PRINTER'S NO. 121
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
147
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY BREWSTER, FONTANA, KANE, SCHWANK AND COSTA,
JANUARY 19, 2023
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION, JANUARY 19, 2023
AN ACT
Amending Title 74 (Transportation) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, providing for bridge inspection and
maintenance.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 74 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
CHAPTER 94
BRIDGE INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
Sec.
9401. Definitions.
9402. Departmental database for bridges.
9403. County database for bridges.
9404. Municipal database for bridges.
9405. Inspection standards.
9406. Audits.
§ 9401. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
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shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Department." The Department of Transportation of the
Commonwealth.
"Metropolitan planning organization." A metropolitan
planning organization established in accordance with 23 CFR Ch.
1 Subch. E Pt. 450 (relating to planning assistance and
standards).
§ 9402. Departmental database for bridges.
(a) Database.--The department shall develop and maintain a
publicly accessible database for all bridges in this
Commonwealth that are maintained with Federal, State, county or
municipal expense. The department shall design the database to
be searchable and organized by county, municipality and the
department's engineering district. The department shall include
all of the following information in the database:
(1) The bridge name and location, including all of the
following information:
(i) The street, road, highway or interstate
designation.
(ii) The county and municipality where the bridge is
located.
(iii) The department's engineering district where
the bridge is located.
(2) The date of the bridge's construction.
(3) Inspection information for the bridge, including all
of the following:
(i) The date of the bridge's most recent inspection.
(ii) The inspection cycle applicable to the bridge.
(iii) The condition or rating of the bridge,
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including engineer notes.
(iv) The restrictions applicable to the bridge based
on the most recent inspection.
(v) The name of the engineering firm or certified
bridge inspector who performed the bridge's most recent
inspection.
(4) The proposed schedule regarding reconstruction,
maintenance or repair of the bridge as determined by the
department, county or municipality, as applicable. The
department shall include an estimate of the costs for the
reconstruction, maintenance or repair if available.
(5) Any other information that the department is
required to make publicly available under Federal or State
law or that the department determines is necessary to
effectuate the purposes of this chapter regarding public
access to bridge inspection information and safety.
(b) Access.--The department shall make the information under
subsection (a) accessible to the appropriate metropolitan
planning organization and the department's engineering district
where the bridge is located.
§ 9403. County database for bridges.
(a) Database.--Each county shall develop and maintain a
publicly accessible database of all bridges in the county that
are maintained at county expense. Each county shall design the
database to be searchable and organized by municipality. Each
county shall include all of the following information in the
database:
(1) The bridge name and location, including all of the
following information:
(i) The street, road, highway or interstate
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designation.
(ii) The county and municipality where the bridge is
located.
(iii) The department's engineering district where
the bridge is located.
(2) The date of the bridge's construction.
(3) Inspection information for the bridge, including all
of the following:
(i) The date of the bridge's most recent inspection.
(ii) The inspection cycle applicable to the bridge.
(iii) The condition or rating of the bridge,
including engineer notes.
(iv) The restrictions applicable to the bridge based
on the most recent inspection.
(v) The name of the engineering firm or certified
bridge inspector who performed the bridge's most recent
inspection.
(4) The proposed schedule regarding reconstruction,
maintenance or repair of the bridge as determined by each
county. Each county shall include an estimate of the costs
for the reconstruction, maintenance or repair if available.
(5) Any other information that each county is required
to make publicly available by Federal or State law or that
each county or the department determines is necessary to
effectuate the purposes of this chapter regarding public
access to bridge inspection information and safety.
(b) Submission.--Each county shall submit the information
under subsection (a) to the department on a quarterly basis. The
department shall include the information received under this
subsection in the database under section 9402 (relating to
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departmental database for bridges).
(c) Access.--Each county shall provide the information under
subsection (a) to the appropriate metropolitan planning
organization and the department's engineering district where the
bridge is located.
§ 9404. Municipal database for bridges.
(a) Database.--Each municipality shall develop and maintain
a publicly accessible database of all bridges in each
municipality that are maintained at municipal expense. Each
municipality shall include all of the following information in
the database:
(1) The bridge name and location, including all of the
following information:
(i) The street, road, highway or interstate
designation.
(ii) The county and municipality where the bridge is
located.
(iii) The department's engineering district where
the bridge is located.
(2) The date of the bridge's construction.
(3) Inspection information for the bridge, including all
of the following information:
(i) The date of the bridge's most recent inspection.
(ii) The inspection cycle applicable to the bridge.
(iii) The condition or rating of the bridge,
including engineer notes.
(iv) The restrictions applicable to the bridge based
on the bridge's most recent inspection.
(v) The name of the engineering firm or certified
bridge inspector who performed the bridge's most recent
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inspection.
(4) The proposed schedule regarding reconstruction,
maintenance or repair of the bridge as determined by each
municipality. Each municipality shall include an estimate of
costs for the reconstruction, maintenance or repair if
available.
(5) Any other information that each municipality is
required to make publicly available by Federal or State law
or that each municipality or the department determines is
necessary to effectuate the purposes of this chapter
regarding public access to bridge inspection information and
safety.
(b) Submission.--Each municipality shall submit the
information under subsection (a) to the department on a
quarterly basis. The department shall include the information
received under this subsection in the database under section
9402 (relating to departmental database for bridges).
(c) Access.--Each municipality shall provide the information
under subsection (a) to the appropriate metropolitan planning
organization and the department's engineering district where the
bridge is located.
§ 9405. Inspection standards.
(a) Standards.--The department shall adopt and publish
standards used for the inspection of bridges in this
Commonwealth that are applicable to the bridges specified in the
database under section 9402 (relating to departmental database
for bridges), including county and municipal bridges. In the
standards adopted under this subsection, the department shall
require that bridge inspections be completed by a certified
bridge inspector.
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(b) Bridge inspectors.--The department and each county and
municipality required to perform bridge inspections and develop
databases under this chapter shall ensure that bridge
inspections are completed by a certified bridge inspector. In
order to qualify as a certified bridge inspector under this
subsection, an individual shall meet all of the following
criteria:
(1) The individual shall be a licensed and registered
engineer as recognized by the State Registration Board for
Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists under
the act of May 23, 1945 (P.L.913, No.367), known as the
Engineer, Land Surveyor and Geologist Registration Law .
(2) The individual shall have five years' experience
engaging in bridge inspection service.
(3) The individual shall be a Level III or IV Bridge
Safety Inspector under the National Society of Professional
Engineers program for National Institute for Certification in
Engineering Technologies in effect on the date of enactment
of this chapter.
(4) The individual shall meet any other criteria as
deemed necessary by the department.
§ 9406. Audits.
The Auditor General shall, on a quadrennial basis, inspect
the records relating to each bridge in this Commonwealth in the
database under section 9402 (relating to departmental database
for bridges). The Auditor General shall determine and issue a
report to the General Assembly regarding whether all of the
following have been completed:
(1) The bridge has been inspected within the time
scheduled for the safety rating of the bridge.
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(2) The inspection report has been filed.
(3) The inspection was completed by a certified bridge
inspector.
(4) The department, county or municipality, as
applicable, has developed and filed a plan and schedule for
the reconstruction, maintenance or repair of the bridge as
determined by the department, municipality or county.
(5) The information under this section has been provided
to the appropriate metropolitan planning organization and the
department's engineering district where the bridge is
located.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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