PennDOT engaging the state's communities at the onset of the transportation planning process to ensure that system needs from the state and local perspectives are shared before investments are made.
  • A PennDOT Connects Steering Committee continues to seek ways of improving municipal outreach and how best to help municipalities plan for and access funding, especially related to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).
  • During 2022, PennDOT conducted outreach meetings at its 11 District Offices to discuss transportation planning, training and resources available to municipal governments.
  • The PennDOT Connects webpage includes training videos, tech sheets, and other free resources for municipalities and project sponsors.

Accountability

Funding

Funding

Investing for the Future

The passage of the Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in November 2021 injected $11.3 billion for federal aid, highway apportioned programs, and $1.6 billion for bridge replacement and repairs in Pennsylvania through 2026. The new law also includes new discretionary grant programs for critical infrastructure and programming statewide like bridges, electric vehicles, safety programs, and reconnecting communities.

PennDOT Pathways Program

Several years ago, recognizing transportation system investment needs exceed current funding, PennDOT began exploring new funding options, including reviewing possible road user fee strategies and other alternative means of funding that have been emerging across the nation. PennDOT Pathways was established to identify, assess, and implement reliable, equitable alternative funding solutions for Pennsylvania’s vast range of multimodal transportation system needs.

Transportation Revenue Options Commission

In March 2021, this commission was established to develop a comprehensive strategic proposal for addressing Pennsylvania's transportation funding needs, now and into the future. View the Transportation Revenue Options Commission 2021 Final Report and Strategic Funding Proposal (PDF).

Interstate Funding

Currently, PennDOT invests between $450 and $500 million per year on the Interstate Highway System. The annual amount needed to meet cyclical asset management requirements is $1.2 billion.

Funding Measures

State Transportation Budget

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Fiscal Management

State Transportation Budget

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Fiscal Management

State Transportation Budget


  • Decreases in FY 2019-2020 and FY 2020-2021 from previous years were due to budget cuts as a result of COVID-19 reducing available revenues.
  • Low bids and high inflation have resulted in a 15 percent increase in the letting program budget.
  • View the Commonwealth Budget (pa.gov)

12-Year Program

Source: PennDOT Center for Program Development and Management

12-Year Program

Source: PennDOT Center for Program Development and Management

12-Year Program


  • Pennsylvania's 2023 12-Year Program (TYP) identifies and prioritizes transportation improvement projects and provides nearly $84 billion for all modes of transportation.
  • The passage of BIL in November 2021 injected an additional $20 billion into PennDOT's 12-Year Program (TYP).
  • Visit the TalkPA Transportation website to learn about how the 12-Year Program works.

State Motor License Fund

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Fiscal Management

State Motor License Fund

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Fiscal Management

State Motor License Fund


  • Motor fuels taxes and other fees are dedicated to Pennsylvania's Motor License Fund - the primary state source of transportation funding.
  • The Motor License Fund provides funding for highway and bridge maintenance and improvements, winter services, and payments to the Commonwealth's many communities for local road and bridge improvements.
  • Revenue losses in FY2019-2020 and FY 2020-2021 due to COVID 19 show recovery in current and out years. Fuel revenue growth still remains stagnant in out years due to increases in vehicle fuel efficiency. Revenue growth is largely driven by statutory CPI increases in driver's licensing and vehicle registration fees.
  • Pennsylvania, like other states, will have to consider a wider range of funding strategies in light of greater fuel efficiency, alternative fuel vehicles, and other threats to MLF revenue. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic and the change in commuting behavior have impacted, and will continue to impact, revenue for the Motor License Fund.
  • View the Commonwealth 2022-23 Budget

Multimodal Fund

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Public Transportation

Multimodal Fund

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Public Transportation

Multimodal Fund


  • The Multimodal Transportation Fund (MTF), established through Act 89 of 2013, provides funding grants for projects to improve all transportation modes. Revenue and expenditure amounts are generally fixed by law, and thus are expected to remain stable.
  • These grants have contributed substantially to community quality of life at relatively low cost.
  • Since the program inception in 2014, PennDOT has awarded grants to 252 projects. In FY 2022-2023, $47.8 million was awarded to 56 projects around the state, allowing local governments and contractors to advance key projects in their communities.

Public Transportation Operating Assistance

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Public Transportation

Public Transportation Operating Assistance

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Public Transportation

Public Transportation Operating Assistance


  • Pennsylvania is viewed as a leader among the states for its support of public transportation, including funding and technical assistance.
  • Funding for FY 2022-23 is increased to $1.25 billion, a 10 percent increase over the previous year.
  • As transit agencies continue to build ridership coming out of the pandemic, state funding is critical to continue operations. Ridership is about 65 percent of pre-pandemic levels and increases in state funding are helping to keep pace with inflation. Transit agencies continue to examine service areas and look for ways to be more efficient while providing adequate service.
  • View the Bureau of Public Transportation 2020-2021 Annual Performance Report (PDF)

Interstate Reconstruction Funding

Source: 2019 PA Transportation Asset Management Plan

Interstate Reconstruction Funding

Source: 2019 PA Transportation Asset Management Plan

Interstate Reconstruction Spending,
Historic and Programmed


  • PennDOT has begun a greater programming focus on Pennsylvania’s interstates. These roadways account for 6 percent of the state’s total roadway capacity yet accommodate 24 percent of all travel.
  • Many of Pennsylvania's Interstate Highways are aging and require reconstruction. On average, it costs $2.6 million per mile to reconstruct one lane of interstate pavement.
  • Insufficient funding for the interstates has created a backlog of need for reconstruction projects. Every year 68 miles of interstate should be reconstructed and currently (on average) only 12 miles are being completed annually.
  • In an effort to accomplish more miles of needed reconstruction, more funds are being directed to the interstate system.

Rail Freight Infrastructure Funding

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Rail Freight

Rail Freight Infrastructure Funding

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Rail Freight

Rail Freight Infrastructure Funding


  • PennDOT's Bureau of Rail, Freight, Ports and Waterways administers funding from the Capital Budget and Rail Freight Assistance Program (RFAP) to eligible railroads for track repair. The program preserves and/or increases jobs that are rail reliant, while reducing demands on the Commonwealth's roadway network.
  • During 2022, the Bureau oversaw the completion of several rail freight projects, including various improvements to the Pittsburgh Intermodal Terminals in Beaver County, and track rehabilitation for the Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corporation.

Transit Capital Funding

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Public Transportation

Transit Capital Funding

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Public Transportation

Transit Capital Funding


  • Act 89 of 2013 continues to provide a significant increase in capital funding allowing transit agencies to make state-of-good-repair investments to their vehicles, facilities, and technology.
  • Capital funding has been stable with the majority of funding composed of Turnpike Revenues as directed by Act 89.
  • PennDOT has been working with transit agencies to make major improvements to capital facilities statewide and invest in rolling stock to provide riders with reliable service.
  • Examples of capital projects are highlighted in PennDOT's Public Transportation Annual Report (PDF).

PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS (P3)

PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS (P3)

  • The state's P3 law allows PennDOT and other transportation authorities and commissions to partner with private companies to participate in delivering, maintaining, and financing transportation-related projects.
  • The Public Private Partnerships Act of 2012 was updated as part of Act 84 of 2022 to make changes to the P3 approval process. Act 84 prohibits the approval of transportation P3s involving mandatory user fees.
  • PennDOT’s Major Bridge P3 is continuing with nine candidate bridges included and being funded by Motor License Funds. Package 1, consisting of 6 bridges, has been executed with Commercial Close and Financial Close complete in 2022.
  • In 2020, the P3 Transportation Board approved PennDOT's Partnership 81 project. The project is designed to replace over 7.5 miles of aging interstate and poor-condition bridges in Luzerne County.
  • PennDOT's Bureau of Public Transportation is managing an $84.5 million P3 to provide Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fueling infrastructure for 22 transit agencies at 24 sites, statewide. To date, 19 CNG fueling stations have been constructed. The remaining five stations are scheduled for completion by the end of 2024. Trillium CNG will maintain the stations as part of a P3 contract through April 2037.

Funding

Freight

Freight

Improving the Safe and Efficient Movement of Goods

PennDOT updated the state's Freight Movement Plan in 2022 using a process that included a virtual statewide freight forum, engagement with the state's MPOs and RPOs, and freight stakeholders. FHWA approved the plan in December 2022, and plan implementation is already underway. The plan makes Pennsylvania eligible for $58.5 million annually in federal freight funding from the National Highway Freight Program.

Freight Work Group guides freight planning

PennDOT has organized a Freight Work Group to serve in support of the agency's freight planning activities, including the implementation of and future updates to the Freight Movement Plan.

Planning for a resilient freight system

Freight planning must constantly respond to natural and other disruptions like COVID-19 and strikes, respectively that fracture international trade. Moreover, freight planners must be aware of changing consumer demands such as BOPUS (buy online, pick up in-store) and the implications of evolving technologies.

Freight Measures

[NEW] Rate of Truck CrashesKeystone Icon

Source: Pennsylvania Crash Information Tool (PCIT), and PennDOT Publication 600

Rate of Truck Crashes per 100 Million Vehicle Miles Traveled

Source: Pennsylvania Crash Information Tool (PCIT), and PennDOT Publication 600

Rate of Truck Crashes per 100 Million Vehicle Miles Traveled


  • Heavy trucks comprise nearly 30 percent of all daily vehicle miles of travel (DVMT) in Pennsylvania. On the Interstate system, this rate is in excess of 37 percent.
  • The number of heavy truck crashes in Pennsylvania totaled over 7,200 in 2021, representing a three-year high.
  • Measured as a share of vehicle miles of travel, truck crashes per DMVT remained fairly constant through the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021 yet remained below the high of 9,353 recorded in 2018.

[NEW] Complete Development of a Core Highway Freight NetworkKeystone Icon

Complete Development of a Core Highway Freight Network

  • Pennsylvania has 3,660 miles of roadway included as part of the National Highway Freight Network (NHFN), a priority network of roadways. Roadways on this network are eligible for funding from the National Highway Freight Program, of which Pennsylvania receives $58.5 million annually over the life of the 5-year Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).
  • Pennsylvania's MPOs and RPOs collaborated with PennDOT in identifying and designating priority freight corridors at the local level to be included as part of this national network. The local roadways are known as Critical Urban Freight Corridors (CUFCs), and Critical Rural Freight Corridors (CRFCs), depending upon their location.
  • Freight provisions within BIL will allow PennDOT to expand this priority freight network, to 150 miles of CUFCs, and 300 miles of CRFCs.

[NEW] Freight-related tools added to data repositoryKeystone Icon

Freight-related tools added to data repository

  • PennDOT continues to develop tools that will aid its freight planning efforts as well as those of the state's MPOs and RPOs. A forthcoming data repository will provide access to a variety of freight related information, including vehicle probe data, priority freight networks, major freight generators, and more.
  • PennDOT commissioned the design of an advanced performance metrics tool for signalized vehicle travel time data that was added to the RITIS platform. The tool is instrumental for assessing the affects of maintenance, operational changes, capital programs and adaptive deployments.

[NEW] Number of At-Grade CrossingsKeystone Icon

Source: Bureau of Design and Delivery, Grade Crossing Unit

Number of At-Grade Crossings

Source: Bureau of Design and Delivery, Grade Crossing Unit

Number of At-Grade Crossings


  • PennDOT's Section 130 Program provides funds for the elimination of hazards at railway-highway grade crossings.
  • The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act increases the amount of state incentive payment at-grade crossing closures from $7,500 to $100,000. (This means that if a municipality has $100,000 to remove an at-grade crossing, PennDOT can match with $100,000.)
  • Appendix E of the 2020 PA State Rail Plan (PDF) shows nearly 100 Section 130 projects to improve safety at railway-highway grade crossings. (The 2022 PA State Rail Plan was submitted earlier in 2022 to the Federal Railroad Administration. It is yet to be approved.)
  • PennDOT only tracks public crossings.
  • Learn more on the PennDOT Grade Crossing Program webpage.

Truck Travel Time ReliabilityKeystone Icon

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Operations

Truck Travel Time Reliability

Source: PennDOT Bureau of Operations

Truck Travel Time Reliability


  • In December 2022, FHWA approved Pennsylvania's updated Freight Movement Plan (FMP). The FMP addresses the state's most pressing freight issues and concerns, including truck bottlenecks and interstate reliability.
  • The Truck Travel Time Reliability (TTTR) Index is a federal measure used to assess truck movement reliability on the Interstate system. More information on this measure can be found at the FHWA Transportation Performance Management Freight Fact Sheet (PDF).
  • Higher TTTR Index values indicate worse reliability for truck travel. The TTTR values are impacted by regional traffic congestion, roadway construction, weather, and accidents.
  • PennDOT has established a statewide target TTTR Index value of 1.40 by 2025. The target was set using historic trends, with a cushion to accommodate yearly fluctuations. The target also considers increased freight movement and more road construction impacting performance through 2026. PennDOT anticipates performance will move closer to the levels seen prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. PennDOT will track progress in meeting that target annually.

Freight

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FOR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE CONTACT:

PA Department of Transportation:
RA-PennDOTSTC@pa.gov

February 2023
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