PennDOT Secretary Discusses Rapid Replacement Bridge Project

Barry Schoch, Secretary of the Department of Transportation (PennDOT), and the department’s public-private partnership director Bryan Kendro met with reporters recently to discuss and answer questions about the department’s Rapid Bridge Replacement program, a Public-Private Partnership program that will soon take another step forward when four teams submit their proposals to replace more than 500 structurally deficient bridges in the state. The Public and Private Partnerships for Transportation Act allows the department and other state agencies, transportation authorities and commissions to partner with private companies to participate in delivering, maintaining and financing transportation-related projects.
According to Sec. Schoch and Kendro, the bridges were selected using these considerations:
• Relatively similar structures
• Structurally deficient or located near a structurally deficient bridge
• Average more than 50 years old
• Require full replacement
• Have minimal environmental or other issues to address
The department will meet at the end of October to select a public-private partnership team to receive a contract to design and replace the 558 bridges on the list. The bridge replacements are expected to begin next summer with 99 percent to be done by August 31, 2018.
According to Sec. Schoch, with this program the department will be able to deliver in less than four years what would have taken eight to twelve years using the department’s traditional delivery processes. This reduction in time along with other cost saving factors is expected to reduce the cost of bridge replacements by $60 to $70 million annually.
The project’s financing requirements include:
• Contract term of 28.5 years including 42 months for construction and a 25-year maintenance responsibility for each bridge
• PennDOT retains ownership of bridges and perform basic maintenance such as snow removal
• Payments to be based on performance and no tolls will be included
Sec. Schoch said that total investment in the program is not likely to exceed five percent of the department’s annual investment in road and bridge project.
Kendro noted that the bidding process was “all or nothing.” PennDOT selected the 558 and they had to bid on all 558 bridges. Schoch added that the Department reserves the right to add to the list. He believes there will be four, five or six standardized designs. As we go forward with our own traditional program they have the right to buy those designs.
Sec. Schoch said the teams will be comprised of Engineers, contractors, and financial firms. Because of the gamut of services we are requiring they all put their teams together differently, and in-state and out of state firms will be considered. He expects most of the work to be done by PA-based businesses.
Kendro said the team will manage all of the subcontracting They have to meet the terms of the contract and they have to follow any federal or state procurement laws. The Department’s role is to make sure they are following those state and federal guidelines.
State Registration Board for PEs, LS’s and Geologists September 10 Meeting Highlights
The State Board met on September 10 in Harrisburg. Here are the highlights.
∙ Board Prosecutor Robert Armour presented several cases, reported on reciprocal discipline cases, and other matters for deliberation in Executive Session. He then gave the Board some insight into the prosecutorial process, using pending cases as examples.
•  Board Counsel Jeffrey Wood reported on the status of cases before the Board.
John Wanner reported that HB 1447, title protection for professional engineers, will be the subject of a public hearing by the House Professional Licensure Committee, in October.
• John Fuehrer, PLS, updated the Board on issues of interest to PSLS. Fuehrer suggested the Board discuss Creative ways to deal with companies that are offering design services without any licensees involved.
• Board Chair Lisa Catania reported she attended the NCEES meeting with Garlitz. David Widmer is now President of NCEES.
Next meeting is November 12, in Harrisburg. 2015 meeting dates: January 14, March 11, May 13, July 8, September 9 and November 18.
Legislative Activity
The following bills of interest to PSPE have been introduced and acted upon in the past month.
BIDDING / CONTRACTING
NONE
BUDGET RELATED BILLS
HB 2219 RE: Highway Capital Budget Project Itemization Act of 2014-2015 (By Rep. Mark Keller, et al)
Provides for the highway capital budget project itemization for the fiscal year 2014-2015 to be financed from current revenue or by the incurring of debt.
Reported as committed from House Rules Committee, and laid on the table, 9/10/2014
HB 2239 RE: Public-Private Partnerships (by Rep. Eli Evankovich, et al)
Amends Title 62 (Procurement) adding a chapter titled “Local Agency Public-Private Partnerships for Water and Sewer Projects.” The bill provides for public-private partnerships, for Federal, State and local assistance, for material default remedies; imposes duties on the Pennsylvania Utility Commission; provides for service contracts; provides for utility crossing; provides for use of intellectual property; and provides for government immunity and for regulations.
Reported as committed from House Rules Committee, and laid on the table, 9/10/2014
HB 2478 RE: Capital Budget Project Itemization Act of 2014-2015 (by Rep. Bill Adolph, et al)
Provides for the capital budget for fiscal year 2014-2015; itemizing public improvement projects, furniture and equipment projects, transportation assistance projects, redevelopment assistance capital projects, flood control projects, Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund projects, Environmental Stewardship Fund projects, State forestry bridge projects, Motor License Fund projects and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission projects, to be constructed, acquired or assisted by the Department of General Services, the Department of Community and Economic Development, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Department of Environmental Protection or the Department of Transportation, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, together with their estimated financial costs; authorizing the incurring of debt without the approval of the electors for the purpose of financing the projects to be constructed, acquired or assisted by the Department of General Services, the Department of Community and Economic Development, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Transportation or the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission; authorizing the use of current revenue for the purpose of financing the projects to be constructed, acquired or assisted by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources or the Department of Transportation stating the estimated useful life of the projects; and providing for an exemption and for limitation on certain capital projects. The total authorization for the additional capital projects in the category of public improvement projects itemized and to be acquired or constructed by the Department of General Services, its successors or assigns, and to be financed by the incurring of debt shall be $949,966,000.
Introduced and referred to House Appropriations Committee, 9/15/2014
Reported as committed from House Appropriations Committee, read first time, and Laid on the table, 9/16/2014
Removed from the table, 9/17/2014
Read second time and Rereferred to House Appropriations Committee, 9/22/2014
Reported as amended from House Appropriations Committee, 9/23/2014
ENVIRONMENTAL BUILDING STANDARDS
HB 1565 RE: Riparian Buffers (by Rep. Marcia Hahn, et al)
Amends the Clean Streams Law further providing for potential pollution by adding that the use or installation of riparian buffers and riparian forest buffers may be used as a preferred choice or option among best management practices, design standards and alternatives. Projects in special protection watersheds that propose greater than one acre of earth disturbance within 100 feet of a surface water shall offset any reduction in the total square footage of the buffer zone that would have been utilized as a best management practice, with a replacement buffer elsewhere in the same drainage basin as close as feasible to the area of disturbance at a ratio of one-to-one. Any project incorporating such an alternative shall also include other best management practices. Replacement planting costs shall be calculated using department guidance as specified in BMP 6.7.1: Riparian Buffer Restoration of the Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management Practice Manual.
Reported as amended from House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, read first time, and Laid on the table, 9/15/2014
Removed from the table, 9/16/2014
Amended on House floor, read second time, and Rereferred to House Appropriations Committee, 9/17/2014
Reported as committed from House Appropriations Committee, read third time, and passed House, 9/22/2014 (119-79)
Received in the Senate and referred to Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, 9/30/2014
HB 1672 RE: State Agency Green Technology Implementation Act (by Rep. Ron Miller, et al)
Provides for the testing of new, environmentally beneficial and energy efficient technologies within various state agencies. The secretary of the Department of General Services is authorized to direct a state agency, with the approval of the governor, to test certain technology, products or processes that promote energy conservation or efficiency on a trial basis. The testing agency shall maintain records, proprietary information is exempt from the Right to Know Law, and the testing period shall be 30-60 days. Acquisition of any technology, product or process for purposes of the test program shall not be deemed to be a purchase under the provisions of the Procurement Law. After the test period, purchases would be subject to the procurement law. Provides for the promotion of demand-side management and for penalties for displaying Commonwealth endorsement when no such proper endorsement exists.
Removed from the table, 9/15/2014
Read second time and Rereferred to Senate Appropriations Committee, 9/162014
Reported as committed from Senate Appropriations Committee, 9/22/2014
LOCAL/STATE GOVERNMENT/REGULATIONS
HB 1052 RE: Use Funds From Recreational Fees (by Rep. Bob Freeman, et al)
Amends the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code to allow municipalities to use funds collected from recreational fees for acquiring, operating, or maintaining park or recreational facilities anywhere within the municipality. This would be in addition to using the fees for providing park or recreational facilities accessible to the development. The bill provides for reimbursement of the fee if the municipality used the fee for a purpose other than set forth in the law.
Removed from the table, 9/15/2014
Read third time and passed Senate, 9/16/2014 (49-0)
Received as amended in House and rereferred to House Rules Committee, 9/17/2014
Re-reported on concurrence as committed from House Rules Committee, and House concurred in Senate amendments, 9/22/2014 (Vote: Y:194/N: 4)
Approved by the Governor 9/24/2014 (Act No. 135 of 2014)
HB 1503 RE: Nonbuilding Waivers (by Rep. David Maloney, et al)
Amends the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act further providing for official plans by adding that if an applicant is granted a nonbuilding waiver by the department, the municipal secretary or chairperson of the municipality shall sign the request for planning waiver and nonbuilding declaration. The purpose of this requirement is to protect the choice of a landowner to subdivide the landowner’s property when the landowner has no intention of developing the property. In the event that the owner or recipient of a subdivided parcel that has been granted a nonbuilding waiver subsequently desires to build upon or develop the property, the owner or recipient shall be required to comply with all applicable statutes, regulations or ordinances in effect at the time of the desired construction or development.
Reported as amended from House State Government Committee, read first time, and Laid on the table, 9/22/2014
HB 2045 RE: Tax Exemption and Mixed-Use Incentive Program (by Rep. Jerry Stern, et al)
Authorizes local taxing authorities to exempt from real property taxation the assessed valuation of improvements to deteriorated properties and the assessed valuation of new construction within the respective municipal corporations designated deteriorated areas of economically depressed communities in the amounts and in accordance with the provisions and limitations set forth in the bill. If an area is zoned for mixed-use housing and development, improvements shall incorporate mixed-use housing and development that benefit the efficiency and economy of the community. The bill provides for an exemption schedule; establishes standards and qualifications; provides procedure for obtaining exemption incentives; and outlines eligibility requirements.
Laid on the table, and Removed from the table, 9/24/2014
HB 2350 RE: Pennsylvania Conventional Oil and Gas Well Regulations Act (by Rep. Martin Causer, et al)
Requires the Environmental Quality Board to differentiate regulations relating to conventional oil and gas wells and unconventional gas wells in this Commonwealth. Applies to both proposed as well as existing regulations.
Reported as committed from House Rules Committee, and laid on the table, 9/10/2014
SB 1023 RE: Building Code Council (by Sen. Chuck McIlhinney, et al)
Amends the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act adding that the council shall review the provisions revised in published International Code Council updates; the council shall report within 24 months (changed from 12 months) following official publication of the latest triennial code revisions with provisions of the codes that are specified for adoption and which provisions are specified for modification; the provisions of the codes that are specified for rejection (changed from adoption) shall be separately designated in the report; an architect or engineer specializing in building energy efficiency, to be appointed by the governor, is added to the council; terms of council members are increased to three years; the department shall (changed from may) provide staff to assist the council; council members shall not receive a salary but shall be entitled to certain reimbursement; further providing for revised or successor codes; stipulating that 40 percent of money from the fee shall be deposited in the Municipal Code Official Training Account, 40 percent shall be deposed in the Construction Contractor Training Account, and 20 percent shall be deposited in the newly created Review and Advisory Council Administration Account; and stipulating that moneys in the Review and Advisory Council Administration Account shall be transmitted quarterly to the Department of Labor and Industry for expenses of the Review and Advisory Council.
Reported as amended from House Labor and Industry Committee, read first time, and Laid on the table, 9/24/2014
LIABILITY
NONE
MANDATE WAIVERS
NONE
MECHANIC’S LIEN
HB 473 RE: Formal Notice by Subcontractor (by Rep. Tom Killion, et al)
Amends the Mechanics’ Lien Law further providing for formal notice by subcontractor to the prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of the relevant jurisdiction as condition precedent to beginning construction. Notice must be given within 15 days of commencement of the construction. Form of the notice is provided for and a model notice given. A petition for a claim from a lien for a construction project must be filed within four months after completion of the work. Requires the Department of General Services to establish and maintain the database. Further, it provides that a searchable project means a commercial construction project costing a minimum of $1,500,000, makes Notices of Commencement filing by owners a mandatory requirement.
Removed from the table, 9/22/2014
Read third time and passed Senate, 9/23/2014 (50-0)
Received as amended in House and rereferred to House Rules Committee, 9/24/2014
MINIMUM WAGE
NONE
PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE
HB 1096 RE: Architects CE (by Rep. Curt Sonney, et al)
Amends the Architects Licensure Law adding language requiring each licensee to provide certification of successful completion of a minimum of 24 hours of continuing education as a condition for renewal of the biennial license. A minimum of 12 hours of the continuing education must be in the area of health, safety and welfare credits of the general public. Requires the State Architects Licensure Board to establish, adopt, promulgate and enforce rules and regulations setting forth a continuing education requirement to be satisfied by all individuals holding a certificate to engage in the practice of architecture as a condition of renewal of the certificate. Also provides for reciprocity and for waivers of all or part of the continuing education requirement for a licensee who provides evidence satisfactory to the board that the licensee was unable to complete the requirement due to illness, emergency, hardship or active military service. The bill allows for continuing education completed in another state to satisfy the continuing education requirement in Pennsylvania if the license holder primarily practices in a state other than Pennsylvania.
Amended and tabled in Senate Consumer Protection & Prof. Licensure Committee, 9/16/2014
PREVAILING WAGE
NONE
LOCAL/PROPERTY TAX REFORM
SB 76 RE: Property Tax Independence Act (by Sen. Dave Argall, et al)
provides for tax levies and information related to taxes; authorizes the imposition of a personal income tax or an earned income tax by a school district at a rate determined by the district, subject to voter approval; provides an exception for low income persons; imposes a statewide education tax of 0.94 percent to be deposited in the Education Stabilization Fund; implements the Sales and Use Tax for the Stabilization of Education Funding, at a rate of seven percent, which shall be a replacement for the existing sales and use tax and shall be deposited in the Education Stabilization Fund; every person maintaining a place of business in Pennsylvania, selling or leasing services or tangible personal property, the sale or use of which is subject to tax shall be licensed; imposes a seven percent hotel occupancy tax, to be deposited into the Education Stabilization Fund; the amount of additional revenues that are generated by taxes received under this chapter that are necessary to replace the revenue earmarked for transportation under 74 Pa.C.S. 1506 (relating to fund), not to exceed 4.4 percent of such additional revenues, shall be deposited in the Public Transportation Reserve Fund, which is established; provides for increase to the personal income tax, for certain licenses, for hotel occupancy tax, for procedure and administration of the tax, for expiration of authority to issue certain debt and for reporting by local government units of debt outstanding; establishes the Education Stabilization Fund; provides for disbursements from this fund and for certain rebates and assistance to senior citizens; and repeals certain provisions of The Local Tax Enabling Act, sales and use tax provisions of the Tax Reform Code and provisions relating to senior citizens property tax and rent rebate assistance in the Taxpayer Relief Act. The authority of any school district to levy, assess and collect any real property tax shall expire at midnight December 31, 2013; the authority of a city of the first class (Philadelphia) to impose or continue to provide for the imposition or continuation of any tax, including, but not limited to, the real property tax, for the use of a school district of the first class shall also expire. For fiscal year 2014-2015, the department shall make disbursements from the Education Stabilization Fund to each school district based on the base revenue of the district and the cost of living. Section 1505 (b) (2) and (7) and Chapters 3 and 4 shall take effect January 1, 2015 and the remainder of the act shall take effect immediately.
Reported as amended from Senate Finance Committee, and read first time, 9/16/2014
TRANSPORTATION
HR 1031 RE: Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day (by Rep. Stan Saylor, et al)
A Resolution designating October 10, 2014, as “Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day” in Pennsylvania.
Introduced as noncontroversial resolution, 9/22/2014
Adopted 9/23/2014 (199-0)
Upcoming meetings of Interest
MONDAY – 10/6/14
Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee
Off the Floor, Rules Committee Conference Room
To consider:
SB 1061 (Rafferty) – Act requiring the design, construction and renovation of certain State buildings to comply with specified energy and environmental building standards.
HB 402 (Pickett) – Act imposing duties on lessees of oil and natural gas leases; and providing for the recording of surrender documents from oil & natural gas leases & of affidavits of termination, expiration or cancellation.
HB 1565 (Hahn) – Amends the Clean Streams Law further providing for potential pollution.
And others
WEDNESDAY – 10/8/14
House Professional Licensure Committee
10:00 a.m., Room B31 Main Capitol
Public hearing on: HB 1447 (Gergely) – Amends the Engineer, Land Surveyor and Geologist Registration Law further providing for definitions, for practice of engineering, land surveying or geology without licensure and registration prohibited.
2014 FALL SENATE SESSION SCHEDULE
October 6, 7, 8, 14, 15
November 12
2014 FALL HOUSE SESSION SCHEDULE
October 6, 7, 8, 14, 15
November 12
Copies of all bills of interest can be accessed here.