HEADLINE:
CONFERENCE AT NEMACOLIN TO COST PENNDOT $200,000
BODY: Top state officials and professional engineers
get pretty testy when I write about their conferences and meetings and imply
such gatherings aren't always good investments of taxpayer money.
For example, "Getting Around" informed you about
back-to-back events held in the Laurel Highlands in June. After PennDOT district
engineers met for two days at the Summit Inn east of Uniontown, other PennDOT
employees went to a national conference of the American Society of Highway
Engineers at Seven Springs Resort.
While the Seven
Springs event was financed by ASHE and conference registration fees -- not taxes
-- some of the sponsorship money was generated as a result of government
projects and publicly financed corporate and consultant contracts.
In the ensuing weeks, PennDOT Deputy Secretary Mike Ryan
wrote a letter to the editor:
"We at PennDOT welcome
scrutiny and merely ask that reporters who cover us try their best to live up to
journalistic standards of fairness and accuracy. Sadly, Joe Grata fell short of
that goal" in a column headlined: "Highway Engineers Good for Resort Business."
In another letter, two ASHE officers chided me for a
"blatant misstatement of facts" and for insulting more than 600 attendees who
traveled to Seven Springs from as far away as Florida, North Dakota and
Texas.
"We are asking Mr. Grata to please check the
facts before he slanders another conference bringing people from all over the
country to spend time and money in our region."
"Another conference" is taking place now. I'll stick to facts. I
promise to be fair and accurate. I'll be a milder, gentle Joe.
Here goes ...
*
The
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, known by the
acronym AASHTO, is holding its annual spring meeting at Nemacolin Woodlands
Resort in the Laurel Highlands this weekend.
More than
300 transportation leaders from virtually every state and Puerto Rico are
participating in the five-day business meeting that began Thursday and concludes
tomorrow.
Attendees are discussing national
transportation issues, paying particular attention to making recommendations and
proposals for the next federal transportation spending and
reauthorization bill that will succeed the original bill known as
"ISTEA," and the present bill known as "TEA-21."
On
Wednesday, the organization will hold a news briefing in Washington, D.C., where
AASHTO Executive Director John Horsley and colleagues will discuss results of
their meeting in Fayette County.
Pennsylvania
Transportation Secretary Bradley L. Mallory, current AASHTO president, is
serving as host for the meeting.
*
On the other hand, I would be remiss in not telling you the lengths to
which PennDOT is going to be a gracious host and put a smiley face on
transportation in Pennsylvania. Maybe it's appropriate; maybe not. You be the
judge.
For weeks, Uniontown-based PennDOT District 12,
which covers Westmoreland, Washington, Fayette and Greene counties, has been
working employees overtime. They are picking up trash, painting highway lines,
fixing signs and making spiffy all roads leading to Nemacolin, and places such
as Fallingwater, where meeting attendees are invited to a dinner and special
reception tonight.
A 15-person team headed by a PennDOT
deputy secretary and consisting of representatives from the Harrisburg central
office and PennDOT District 12 have been working since August to organize
volunteers, arrange transportation, develop tours, orchestrate media events and
perform "a variety of other functions," according to the "District Dozen," the
department's newsletter.
Top mangers from Collier-based
PennDOT District 11, which covers Allegheny County, are acting as "greeters" for
conference attendees arriving at Pittsburgh International Airport. PennDOT
reserved two rooms at the Red Roof Inn at Robinson Town Centre for four nights
for employees working as drivers "as a precaution for unannounced flights that
may arrive during the night or early morning hours."
In
addition to the "Pittsburgh Airport Team," PennDOT has a Morgantown Airport
Team, Nemacolin Shuttle Team, Connellsville-Latrobe (airports) Team, Executive
Team and Coordination Team to act as chauffeurs during the event.
"Executive drivers" are assigned to Mallory, at least one
U.S. congressman and to U.S. Department of Transportation officials at the
conference.
These drivers have received special
marching orders: "Each executive driver will receive a biography of their
client." "Each will develop their own schedule based on their client needs or
special requests." "Executive drivers will cater to their clients' needs at all
times."
More than two dozen PennDOT employees and a
fleet of as many vehicles, including vans holding up to 14 passengers, are
assigned to the AASHTO conference. Drivers are assigned shifts from 7 a.m. to 11
p.m. Coolers containing bottles of water and soda were bought for the vehicles,
lest the mountain air should make the guests thirsty en route to Nemacolin.
The block of rooms set aside for the conference is sold
out. Mountain View Inn and the Fairfield Inn in Uniontown are handling the
overflow. PennDOT is shuttling them back and forth to Nemacolin.
Drivers and some others assisting the AASHTO guests are easily
recognizable. They've been given special shirts with instructions to wear the
yellow shirt one day and orange ones on other days.
I've been told the cost to PennDOT for the five-day conference will be
about $200,000. That doesn't count pre-conference maintenance costs and the
value of employee time spent in "planning and coordinating."
As for "private" money, AASHTO offered "some exciting sponsorship
opportunities" for companies, consultants and organizations, tantamount to
political contributions to gain the ears of influential people.
They total more than $90,000, including $3,000 to sponsor all nine
holes of the miniature golf tournament; $3,000 to $5,000 for any of three
"breakfast events" ; $10,000 for the meeting program book; $5,000 for delegate
gifts; $2,000 for gift bags; $1,000 for a welcome sign; $5,000 for an evening
reception and golf awards; $5,000 for a reception; and $10,000 for dinner at the
Nemacolin Woodlands Ski Lodge on Friday night, and so on.
I think I've said enough. If I show up at Nemacolin Woodlands, they may
have room at the inn -- in the dog house.
*
Plate du jour. Jim Christenson of Christenson Consultants
Inc., Pittsburgh, passes along the Pennsylvania personalized license plate
AMAZED that he spotted on car traveling south on Greentree Road. PennDOT never
ceases to AMAZEME.
Spring
cleanup -- Community groups, Adopt-A-Highway partners and other volunteers are
engaged in annual spring cleaning of roadsides. Use caution where work is taking
place.
Pittsburgh International Airport -- Luggage
subject to screening and/or matched to passengers. Arrive at least 90 minutes in
advance of flights. Only ticketed passengers beyond landside terminal. Passenger
drop-offs, pickups and curbside check-ins are permitted. Carry a
government-issued photo ID at all times.
Westmoreland
County Transit Authority -- Due to the Fort Pitt Bridge-Tunnel project's impact
on Downtown traffic, the authority has changed four bus stops for the 5:10 p.m.
outbound runs of its 1F, 2F and 3F routes. Stops at Seventh Avenue and Grant
Street, Forbes Avenue at Grant, Forbes at Delray and Liberty Avenue at the Baum
Building. Buses now will stop on Grant at Forbes (Frick Building), Forbes at
Smithfield Street (Kaufmann's), Smithfield at Sixth Avenue (Mellon Square) and
the East Busway Penn Park Station.
Outbound Fort Pitt
Bridge and Tunnel are closed through August for repairs, modernization. Stanwix
Street entry ramp to the bridge isn't scheduled to be finished until about Sept.
30.
Turns restricted at both ends of the Liberty
Tunnels; along Route 51 in the same area; McArdle Roadway intersection at the
north end of the Liberty Tunnels; at West End Circle; and both ends of the West
End Bridge.
Downtown has been congested, especially
during afternoon rush. Weeknights and weekends have not been a problem.
Follow detour signs, plan ahead, use public transit if
possible.
Also, the inbound tunnel is closed weeknights
for work.
A comprehensive report of the Fort Pitt
Bridge-Tunnel project, called "We Will Survive," is available on the PG's Web
site at www.post-gazette.com.
Mon-Fayette Expressway --
All 17 miles of a new section between I-70, Fallowfield, and Route 51,
Jefferson, are open. They connect with a six-mile section south of I-70,
providing 23 continuous miles of toll road in Washington and southern Allegheny
counties. The expressway is marked "Toll 43" on highway signs.
Cranberry Connector -- Route 19 north traffic ramp to the turnpike has
been shifted to a temporary ramp as part of $44.3 million construction of direct
connection between I-79 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike. No peak-hour restrictions
on I-79, but traffic is down to one lane through work zone from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.
www.cranberryconnector.com.
Butler Service Plaza --
Closed. Being razed to make room for a 13-lane toll plaza near Warrendale, east
of Cranberry (No. 3) Exit. New Stanton service plaza in Westmoreland County is
the last on-turnpike fuel facility west to the Ohio border.
E-ZPass -- Enroll at (877) 736-6727 or at www.paturnpike.com. Driver's
license, vehicle registration needed to sign up. New digital speed displays set
up at E-ZPass lanes. Turnpike to begin enforcing 5 mph speed limit in lanes this
summer.
Mainline-New Stanton -- Eastbound traffic using
the shoulder and "slow lane" through construction zone east of New Stanton. Work
scheduled for completion in early summer.
Mainline-Gateway -- Gateway toll plaza being renovated and
reconstructed; expect delays during peak hours. Work to be completed in May
2003.
Mainline-Somerset -- Thirteen-mile section being
reconstructed between Mileposts 109 and 122. Traffic squeezed into two narrow
lanes in each direction for $94 million project. Changed traffic patterns, stop
signs at Somerset Interchange.
Occasional other
one-lane restrictions across the state for construction or maintenance. For
updates, (800) 331-3414 or www.paturnpike.com.
I-79,
Allegheny County -- PennDOT erecting barriers tomorrow to begin five-mile, $8.7
million reconstruction between I-279 split in Franklin Park and Route 19, just
south of Warrendale and the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Traffic to be maintained in
two lanes in both directions, but expect delays. Work to be finished by Sept.
30.
I-70, Washington County -- Motorists using I-70
east going to Bentleyville must use Exit 32B because PennDOT has closed Route
917 at Main Street for widening. Exit 32A remains open from I-70 west. Route 917
is open to the work zone.
I-376 -- Trucks and buses
being directed into the left lane on the Parkway East outbound between Boulevard
of Allies and Bates Street. PennDOT trying to limit further damage to a cracked
retaining wall supporting the right lane that heavy vehicles usually drive.
Route 22/30 -- Last phase of a two-year, $14.5 million
reconstruction west past Hankey Farms to the Route 22-30 split. Traffic
restricted to eastbound side, single lane in each direction. Westbound closed,
including Imperial exit. Travel affected for events at the Post-Gazette Pavilion
near Burgettstown.
Also, changing traffic patterns for
widening two miles from Route 119 east through New Alexandria. Detailed
information at www.renew22.com.
Routes 119/22 -- Lanes
narrowed to 11 feet and shifted slightly at Route 22 in Burrell, Indiana County,
part of a $28.8 million job at the 119/22 interchange.
Route 19 -- Northbound side of Route 910 overpass in Pine closed for
second year of work. Traffic detoured onto southbound lanes redone last year and
onto Church Road. Contract expected to be done by late June.
Route 50 -- Washington Pike (Route 50) between Chartiers and Hickman
streets in heart of Bridgeville business district to be closed to all traffic in
mid-June to widen the road to four lanes and alleviate bottleneck.
Route 65 -- One lane in each direction in the
Ambridge-Leetsdale area around the Allegheny-Beaver line.
Routes 88-51 -- Work that was supposed to start two weeks ago may start
this week, closing the northbound lane of Route 88 from McNeilly Road to Route
51, Overbrook. Official detour is via Connor Road.
Lewis Run Road, West Mifflin -- PennDOT doing preliminary work but no
restrictions yet on the busy connection with Route 51.
Freedom-Crider Road -- Improvements under way between Route 989 and
Park Hill Road, New Sewickley. Detour via Route 989 and Lovi Road.
Route 51/19, West End Circle -- Lane restrictions for
construction of a railroad underpass that will provide direct link to the West
End Bridge.
Business Route 60, Moon -- Passing lanes
closed in the northbound and southbound directions around Cargo Road, where an
interchange is being built. Expect rush-hour delays.
Glenwood Bridge -- Work at the south interchange where Routes 885 and
837 cross. Traffic restricted to one lane in each direction at south end of the
bridge, and on Route 885 to and from West Homestead. Two ramps closed; follow
detours that include using Glass Run Road.
16th Street
Bridge -- Bridge may be restricted to one outbound lane between 9 a.m. and 3
p.m. for utility work.
Penn Avenue -- PennDOT
resurfacing two different sections from East Liberty through Point Breeze to
Wilkinsburg. Daytime work, but expect delays.
Fort
Couch Road -- Alternating traffic 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., weather permitting, for
resurfacing around the Route 19 intersection, Bethel Park.
Fort Pitt Boulevard -- Eastbound lanes above the Mon Wharf closed for
demolition, including I-279 exit ramp from Fort Duquesne Bridge, and Wood Street
entrance ramp to the Parkway East. Detours posted. Work expected to start soon
for new two-lane boulevard, new I-279 direct connection and new Wood Street
ramp. One westbound lane is closed for contractor access to work site. Grant
Street access ramp to the Parkway East has reopened for now. Progress photos on
Web at www.fortpittboulevard.com.
Homestead-Duquesne
Road -- Portion in West Mifflin between Thompson Run and Homeville roads still
closed for emergency bridge repairs.
10 th Street
Bypass -- Closed between the Fort Duquesne Bridge and 10 th Street for
convention center construction.
10 th Street, Downtown
-- Closed between Penn Avenue and Fort Duquesne Boulevard during convention
center construction.
Downtown
express, flyer buses -- Fourteen routes from the eastern suburbs that used
Liberty Avenue, Stanwix Street and either Grant Street or Smithfield Street to
circulate through the Golden Triangle will make a short loop via Wood Street and
Oliver Avenue starting this week, probably Wednesday.
Library light-rail -- Service on the 42L suspended until tomorrow
morning because of work on the Milford Street Bridge and a crossover at end of
line. Shuttle buses operating on same timetable.
South
Busway -- The section that has been closed between Glenbury and Whited streets
for construction of the Overbrook light-rail line not expected to be reopened
until early May.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
www.post-gazette.com/ transportation
Port Authority
412-442-2000
www.ridegold.com
Car-van pools
412-471-POOL
Coming
to town?
www.visitpittsburgh.com
PennDOT complaints
(800) FIX-ROAD
Litterbug hot line
(888) 548-8372
PennDOT Web sites
www.epenndot.com
www.dot.state.pa.us
www.route228.com
Allegheny Trail Alliance
www.atatrail.org
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
www.railtrails.org
Amtrak
412-471-6172
(800) 872-7245
www.amtrak.com
Pittsburgh International Airport
www.pitairport.com
Maglev
www.maglevpa.com
Duquesne Incline
412-381-1665
www.incline.cc
Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership
www.downtownpittsburgh.com
AAA Motor Club
412-363-5100
www.aaa.com
NOTES: Joe Grata can be contacted c/o the
Post-Gazette or e-mail him at jgrata@post-gazette.com. Not all
transportation-related items are addressed because of volume.
Document 27 of 50. 