The Official Newsletter of the Mid-Atlantic Section of the ... Official Newsletter of the...

The O f f i c i a l News le t te r o f t he M id -A t l an t ic Sect ion o f t he I n s t i t u te o f T ranspor ta t ion Eng i neers

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PPRREESSIIDDEENNTT’’SS MMEESSSSAAGGEE 2015 President’s Message - Summer Fourth of July, picnics, fireworks, the beach. Summer is my favorite time of year! I enjoyed seeing many of you at the ITE Mid-Colonial District Annual Meeting in Arlington, Virginia in April. Many of our MASITE members served on the committee and supported the event. Be sure to check out a full recap of the meeting later in this newsletter. SAVE THE DATE: The planning efforts for this year’s MASITE Annual Meeting are underway. Lori Bickerdyke from Dawood Engineering and Peter O’Halloran from Urban Engineers will serve as this year’s co-chairs. I am pleased to announce the meeting will be held on Sunday, October 4th and Monday, October 5th at the Valley Forge Casino in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. We will be sending out a request for speakers soon, so please keep an eye out for MASITE emails in your inbox. Later this summer, ITE will be holding their 2015 International Annual Meeting and Exhibit in Hollywood, Florida on August 2nd through 5th. The theme for this year’s meeting is Addressing the Shifting Priorities: What

Transportation Professional Need to Know to Face the Challenges of Today and Tomorrow. The hotel reservation cut-off is June 30th and the early bird registration deadline is July 10th, so be sure to book your trip. I look forward to seeing you there! Please be sure to check out the calendar of events on the MASITE website www.masite.org for the most updated information. We have a wonderful group of volunteers, and are always looking for more, so feel free to contact me any time to get involved, [email protected]. Sincerely, Nicole Kline 2015 MASITE President

In this Edition

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http://www.masite.org/


mailto:[email protected]

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President Nicole R. Kline, P.E.

McMahon Associates, Inc. 840 Springdale Dr. Exton, PA 19341

Phone: (610) 594-9995 Fax: (610) 594-9565

[email protected]

1st Vice President Jeffrey G. Bergsten, P.E.

Michael Baker Jr., Inc. 4431 North Front Street, 2nd Floor

Harrisburg, PA 17110 Phone: (717) 221-2056

Fax: (717) 234-7618 [email protected]

2nd Vice President Orla H. Pease, P.E., PTOE

Urban Engineers, Inc. 55 Haddonfield Road, Suite 200

Colwick Business Center Cherry Hill NJ 08002 Phone: (856) 663-5367


Secretary Albert P. Federico, P.E., PTOE

McCormick Taylor, Inc. Two Commerce Square

2001 Market Street Philadelphia PA 19103

Phone: (215) 592-4200 Fax: (215) 592-0682

[email protected]

Treasurer Christopher A. Prisk, P.E., PTOE

Langan 601 Technology Drive, Suite 200

Canonsburg, PA 15317 Phone: (724) 514-5100


Immediate Past President District 2 Representative

Melody A. Matter, P.E., PTOE McCormick Taylor, Inc

5 Capital Drive, Suite 400 Harrisburg PA 17110 Phone: (717) 540-6040


Eastern Area Coordinator Mahmood Shehata, P.E., PTOE

R, K & K 680 American Avenue, Suite 300

King of Prussia, PA 19406 Phone: (610) 962-7860

[email protected]

Central Area Coordinator Steven Palmer, P.E. Gannett Fleming, Inc. 207 Senate Avenue Camp Hill, PA 17011

Phone: (717) 763-7212 [email protected]

Western Area Coordinator Amy B. Staud, P.E., PTOE

HDR Engineering, Inc. 11 Stanwix Street, Suite 800

Pittsburgh, PA 15222-1357 Phone: (412) 497-6066 [email protected]

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2015 Mid-Colonial Annual Meet. Chair Chris Daily VHB 571-389-8121 [email protected]

2015 Mid-Atlantic Annual Meet Chair Mahmood

Shehata RK&K 610-962-7860 [email protected]

Recognitions/Awards Chair Mike Davidson Gannett Fleming 717-763-7212 [email protected]

Membership Chair Keith Meehan Michael Baker 717-221-2000 [email protected]

Technical Chair Joe Fiocco Fiocco Engineering 215-355-2089 [email protected]

Educational Outreach Chair Emily Scholl McCormick Taylor 215-592-4200 [email protected]

Legislative Affairs Alex Meitzler A. Morton Thomas 302-737-1627 [email protected]

Newsletter Editors Dean Kaiser

Mike Davidson Burns Group

Gannett Fleming 610-407-9700 717-763-7212

[email protected] [email protected]

Website Coordinator Erik Schmidt McCormick Taylor 215-592-4200 [email protected]

Nominations Chair Mark Luszcz DelDOT 302-659-4091 [email protected]

Student Chapter Liaison, Univ. of Delaware

Kyle Clevenger McCormick Taylor 302-738-0203 [email protected]

Student Chapter Liaison, Penn State University

Cody Morris McCormick Taylor 717-540-6040 [email protected]

Student Chapter Liaison, Villanova University

Vince DeFlavia Bentley Systems 610-999-5981 [email protected]

Student Chapter Liaison, Univ. of Pittsburgh

Brad DiCola Gibson-Thomas 412-372-4500 [email protected]

Student Chapter Liaison, West Virginia Univ.

VACANT

Eastern Area Engineer’s Club Liaison Jenn Walsh McMahon Associates 215-283-9444 [email protected]











[email protected]


[email protected]





[email protected]








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International --- Posted 5/13/2015 On behalf of the Institute of Transportation Engineer’s (ITE) Executive Committee and International Board of Direction, it is with great pleasure that I announce the selection of Jeffrey F. Paniati, P.E. as the Institute’s next Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer. Jeff will remain in his current position with the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) as Executive Director, Office of the Administrator, until mid-October, after which time he will join ITE headquarters staff in Washington, DC, USA. Jeff will succeed current ITE Executive Director and CEO Thomas W. Brahms, who will retire at the end of December 2015 after 43 years of service to the Institute.

Jeff’s more than 32-year career with FHWA has comprised a series of progressively more responsible roles, including leading safety and traffic operations research programs at the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center, where as Safety Design Chief he was a catalyst for the Highway Safety Manual; to Director of the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Joint Program Office, where he led the establishment of the strategic direction and investment priorities for the U.S. DOT’s ITS program; and to Associate Administrator of the FHWA Office of Operations, where he led agency efforts to improve management and operations of the United States’ surface transportation system.

Since 2008 Jeff has served as FHWA’s Executive Director, the highest career position within FHWA. There he continues to be responsible for 2,900 employees in 65 offices nationwide and an annual operating budget of $400 million. In this position he is a senior adviser to the FHWA Administrator on programs, policies, and priorities for the $40 billion annual federal-aid highway program. He led the development and implementation of the highway provisions in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) surface transportation program, including the transformative move to a performance-based federal-aid highway program. He has been a champion for FHWA’s efforts to create more livable communities, better accommodate pedestrians and bicycles, and create more flexible design approaches through performance-based practical design and context sensitive solutions. Under Jeff’s leadership, FHWA has been recognized as a Top 5 Best Place to Work (out of 300 peer federal agencies) by the Partnership for Public Service.

Jeff also represents the United States as the first delegate to the World Road Association, where he serves as the Chair of the Strategic Planning Commission that guides the Association’s technical programs and strategic planning.

Jeff has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Connecticut and a master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Maryland. He has received numerous recognitions and awards including the prestigious Presidential Rank Award for Distinguished Service and has been inducted into the University of

Connecticut’s Academy of Distinguished Engineers and Hall of Fame.

Jeff has been a member of ITE for more than 25 years and is a Fellow of the Institute. He has served as President of the ITE Washington, DC Section and as the Chair of the Traffic Engineering Council.

His vision for the future of ITE is of an organization that will be:

• Recognized by key stakeholders and partners as a leader in transportation; a strong advocate for transportation funding and a key resource on transportation policy issues; a critical conduit for delivering information and knowledge to transportation professionals; and an association that has strong partnerships with other leading organizations in advancing mutually-beneficial policy objectives and member services.

• A Relevant and re-branded association that is much more inclusive in its membership ranks, recognizing the needs of all users of the transportation system today and looking ahead to the technology of tomorrow, and an innovator in both the delivery of transportation and member services;

• One that provides Value-Added services to its members through a strong and engaged staff and is a premier source of transportation knowledge, delivering timely learning and professional development; developing the next generation of transportation leaders; and bringing the transportation community together both locally and nationally.

• A Connected association not just to its members, but to other organizations and associations. An association that provides a professional entry point for transportation students; serves the “front lines” of transportation through its Districts, Sections, and Chapters; links national and local ITE programs and interests through sharing best practices; brings together the public, private, and academic sectors; and is engaged in the global transportation community.

I have talked of a year of change as we celebrate ITE’s 85th anniversary. This is one more step forward to meet the needs of our profession’s ever-changing world.

John J. Kennedy, P.E., PTOE

ITE International President

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MASITE Nominating Committee Report May 5, 2015 Committee: Mark Luszcz, Chair; Melody Matter; Jeannette Quirus; Jennifer Walsh Pursuant the MASITE Bylaws, the MASITE Nominating Committee is transmitting a list of qualified candidates to the Secretary for 2016 officer positions. The list is as follows: President: Jeffrey G. Bergsten, P.E. First Vice President: Orla H. Pease, P.E., PTOE Second Vice President: Christopher A. Prisk, P.E., PTOE Mid-Colonial Rep: Nicole R. Kline, P.E, PTOE Treasurer: Steven E. Palmer, P.E. Written consent has been received by the Nominations Committee from each of the above candidates. Note that the position of Treasurer and Secretary are each elected for a two-year term. Albert Federico, P.E., PTOE was elected Secretary in 2014 and his term runs from January 2015 until December 2016. Therefore, there is no election for Secretary this year. The position of Treasurer to be filled in the 2015 election will have a term from January 2016 through December 2017. All other positions are for a one year term, beginning in January 2016. Additional nominations for any office may be made by petition, signed by not less than ten members of the section. Each petition shall be accompanied by the written consent of the nominee to run for the office for which they are nominated, and must be received by the Secretary no later than July 26, 2015. All important nomination and election dates/deadlines are noted below:

Event

Prior to the Annual

Meeting

Actual Deadline Date for 2015

Election

President shall appoint a Nominating Committee of at least 3 members

6 months April 4, 2015

Nominating Committee shall transmit list of nominees to Secretary

16 weeks June 14, 2015

Secretary shall send list of candidates to all Section Members

14 weeks June 28, 2015

Deadline for additional nominations via petition

10 weeks July 26, 2015

Ballot distribution deadline

8 weeks August 9, 2015

Ballot return deadline (via mail)

1 week Sept. 27, 2015

Canvassing of votes At the Annual Meeting

Oct. 4, 2015

Central Area – Steve Palmer Central Area has had three events so far this year. First, we teamed up with Penn State’s ITE chapter on March 26. Bob Leonard of Erdman Anthony presented on the Juniata River Bridge Replacement Project, the project which won MASITE’s 2014 Project of the Year award. On April 29, Dan Farley of PennDOT BOMO presented on the Green Light Go initiative.

Dan Farley presenting on Green Light Go at Dixon University Center. Thanks to Bob and Dan for their presentations. The third event was the 11th Annual MASITE versus ITSPA Golf Challenge held on May 12. It finally happened… ITSPA won the MASITE vs. ITSPA Golf Challenge! ITSPA had an average organization score of 69.4 and MASITE’s average organization score was 71.6. This turned out to be another great event that our members enjoyed while raising $500 for the Central PA Food Bank. Thanks to Todd Trautz, the event chair, for all of his hard work, and the entire team who organized this successful event.

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MASITE Member Mark Metil takes a few practice swings during the MASITE/ITSPA Golf Challenge, held at Dauphin Highlands Golf Course. 2015 ITE Mid-Colonial District Annual Meeting – Nicole Kline The 2015 ITE Mid-Colonial District Annual Meeting was held on April 12th through the 14th at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia. Vince DeFlavia from Bentley serves as the 2015 ITE Mid-Colonial District President, and Chris Daily from VHB chaired the annual meeting. Chris and his excellent committee put together a great program of networking events, tours, and technical sessions.

Recently named the “most walkable suburb in America” by Yes Magazine, Arlington was an ideal venue for the conference. The County is a model showcase for successful integration of land use, transportation planning, and transportation systems engineering. Arlington demonstrates how we use an industry need to adapt to evolving trends in population shifts in favor of urban, transit-oriented, mixed-use lifestyles; declining vehicle ownership among millenials and increased emphasis on mobility alternatives; and emerging technologies that are changing our travel patterns.

Sunday afternoon walking tour

The conference began on Sunday with a workshop and technical tour to highlight the urban transportation planning and design for complete streets and healthy living, for which Arlington has become known. The committee hosted a welcome reception on Sunday evening from the hotel’s top floor, with a fantastic view of the Potomac River. A team game of Traffic Quizzo during the event attempted to get everyone thinking, but succeeded much more in getting everyone laughing! A variety of technical sessions were held throughout the day on Monday and Tuesday, including the Monday morning keynote speaker, Garrett Moore, PE, VDOT Chief Engineer, lunch keynote speaker, Congressman Bill Shuster, and Tuesday morning keynote speaker, Mary Hynes, Chair of the Arlington County Board of Supervisors. Each offered a great perspective on the importance of transportation and infrastructure based on their expertise and experiences.

Keynote speaker Garrett Moore, PE, VDOT Chief Engineer The District’s College Traffic Bowl has become a highlight of the annual meeting, and this year was no exception. The event was held at the Crystal City Sports Pub. Collegiate traffic bowl teams from the University of Delaware, Morgan State University, and Pennsylvania State University competed for the District title, while attendees cheered them on. Congratulations to the

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winning team from Penn State University, and good luck at the ITE International Collegiate Traffic Bowl at the ITE Annual Meeting in Hollywood, Florida in early August.

Participants in the Collegiate Traffic Bowl

Thank you to Vince, Chris, and all the committee members for all their hard work in making this year’s meeting a success, and thank you to all the meeting sponsors, exhibitors, and members for attending and supporting ITE!

2015 ITE Mid-Colonial District Annual Meeting Committee

Please go to http://mcdite.com/annualmeeting2015.html to view the meeting program, presentation archive, and additional event photos.

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EVENT DATE LOCATION CONTACT EMAIL

Downtown Delivery Symposium July 15 Philadelphia, PA Mahmood

Shehata [email protected]

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Transportation chief visits Pittsburgh to view new research, technology April 23, 2015, By Jon Schmitz / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx visited Pittsburgh on Wednesday to view cutting-edge technology at one of the world’s epicenters of it, Carnegie Mellon University’s National Robotics Engineering Center in Lawrenceville.

He saw high-beam headlights that direct a dark spot toward the eyes of oncoming drivers to reduce glare, while continuing to illuminate everything else; headlights that sense falling snowflakes and direct the beam between the flakes rather than on them to improve visibility; a snow plow that projects an image on the windshield of the road when it was not snowing, to give drivers awareness of snow-covered obstacles and lane markings.

But to get here, Mr. Foxx had to travel on potholed and cracked roads that snap a driver’s mind from dreams of the future to the horse-and-buggy era.

The condition of the nation’s transportation infrastructure “should be an outrage to every American,” he said.

Congress has passed 32 short-term extensions of transportation funding authorizations in the past six years, and appears likely to approve No. 33 when the current law expires in May, he said.

“How can you plan, as a researcher or a civil engineer in a transportation department, if you don’t have long-term certainty” about funding, he asked. “I think the American people are going to have to say at some point, ‘This is enough. We can’t keep driving on these potholes.’ ”

The Obama administration has proposed a $478 billion, six-year transportation bill called the Grow America Act that would increase overall spending on roads, bridges, transit and other modes by 45 percent. It would draw much of its funding by taxing up to $2 trillion in profits that U.S. companies have stashed overseas. It has gotten a chilly reception in Congress.

There have been signs of progress in recent months toward a long-term bill, Mr. Foxx said. “It’s going to take bipartisan support and cooperation. That’s been difficult over the last several years.”

After touring the facility, he told the audience: “I’ve seen some amazing research, amazing technology and amazing minds that are wrapping their heads around the transportation challenges of the 21st century.” With technology on the verge of taking over tasks — including driving — currently done by humans, “this is a watershed moment in transportation,” he said.

“We see incredible opportunities and also incredible challenges,” he said, noting that the nation’s population is expected to grow by 70 million in the next 30 years, freight traffic is projected to increase 45 percent and climate change could leave some airports underwater.

Lawmakers push distracted driving prevention May 5, 2015 – TheHill.com

Three House Democrats have introduced legislation to encourage states to pass laws that ban cell phone use while driving.

The bill offered by Reps. Eliot Engel (N.Y.), Ted Deutch (Fla.) and Mark DeSaulnier (Calif.) would provide federal grant funding to states with laws that ban drivers from texting or talking on cell phones while driving. Those funds could be used for public education campaigns, traffic signs to discourage distracted driving and law enforcement costs.

Only 14 states currently ban using handheld cell phones while driving. The lawmakers argued that more needs to be done to discourage Americans from taking their eyes off the road to answer texts, emails or phone calls.

"These days, there are so many personal communication devices that command our attention, every second of every day. As we become more and more accustomed to the immediate feedback they provide, it becomes very easy to fall into the trap of texting at dangerous or otherwise inappropriate times," Engel said in a statement.

"When drivers look down at their phones to send a text or check Facebook, they put themselves and everyone around them in danger," Deutch added. "Congress has a responsibility to prevent more needless tragedies by incentivizing states to enact tougher laws that we know can make our roads safer and ultimately prevent more needless tragedies."

States eligible for the grants must have a law that establishes a minimum penalty for a first violation of its distracted driving ban, and increased penalties for further violations.

The legislation would further require the Department of Transportation to study factors involved in distracted driving, such as individual driver behavior and car technology. It would also direct the Federal Communications Commission to report to Congress on the authority the agency has to help reduce cell phone use while driving.

According to the Department of Transportation, 3,154 people died in car crashes involving distracted drivers in 2013, while another 424,000 people were injured. And the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that young drivers in their twenties account for 27 percent of distracted drivers in fatal crashes.

Pa. Turnpike partnering with navigation app Waze MAY 8, 2015, BY MATT MAISEL – FOX 43

SWATARA TWP., Dauphin County — Nearly a half-million drivers in Pennsylvania currently use the navigation phone app Waze, and now the Pa. Turnpike will be using it too.

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This month, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is rolling out plans to connect to their drivers using the popular phone program. Waze is currently used by 400,000 people in the state, the Pa. Turnpike Commission estimates, including many of their own employees. On Friday, they announced a no-cost partnership with Waze to start a two-way share of information, which they say will benefit their traffic center, and drivers as well.

“We’re going to send information (gathered from drivers) back into Waze,” Turnpike Traffic Operations Manager Bob Taylor said. “Construction activities, crashes, as we find out about it, we’re going to share that with Wazers in the app.”

Information typed into the app from turnpike drivers will be seen in the Pa. Turnpike’s Traffic Operations building in Swatara Township. In turn, turnpike workers will be able to see real-time updates and, using one of their 50 cameras, will be able to share updated information with drivers.

“Any type of incident on the roadway we’ll be able to pump that feed to Waze and we can post it on their app,” Tim Scanlon, Pa. Turnpike Director of Traffic Engineering, said.

CMU, Pittsburgh's Surtrac program aims to ease traffic congestion By Melissa Daniels, http://triblive.com/

About four years ago, the Penn Circle area became a test bed for the sensors, antennas and wirelessly connective traffic signals in development at Steve Smith's lab at Carnegie Mellon University.

“Each intersection watches its traffic,” said Smith, who heads the Intelligent Coordination and Logistics Laboratory, “and essentially, in real time, builds a plan to move all the vehicles it sees through the intersection in the most efficient way.”

Or from a driver's standpoint: “You don't stop as often,” he said.

Congestion in Pittsburgh causes drivers an average of 39 hours of delay each year, according to the Texas

Transportation Institute, and the city's largely gridless system contains a maze of narrow roads, one-way streets, no turns on red and signals that seem to lack coordination.

That congestion is a growing problem in the East End, where rapid development is transforming an area that is home to large residential neighborhoods and some of the city's largest institutions — including the University of Pittsburgh, CMU and UPMC Presbyterian, Shadyside and Magee-Womens — and their thousands of employees.

“It's a lot worse,” said Michael Keyes, who works at the Metro PCS cellphone store on Highland Avenue. “Around rush hour, it gets way backed up.”

Cyclist traffic has increased as well.

“Bike traffic has gone up 20-fold,” said Melvin Franklin, a Metro PCS employee.

Keyes and Franklin said they have witnessed several bike accidents. Franklin noted that city officials have been slow to fix potholes and deteriorating road shoulders.

More adaptive traffic signals are coming to East End neighborhoods this year as CMU and the city of Pittsburgh develop the Scalable Urban Traffic Control program, or Surtrac. Aiming to ease congestion, the signals change their patterns based on traffic instead of preprogrammed cycles.

The signals piloted in 2012 at 12 high-volume intersections in East Liberty. Then nine on Penn Avenue by Bakery Square. A batch was installed from Fifth Avenue to Braddock, with plans for installation at 23 intersections on Baum Boulevard and Centre Avenue in Oakland. By midsummer, 49 intersections will host the adaptive technology, out of about 600 intersections with traffic signals citywide.

Amanda Purcell, a municipal traffic engineer with the city, said the technology must be programmed with some cycles. Purcell said when the system was installed near Bakery Square, the city received complaints from pedestrians that the timing between the walk lights and signals caused confusion. The timing had to be adjusted.

“At the city, we have to be careful about not putting something in that's not thoroughly tested,” Purcell said. “We have to make sure everything we put on the street is going to work all the time.”

CMU's studies on the East Liberty intersections show vehicles spend 40 percent less time idling and reduce emissions by 21 percent.

Other partners in the installation include the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission Regional Traffic Signal Program and CMU's Traffic 21.

Rafiq Brookins, who manages Jamil's Products for the Mind, Body, Spirit on Penn Avenue, said he has noticed not so much a spike in car traffic through East Liberty, but a bump in foot traffic.

Stan Caldwell, executive director at Traffic 21, said research continues about how to get signals to respond to pedestrians and bicycles. In the meantime, the technology

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can spare municipalities the work of re-timing signals based on growth or development.

“Applying the technology is no different than in the past applying concrete,” Caldwell said. “You should still be applying it where there's a need.”

According to the city, Surtrac received pilot funding of about $1.3 million from UPMC, Heinz Endowments, the Hillman Foundation, the R.K. Mellon Foundation, and about $500,000 in local, state and federal government grants.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has plans to implement adaptive technology to signals statewide, which are all operated by municipalities. A transportation funding plan passed in 2013 authorized up to $25 million in grants for traffic signals on state-owned roads in the 2015-16 year, and up to $40 million starting in 2016-17.

PennDOT has paired with the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission for a federally funded program to re-time lights and incorporated adaptive signal technology on Route 19 through Pine and McCandless during a recent reconstruction project.

Todd Kravits, district traffic engineer for PennDOT, said it typically costs about $175,000 to $200,000 to outfit an intersection with new signals. Adding adaptive technology adds about $40,000, he said.

Pennsylvania seeks public input on state transportation plan May 22, 2015, http://trn.trains.com/news

HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is seeking public comment on its 12-year transportation plan. Comments can be solicited through an online survey that runs through May 29.

“We want to ensure that we’re meeting the needs of our customers,” says Secretary Chairwoman Leslie S. Richards. “This online survey provides an easy and accessible way for the public to help shape Pennsylvania’s transportation future and I strongly encourage everyone to participate and become part of the transportation planning process in PA.”

The Twelve Year Transportation Program, which serves as a blueprint of prioritized transportation projects, is updated every two years through a cooperative effort among the State Transportation Commission, PennDOT, and its 24 regional planning partners. The goal is to enable all Pennsylvanians to contribute their priorities and suggestions.

To participate in the survey, go to www.talkpatransportation.com. The state is also encouraging social media users to use the hashtag #TalkPA12Yr.

Congress passes brief extension of highway, transit funding May 26, 2015 - http://www.progressiverailroading.com/

Congress over the weekend sent to President Obama for his signature a two-month extension of federal funding of highway and transit programs. The surface transportation law known as MAP-21 was set to expire May 31.

The House passed its bill — sponsored by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Bill Shuster (R-PA.) and House Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) — a week ago, while the Senate passed the bill on Saturday.

Although pleased that the legislation will prevent a shutdown of summer projects, some transportation industry leaders expressed frustration and disappointment that Congress passed another short-term extension of the Highway Trust Fund.

"This two month extension is a reflection of the inability of Congress to fund a long-term surface transportation bill, which has caused uncertainty among our members," said Bud Wright, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, in a prepared statement. "State DOTs are already postponing construction projects this year because they can’t count on federal funds to be there."

Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), leaders of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, said in a prepared statement that they want Congress to end "costly uncertainty" over the Highway Trust Fund and pass a six-year surface transportation reauthorization bill. Their goal is to mark up such legislation on June 24, they said.

http://www.talkpatransportation.com/

http://www.progressiverailroading.com/

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Press Release -- June 11, 2015 DelDOT Signs MOU with Uber Allowing Its Operation in Delaware - http://www.deldot.gov/

Agreement Establishes Requirements, Enhances Rider Safety

Dover -- DelDOT has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Uber to approve the operation of its transportation network company in Delaware. The agreement establishes requirements for Uber and drivers who use its platform to operate in Delaware, including background check requirements, minimum insurance coverage, and other standards to promote safe and responsible service.

"Uber offers a new, innovative, and in-demand model of providing public carrier services, and the effort to establish this agreement shows Delaware's continued commitment to embracing the innovations of our new economy," said Governor Markell. "I applaud the work of our Department of Transportation and Uber representatives to give Delaware riders the opportunity to benefit from the Uber experience, and to provide employment opportunities for Delawareans who choose to partner with the company to provide rides."

Transportation Network Companies (or TNCs), also referred to as Ride Share Companies, are a growing national trend in providing personalized transportation options via web-enabled devices, including smart phones. Companies like Uber have taken off in recent years as riders throughout the country and around the world have demonstrated a great demand for these services.

"With the leadership of Governor Jack Markell, DelDOT Secretary Jennifer Cohan and DMV Director Scott Vien, Delaware has signaled it embraces innovation and supports more choice and opportunity," said Jon Feldman, General Manager for Uber. "We look forward to continuing to work together to create a permanent regulatory framework for ridesharing, connecting residents and visitors with safe, affordable and reliable rides and creating jobs along the way."

Under the MOU signed with Uber, drivers authorized to use the company's platform must also meet licensing and vehicle requirements and will be prohibited from picking up or soliciting riders from a designated street hail area, such as those located in front of train stations and airports. Uber will be subject to frequent comprehensive audits to ensure the company and its partnered drivers are fulfilling the requirements. Other TNCs would be held to the same standards if they wish to establish operations in Delaware.

"I am happy that the Department was able to come to an agreement with Uber on the terms of its operations here in Delaware. Transportation Network Carriers have the potential to provide the public with new options for transit, and this MOU ensures that those options are provided to Delawareans in a responsible way," said DelDOT Secretary Jennifer Cohan.

Delaware Budget and Transportation Funding Update June 17, 2015, By Jonathan Starkey, http://www.delawareonline.com/

Top Democrats in the Delaware House of Representatives said bipartisan budget talks in Dover are failing, with leadership from both parties unable to find common ground on operating budget challenges and a separate effort to raise new money for roadway infrastructure.

House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst, D-Delaware City, said budget negotiations are "going nowhere," even after a Tuesday night meeting in Legislative Hall attended by top Democrats and Republicans, as well as members of Gov. Jack Markell's Cabinet.

"This year has been very discouraging," Longhurst said.

Budget lawmakers on the General Assembly's Joint Finance Committee still face a roughly $30 million gap between revenue and Markell's $3.9 billion spending proposal. Longhurst and House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth, are opposing efforts to use $61 million in one-time money from bank settlements to balance next year's spending plan.

Democrats are instead seeking Republican votes on higher taxes before the session ends on June 30 to address this year's budget gap and begin to head off problems next year, when the gap between spending and available revenue is expected to widen.

Without higher taxes, top House Democrats – Schwartzkopf and Longhurst – are warning of millions in cuts to Delaware's $45 million grant-in-aid budget, which funds volunteer fire companies and senior centers, among other nonprofits.

During a public meeting on Wednesday morning, Rep. Quinn Johnson, a Middletown Democrat and capital budget committee chairman, also threatened spending cuts to accounts that fund local roadway improvements.

Schwartzkopf said Wednesday that tax changes could include eliminating itemized deductions wealthier earners claim on their personal income tax returns and higher corporate franchise fees paid by Fortune 500 companies that incorporate in Delaware.

Republicans are resisting calls for higher taxes before lawmakers will adjourn the current legislative session after midnight on June 30.

House Minority Leader Daniel Short, R-Seaford, said lawmakers should use one-time settlement money with financial institutions to balance this year's budget. As for next year, Short said lawmakers should await updated revenue estimates and not prematurely consider higher taxes.

"It's very disrespectful to the general public to say we're going to tax you over and over again," Short said.

Schwartzkopf said Republicans are merely delaying tough votes. "When you kick the can down the road, the problem gets worse," Schwartzkopf said.

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Schwartzkopf also acknowledged the challenges of raising taxes in 2016, an election year when every House lawmaker will face voters in the fall. "It's much harder in an election year to count votes than it is in a non-election year," Schwartzkopf said.

Separately, legislation to raise taxes on wealthier earners passed the House Revenue Committee.

The legislation, sponsored by Rep. John Kowalko, D-Newark, would establish higher income tax brackets for Delawareans earning more than $125,000 and $250,000. Kowalko said the committee vote to release the legislation "shows a striking acknowledgment of the crisis we are facing."

It's unclear how much support Kowalko's legislation will find on the House floor.

A spokesman for Markell would not say directly whether the governor supports the proposal. "The governor's administration will continue to sit down and talk with legislators about their ideas and how to raise revenue in a manner that is stable and promotes job creation," spokesman Jonathon Dworkin said by email earlier this week.

Meanwhile, legislation to provide additional funding for roadway infrastructure has stalled in the Delaware Senate.

The measure, which passed the House with only Democratic support last month, would raise fees at the Division of Motor Vehicles to generate $24 million in new annual revenue for the Delaware Transportation Trust Fund, which faces a $780 million, six-year deficit.

Democrats need Republican support to achieve the three-fifths vote needed to pass higher fees in the Senate. Schwartzkopf and Longhurst on Wednesday said Republicans have walked away from a deal that they helped broker.

"Everybody knows the roads are an issue," Longhurst said. "It's just irresponsible for us not to take the issue up."

Is a transportation free-for-all coming to Pittsburgh’s Golden Triangle? June 24, 2015, By Jon Schmitz / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Two days of brainstorming by various Downtown interests, guided by transportation planning experts, have hatched a revolutionary concept for remaking the entrance to the Golden Triangle.

The concept, called shared space, removes traffic signals, signage, crosswalks, lane markings and curbs, setting up a sort of free-for-all plaza where pedestrians, drivers and cyclists must watch out for one another.

It has been used successfully in Europe and to a lesser degree in the U.S. to revitalize blighted urban areas and improve safety. It was pioneered by Hans Monderman, a Dutch traffic engineer who came to view signs and signals as admissions of design failure.

Informally titled “Heart of Pittsburgh,” the concept is being pitched for the section of Liberty Avenue from

Commonwealth Place to Stanwix Street. It emerged from a seminar hosted by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and AARP, and guided by the Walkable and Livable Communities Institute, a nonprofit organization based in Washington state. The seminar is part of Envision Downtown, a program announced this year by Mayor Bill Peduto to promote sustainable development.

“If this got done, it would be on the national radar screen,” said Robert Ping, technical assistance program manager for WALC. “People would come here to see it. Philadelphia would be a little jealous.”

The idea emerged after several dozen participants visited the intersection of Liberty, Stanwix, Forbes Avenue and Penn Avenue on Monday and watched what charitably could be described as mayhem, with pedestrians and bicyclists darting across streets without regard to crosswalks or traffic lights.

“We saw all kinds of behaviors where people weren’t obeying the rules,” said Ian Lockwood, a Florida-based engineer with 28 years of experience in sustainable transportation planning who was visiting Pittsburgh for the first time. Because of the multiple streets merging there, “it takes a long time for everyone to get a green light,” he said. “It’s not working. The thing’s not working.”

Jeremy Waldrup, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, said conversion to shared space would create a more attractive walk between the attractions of Market Square and Point State Park, something that now “is not even remotely an enjoyable experience.”

The group, which included representatives of AARP, city government, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Port Authority and Downtown business interests, developed short- and long-range concepts for improving safety in the corridor, acknowledging that the shared-space concept would be a long-term undertaking.

It would include measures to channel traffic away from Liberty to the Boulevard of the Allies and Fort Duquesne Boulevard. Cars and buses would still be allowed on Liberty but would move more slowly, Mr. Lockwood said. Still, the traffic gets through quicker because there are no waits at traffic signals, he said.

Items that could be accomplished sooner include sidewalk extensions called “bulb-outs” at several corners to shorten the distance pedestrians have to cross; closing the stretch of Penn from Stanwix to the merge point with Liberty, planting it with trees and extending the Penn Avenue bike lanes through it toward the park; and closing the short ramp that allows inbound Liberty traffic to turn right on Stanwix without slowing down.

“We are thrilled that we’ve started this conversation,” Mr. Waldrup said. “There’s a heck of a lot more work to do ... to flesh this out and see if it has legs.” leadership from both parties unable to find common ground on operating budget challenges and a separate effort to raise new money for roadway infrastructure.

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IINNTTEERRCCOONNNNEECCTT EENNDDIINNGGSS

Thought I’d go a different route with our ‘Endings’ this issue and show a brief historical pictorial view of Pennsylvania’s transportation ‘early’ years… Trolley Transportation in Charleroi PA The Wilson Line, Burschel Diaries, Scranton Pa. Chester, PA

Reading Regional Airport PA Turnpike Alleghany Portage Railroad

Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Railroad Point Bridge

Reading Railroad

Covered Bridges Phila Subways PA Canals More from New Jersey, Delaware and West Virginia in future editions! Respectfully submitted, Dean J. Kaiser, P.E., PTOE 2015 MASITE Newsletter Editor

MASITE Interconnect Info – Please feel free to comment liberally on this and any issue of the Interconnect. All news and noteworthy items are still greatly appreciated in the next couple of months as well as information relating to sponsor companies, organizations, MASITE members and other Section planned activities. The deadline for the September 2015 issue will be September 15th.

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