WILKES-BARRE — Gov. Josh Shapiro on Monday said infrastructure is critical to the Commonwealth’s progress and its ability to complete major projects is key to spurring economic growth and creating real opportunity.
“Investing in and improving our infrastructure is a commonsense way to spur economic development, create jobs, and help Pennsylvanians reach their destinations safely and efficiently,” Shapiro said. “These improvements will help our communities grow as we continue working together to move Pennsylvania forward.”
Shapiro announced a significant investment of more than $51 million in funding from the Multimodal Transportation Fund to support 66 crucial transportation projects across 32 counties in Pennsylvania — including more than $3.8 million for Luzerne County.
The funding will be allocated towards highway, bridge, aviation, ports, and bike and pedestrian initiatives — ensuring a safe and reliable transportation system for all Pennsylvanians.
Luzerne County projects — $3,857,747
• City of Pittston: $1,514,000 to acquire land adjacent to a dangerous “dog leg” curve on Main Street in Pittston City, conducting environmental remediation, streetscaping the area, and filling in a streetscape gap that will lessen the frequency and severity of accidents.
State Rep. Jim Haddock said the significant grant funding will help make local roads safer for drivers in the city of Pittston and Jenkins Township.
“The city of Pittston will use its $1.5 million grant to acquire land adjacent to a dangerous ‘dog leg’ curve on Main Street, conducting environmental remediation, streetscaping the area, and filling in a streetscape gap that will lessen the frequency and severity of accidents,” said Haddock, D-Pittston Township.
• Jenkins Township will receive $300,915 for roadway repairs to Centerpoint Boulevard in the CenterPoint Commerce and Trade Park.
• City of Wilkes-Barre: $360,000 for pedestrian safety and ADA accessibility improvements to South Main Street.
• Bear Creek Village Borough: $189,536 for improvements to Route 115.
• Hanover Township: $483,125 for roadway resurfacing and ADA ramp installation on Main, Center, Downing and Steve streets.
• Hazle Township: $610,171 for milling, paving, concrete curb replacement, line painting, new signage, sidewalks, traffic control and ADA improvements to Commerce Drive.
• City of Hazleton: $300,000 to improve two blocks of Alter Street with new concrete curbing, sidewalk, curb ramps, and reinforcement.
• Hollenback Township: $100,000 for multimodal improvements and guide rail installation on Old Berwick and Switze roads.
• Jenkins Township: $300,915 for roadway repairs to Centerpoint Boulevard in the CenterPoint Commerce and Trade Park.
Reflecting PennDOT’s commitment to improving locally owned infrastructure, several projects will also help local governments address bridges and roadways in need of repair or replacement.
“Whether we’re making roadways more accessible to all modes of travel or creating new connections for businesses investing in our communities, transportation is integral to our quality of life,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “These projects will bring long-lasting improvements across the state.”
On Sept. 23, at 8 a.m., PennDOT will begin accepting applications for the next round of funding for grants under the Multimodal Transportation Fund. Applications are due by 4 p.m. on Nov. 5. PennDOT expects to announce grant recipients next year for funding that will be available in July 2025.
The 2024-25 bipartisan budget signed by Shapiro last month allocates $80.5 million in new funding to repair roads and bridges and continues to sustainably fund the Pennsylvania State Police by reducing their reliance on the Motor License Fund.
This delivers an additional $125 million for road and bridge projects annually over the next four years. As a result of this investment, the Shapiro Administration has successfully repaired 74 bridges in 2023 and initiated 161 bridge projects in the first half of 2024.
PennDOT evaluated the applications and made selections based on such criteria as safety benefits, regional economic conditions, technical and financial feasibility, job creation, energy efficiency, and operational sustainability. Below is a list of awarded projects.
Cartwright, Protect Our Care, local pharmacist discuss lower drug prices for seniors and combating price gouging
U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright and Pittston pharmacist Joe Albert on Monday joined Protect Our Care Pennsylvania to mark the second anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act, which has delivered lower healthcare and prescription drug costs for northeastern Pennsylvanians.
The Inflation Reduction Act gave Medicare the power to negotiate drug prices. On Thursday, Aug. 15, the Department of Health and Human Services announced new, lower prices for 10 prescription drugs, which will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
Some 9 million seniors will benefit and save money on the drugs in question: Eliquis, Enbrel, Enestro, Farxiga, Fiasp/NovoLog, Imbruvica, Januvia, Jardiance, Stelara, and Xarelto. These drugs treat blood clots, arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, psoriasis and Crohn’s disease.
Cartwright, D-Moosic, who helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act, noted that American law formerly prohibited Medicare from negotiating drug prices.
“It’s wrong, it needs to be fixed, and we are fixing it,” Cartwright said. “We can’t go back to diabetics being forced to ration insulin and put their lives at risk. We can’t go back to parents choosing between purchasing their heart medication and putting food on the table. We say enough is enough.”
Local pharmacist Joe Albert shared how pharmaceutical prices personally impacted his patients. Albert, who has run a local pharmacy in Pittston since 2011, said “how much it hurts people in our community” when drug prices are too high.
“Many seniors were being asked to pay hundreds of dollars up front for their monthly dose of insulin,” Albert said. “With drug companies and pharmaceutical benefit managers demanding huge fees, neighborhood pharmacies sometimes sell at a loss to their own patients. Greed throughout the supply chain is harmful to patients’ health and putting local, independent pharmacies out of business.”
Michael Berman, Director of Protect Our Care Pennsylvania, said for generations, the one rule in Washington was “don’t fight the pharmaceutical industry, because you’re going to lose.”
Berman said, “Congressman Matt Cartwright never learned that lesson.”
Berman emphasized that the Inflation Reduction Act was delivering savings for Americans, and would continue to do so as Medicare continues to negotiate lower drug prices.
Due to the Inflation Reduction Act, more Americans than ever before have health insurance, the cost of insulin is capped at $35 dollars, seniors are protected from drug company price hikes, and seniors’ prescription drug costs will be capped at $2,000 dollars per year starting next year.
These new prices are known as “maximum fair prices,” and are the highest prices drug companies are allowed to charge for these life-saving medications.
Each year, 80,197 Pennsylvanians will save $543 annually from the insulin price cap, 449,726 Pennsylvania seniors will save $400 through the free vaccination program, and over 450,000 Pennsylvanians will save on necessary prescriptions through Medicare negotiations.
House Transportation Committee to hold a series of meetings to highlight Pa. transportation needs
State Rep. Ed Neilson, Majority Chair of the Transportation Committee, will host a series of meetings titled: “Moving PA Forward by Investing in Roads, Bridges, and Transit.”
The committee will meet with leading experts from the transportation sector throughout the remainder of August and into September to explore new initiatives which will elevate Pennsylvania’s position to a national leader in transportation.
A tentative list of dates and locations for additional Moving PA Forward by Investing in Roads, Bridges, and Transit meetings is as follows:
8/28: Bellefonte
8/29: Harrisburg
9/4: Pittston
9/5: Reading
9/11: Pittsburgh
9/16: Southeast PA
9/18: Philadelphia
See the House Transportation Committee’s website for updates to times, dates and locations, additional updated advisories will be sent as well.
Pa. invests $4 million to strengthen workforce, boost industry partnerships
Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) Secretary Nancy A. Walker has announced an investment of more than $4 million in Industry Partnership grant funding to strengthen workforce development projects across the Commonwealth.
Walker said Pennsylvania is building business networks to strengthen industry through training initiatives, recruitment strategies, career awareness, and partnership to address challenges identified by the businesses.
The Industry Partnership program encourages collaboration among businesses in various sectors to address education and training, economic development needs, and the coordination of regional support teams.
By supporting sectors such as agriculture, information technology, robotics, healthcare, transportation, and reshoring manufacturing operations, the Shapiro Administration is aligning its efforts with current and future industry needs.
“This $4 million investment in Industry Partnership grants is a pivotal step in fostering collaboration across Pennsylvania’s key sectors,” Walker said. “We are committed to strengthening industry connections, enhancing training opportunities, and driving economic growth. By empowering local organizations and businesses to partner in addressing workforce needs, we are paving the way for a brighter, more prosperous future for all Pennsylvanians.”
Last month, Shapiro signed a new budget into law that increases Pennsylvania’s vo-tech and Career and Technical Education (CTE) investment by $30 million and expands funding for registered apprenticeship programs by $2 million to fill much-needed nursing positions across the Commonwealth.
Earlier this year, the Shapiro Administration announced $4.2 million in Industry Partnership grants — including multiple projects to create or expand registered apprenticeship opportunities.
This $4 million of available funding will be awarded in increments of up to $400,000 to support industry partnerships across the Commonwealth to both improve economic growth while preparing workers with training for their current position and future advancement.
Projects funded through Industry Partnership grants should increase worker recruitment and retention; increase the number of workers attaining an industry-recognized credential; result in increased worker wages and compensation; create jobs; fill vacant jobs; and help employers retain newly hired employees.
Eligible applicants include local workforce development boards, non-profit and non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, educational and post-secondary educational organizations, labor organizations, business associations, and economic development entities.
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