Wilkes University Creative Writing Department to host Maslow Reading Series nightly from Jan. 10 until Jan. 14.

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Amish Cook: Cast iron chronicles

<p>With 2015 just ended, I wanted to report on what I and my nearly 12,000 colleagues at the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation did for you last year.</p><p>On the road and bridge system, PennDOT awarded 608 highway and bridge construction contracts worth more than $2.5 billion, almost double what we were able to do about two years ago. In the six-county region in Northeastern Pennsylvania managed by PennDOT&#8217;s District 4, we awarded contracts for 52 projects worth $245.9 million.</p><p>We improved more than 6,000 miles of pavement last year, including more than 300 miles in District 4.</p><p>We are fixing more bridges and making headway against the backlog of bridges in need of immediate repair. We have reduced the number of structurally deficient bridges by 2,000.</p><p>More resources are going to your communities to fix local roads as well. Local communities received nearly $434 million, a 35 percent increase from only two years ago.</p><p>Transit agencies are acting on long-shelved, much-needed projects to improve facilities and service for the 800,000 people who use public transportation every day. In the 2015-16 state fiscal year, these agencies received an additional $360 million for capital improvements.</p><p>Because we know transparency and proactive communication with the public and stakeholders are critical, we launched a new website last year showing where investments are being made across the state.</p><p>The website &#8211; <a href="http://www.projects.penndot.gov/projects/PAProjects.aspx" target="_blank">www.Projects.PennDOT.gov</a> &#8211; features statewide and county updates on:</p><p>&#8226; Construction projects that are underway or will be bid or begin this year.</p><p>&#8226; Projects that are completed, underway, planned or in development because of Act 89&#8217;s historic investment.</p><p>&#8226; Projects included in the department&#8217;s four- and 12-year plans.</p><p>While we&#8217;ve made many improvements, we also have an eye on the future. PennDOT spent roughly $210 million over the past decade to repair flood damage to Pennsylvania roads and bridges. With this in mind, and the probability of extreme weather events increasing with climate change, PennDOT is undertaking an Extreme Weather Resilience Study to assess vulnerable areas and assets.</p><p>Based on an assessment framework from the Federal Highway Administration, the project, which includes professional, state and local stakeholders, will prepare strategies and a Climate Adaptation Plan for release and implementation in September 2016.</p><p>We at PennDOT are doing our part to make sure we operate as efficiently as possible.</p><p>We have set new goals that include delivering efficient winter operations, roadway maintenance and bridge improvements, investing in state-of-the-art equipment and IT and making the best use of technology to deliver our services.</p><p>One example of using technology to improve winter services is Gov. Tom Wolf&#8217;s recent announcement of the expanded pilot of our Automated Vehicle Location system in more than 500 PennDOT plow trucks and more than 200 contracted rental trucks. The system will allow us to better manage storms and, later this winter, give our customers the opportunity to go on <a href="http://www.511pa.com/" target="_blank">511 PA</a> and see just where trucks are operating.</p><p>Another technology enhancement has been made in our driver and vehicle services. As part of Gov. Wolf&#8217;s GO-TIME initiative, PennDOT implemented a new monitoring system to check wait times at driver&#8217;s license centers and take immediate steps to make improvements for customers. </p><p>At one of PennDOT&#8217;s busiest centers in Malvern, Chester County, the new system prompted us to add an extra camera to the photo license operation and expand hours. As a result, wait times were cut from 90 minutes to less than 30 minutes. The system is being added to another 23 high-volume sites.</p><p>We are working hard at PennDOT every day to keep you moving. We enter 2016 with a renewed commitment to put your dollars invested with us to effective and efficient use.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>Leslie S. Richards</p><p>Contributing Columnist</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Leslie S. Richards is secretary of Pennsylvania&#8217;s Department of Transportation. For information, visit <a href="http://www.penndot.gov/Pages/default.aspx#.VorVVFLIXYo" target="_blank">www.penndot.gov</a>.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Leslie S. Richards: PennDOT aims to keep you moving throughout 2016 and beyond