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Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)

Type	Government agency
Founded	May 6, 1970
Headquarters	Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) oversees transportation issues in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The administrator of PennDOT is the Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation, currently Allen D. Biehler, P.E. Presently, PennDOT supports over 40,500 miles (65,200 km) of state roads and highways, about 25,000 bridges, as well as new roadway construction, the exception being the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, although they currently follow PennDOT policies and procedures.^{[citation needed]} In addition, other modes of transportation are supervised or supported by PennDOT. These include aviation, rail traffic, mass transit, intrastate highway shipping traffic, motor vehicle safety & licensing, and driver licensing. PennDOT also supports the Ports of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Erie. The current budget is approximately $3.8 billion in federal and state funds. The state budget is supported by the motor vehicle fuels tax which is dedicated solely to transportation issues.

In recent years, PennDOT has focused on intermodal transportation. This is a broad attempt to enhance both commerce and public transportation.

PennDOT employs approximately 11,000 people.

PennDOT uses "LWS's" or Little White Signs as a means of marking the state-owned highways. The top number, which reads "SR xxxx" is the official registered name of the highway. Underneath, there is a larger font number, usually in multiples of 10, which is used to mark the highway in increments. More specifically, they are spaced every half-mile. To calculate the distance, simply divide the number by 20. For example, a sign reading a 240 means it is at mile 12. The numbers start either from the south or west of the county or state line or beginning of the highway. The numbering assignments for the highways follow a simple pattern. Every county is divided into quadrants. Highways that begin in the northeast quadrant are SR 1xxx, SR 2xxx in the southeast, SR 3xxx in the southwest, and finally SR 4xxx in the northwest. For example, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania is divided east-west by PA 501, PA 272, and US 222. It is divided north-south by PA 462 and PA 340.

PennDOT has extensive traffic cameras set up throughout various parts of major cities in the state, such as Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Allentown (Lehigh Valley), and Luzerne County. The latter's cameras are actually fed through to a television channel for Service Electric cable customers in Wilkes-Barre. These cameras are primarily installed for ITS purposes, not for law enforcement (as opposed to speed cameras).

History

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation was created from the former Department of Highways by Act 120 approved by the legislature on May 6, 1970. The intent of the legislation was to consolidate transportation-related functions formerly performed in the Departments of Commerce, Revenue, Community Affairs, Forests and Waters, Military Affairs and other state agencies.

It is the responsibility of the department to construct and maintain a system of roads at the sole expense of the state. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is responsible for more than 41,000 miles (66,000 km) of roadway. Townships control approximately 51,376 miles (82,682 km) of roads and streets; boroughs, 9,460 miles (15,220 km) and cities 6,779 miles (10,910 km). In all, there are more than 118,226 miles (190,266 km) of public roads, streets and toll roads in the Commonwealth.

Greatest growth in the state highway system occurred in 1931 when 20,156 miles (32,438 km) of rural roads were taken over by the Commonwealth. At that time, the Department of Highways, at the direction of Governor Gifford Pinchot, embarked upon an extensive program of paving rural roadways, well known as the "get the farmer out of the mud" program.

The Federal Government in 1916 instituted grants to the states for highway construction. These grants continue today and now comprise the key element in determining the size of the state's roadbuilding programs.

State payments to local communities for road maintenance also have continued to expand so that they average approximately $170 million annually.

Districts

Administratively PennDOT is divided into engineering districts to localize engineering and maintenance. The following is a table of the districts and their associated headquarters. The statewide headquarters for PennDOT is located in the Keystone Building in Harrisburg.

See also

• List of Pennsylvania state agencies
• List of State Routes in Pennsylvania

External links

• Pennsylvania Department of Transportation - PENNDOT

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