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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 1, 2014 02:40 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Rob Teplitz |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Legislation - Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission |
| In the near future, I plan on introducing legislation that will require the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to improve its tunnel maintenance and inspection procedures, to expand its customer service telephone access, and to tighten its oversight of the Commission’s toll-free travel policies. According to a recent audit by the Department of the Auditor General, the Turnpike Commission is losing money by allowing its employees to have unlimited toll-free access to the Turnpike and by inadequately overseeing its toll-free travel policies for contractors, consultants and other state governmental officials. The report also states that the Commission lacked transparency and accountability with regard to the commissioners’ travel expenses. Finally, while crediting the Commission for monitoring, maintaining, and inspecting turnpike tunnels, the report highlights areas where the Commission could do more to ensure safety. The proposed legislation will enhance Turnpike tunnel inspection and maintenance procedures by requiring: 1) The installation of fire detection and suppression systems in tunnels that do not have such systems on or before December 31, 2016; 2) The installation of video cameras in tunnels that do not have video monitoring capability on or before December 31, 2016; 3) The implementation of biennial tunnel inspections in accordance with Commission guidelines and Federal Highway Administration regulations; and 4) The establishment of a coordinator of all engineering, maintenance, inspection and safety issues related to tunnels. To promote greater transparency and accountability, the legislation will require the posting of monthly usage reports of toll-free Turnpike travel on its website and will require the Commission to monitor toll-free access to and travel on the Turnpike to ensure compliance with Commission guidelines. Please join me in advancing enhanced safety procedures for the inspection and maintenance of our Turnpike tunnels and in promoting greater transparency and accountability with regard to toll-free travel expenses. Thank you for your consideration. |
Introduced as SB1008