Pennsylvania Senate OKs bill to halt plans to toll bridges
By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Republicans in Pennsylvania’s Senate are trying to make Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration start over on its plans to toll up to nine major bridges. They approved a bill Tuesday to require PennDOT to first secure approval from the Legislature. The bill passed 28-19, with the backing of every Republican and one Democrat. Republicans contend that the process leading to PennDOT’s announcement in February has lacked transparency and was never envisioned by lawmakers when they created the Public-Private Transportation Partnership Board in 2012. Democrats say Republicans are failing their obligations to fund transportation needs and say PennDOT’s initiative was squarely within the scope of 2012’s law. Wolf’s administration opposes the bill.

[table id=307 /]

State university system advances consolidation plan a step
By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The board of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is advancing a plan to merge six of its 14 universities into two new institutions, as the system struggles with sinking enrollment and stagnant state aid. Wednesday’s nearly unanimous board vote launches a 60-day public comment period. A final vote could be scheduled for July, with implementation in time for the 2022-23 school year. Under the plans, Bloomsburg, Mansfield and Lock Haven universities in northern Pennsylvania would merge into one institution and California, Clarion and Edinboro in western Pennsylvania would merge to become another. All six campuses would remain open, with integrated faculty, curriculum and enrollment strategies.

LAMB ANNOUNCES COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING REQUESTS

(PITTSBURGH, PA) – Today, Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17) announced the Community Project Funding (CPF) requests that he submitted for the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Appropriations process, to direct funding to specific governmental entities, nonprofit organizations, or geographic locations.  Under guidelines issued by the House Appropriations Committee, each Representative may request funding for up to 10 projects in their community for FY22.  Projects are restricted to a limited number of federal funding streams, and only state and local governments and eligible non-profit entities are permitted to receive funding.

“This is an opportunity to provide local community organizations with a better shot at securing federal funding to support projects across PA-17, and I will work hard to secure every dollar we can for our district,” said Lamb.

6 of the 10 requests were Beaver County related as listed below:

1)PROJECT NAME: Communication System Improvement Project

AMOUNT OF REQUEST: $223,775

INTENDED RECIPIENT: South Beaver Township Police Department (805 Blackhawk Road, Beaver Falls, PA 15010)

2)PROJECT NAME: Filter Media Material Upgrade

AMOUNT OF REQUEST: $400,000

INTENDED RECIPIENT: Creswell Heights Joint Authority (3961 Jordan Street, PO Box 301, South Heights, PA 15081)

This project will provide funding to upgrade the materials needed for the removal of iron and manganese from the supply using sand and gravel in the filtration system to protect water quality.

3)PROJECT NAME: Center Grange Road Waterline Replacement

AMOUNT OF REQUEST: $999,999

INTENDED RECIPIENT: Center Township Water Authority (224 Center Grange Road, Aliquippa PA 15001)

This project will replace an aging waterline that has in recent years been the source of numerous waterline breaks located along Center Grange Road (S.R. 3012) that serves several critical public facilities including an elementary school, the Center Township Municipal Complex (location of the Township Police Department/Emergency Services, Township Business offices, Water Authority, Sanitary Authority, etc.), the Community College of Beaver County, among other businesses and residences.

4)PROJECT NAME: Water Treatment Plant Basin Covers

AMOUNT OF REQUEST: $80,000

INTENDED RECIPIENT: Municipal Authority Borough of Midland (946 Railroad Avenue, Midland, PA 15059)

This project will provide basin covers to ensure necessary security for the Municipal Authority to prevent tampering and harm to the water supply.

5)PROJECT NAME: TCBC Men’s Shelter Rehabilitation

AMOUNT OF REQUEST: $150,000

INTENDED RECIPIENT: The Cornerstone of Beaver County (600 6th Street, Beaver Falls PA 15010)

This project is for the Cornerstone of Beaver County (TCBC) Men’s Shelter Rehabilitation to complete needed renovations to the men’s shelter in Beaver County. These renovations will include repair and or replacement of (roof, gutters, downspouts), parking lot, emergency exit, doors/windows, and other identified building needs.

6)PROJECT NAME: RiverWise Franklin Avenue Park

AMOUNT OF REQUEST: $894,941

INTENDED RECIPIENT: Beaver County Regional Council of Governments (P.O. Box 51, Monaca, PA 15061)

This project will complete the RiverWise Franklin Avenue Park as a public gathering space for the benefit of all residents of Aliquippa and Beaver County.

In compliance with House Rules and Committee requirements, Lamb has certified that he, his spouse and his immediate family have no financial interest in any of the projects he has requested.

Additional information on the Community Project Funding is available here.  Visit Lamb’s website for a full list of the projects submitted for consideration to the Appropriations Committee for PA-17.

(File Photo)

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Aliquippa, Pa.) Aliquippa City council received word from the PA DCED  that they received an  intermodal grant for the Fifth Avenue hill, according to Mayor Dwan B. Walker. Act 47 coordinator Debbie Grass congratulated city officials  for their recently announced Governor’s Excellence Award. The virtual ceremony is on   Wednesday, May 5 at 10 a.m.

Harrisburg, PA – On behalf of Pennsylvania’s Highly Automated Vehicle (HAV) Advisory Committee, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced the launch of a survey designed to gain an understanding of Pennsylvanians’ perceptions and knowledge of automated vehicles.