Secretary Biehler Updates Senate Committee on Stimulus/Accelerated Bridge Program

PennDOT has obligated (moved projects of this value) $620 million of the more than $1 billion in stimulus dollars coming to PA, PennDOT Secretary Al Biehler, Wednesday, told the Senate Transportation Committee. Bids continue to average 15% below estimates with an average of 4.3 bidders per project. PennDOT expects to let all its stimulus dollars by August 31, exceeding the federal deadline.

Regarding the Accelerated Bridge Program (ABP), PennDOT had set a goal of bidding projects to work on 411 bridges by June 30. The Secretary reported 427 bridges let to date. The ABP was funded by a one-time bond issue of $350 million. It is unclear whether the legislature will approve the additional $200 million in bond proceeds proposed by Governor Rendell in this year’s budget.

Deputy Secretary Scott Christie told the committee the Department has compressed from 180 days to 100 days the time frame for evaluating new products. PennDOT has a goal to further reduce that time to 90 days.

You can view the Department’s testimony and power point presentation in its entirety along with the new Project Delivery Newsletter by going here.

06.18.09