Carroll was the first PennDOT secretary to visit employees in all 67 counties

ASHLEY — PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll on Tuesday said there are no red or blue bridges or roadways in Pennsylvania.

“PennDOT is not colored by politics,” Carroll said. “PennDOT is always there in real time when a bridge or road needs to be repaired. And thanks to our outstanding workers, we respond in a safe and efficient manner.”

Secretary Carroll made his 67th and final PennDOT team visit at the agency’s Luzerne County office on South Main Street in Ashley on Tuesday to highlight the important work being done by team members across the Commonwealth.

Secretary Carroll said he has made it a point to personally visit employees in all 67 counties — demonstrating the Shapiro Administration’s dedication to working in all corners of Pennsylvania.

Carroll said PennDOT’s 11,000 employees are charged with maintaining, repairing and improving Pennsylvania’s 25,000 bridges and 44,000 miles of roadways.

Carroll said PennDOT’s annual budget is $11 billion.

With visits on Tuesday to Lackawanna and Luzerne counties, Secretary Carroll became the first PennDOT secretary to visit PennDOT team members in all 67 counties.

“This has been a demonstration of the Shapiro Administration’s dedication to delivering in all corners of Pennsylvania,” Carroll said. “PennDOT has a huge responsibility — to keep the 13 million people of Pennsylvania moving safely and efficiently on our vast transportation network. Under Governor Shapiro’s leadership, our dedicated team has been working hard for Pennsylvanians.”

Carroll, a native of Avoca and former State Representative in the 118th Legislative District, said it has been “fantastic” meeting many of PennDOT’s professionals across Pennsylvania on job sites, in driver’s license centers, and in offices and garages.

Secretary Carroll visited all 67 counties, making recent stops in Berks, Bradford, Butler, Cambria, Crawford, Lawrence, northeastern and southeastern region counties.

After meeting with the employees in Ashley, Secretary Carroll highlighted that the 2024-25 bipartisan budget signed by Gov. 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,” Carroll said.

Through July 2024, Carroll said 164 construction contracts for highway, bridge, and other improvement projects were completed statewide through PennDOT’s private-sector partners.

He said nearly 250 state and locally owned bridges were put out for bid to be repaired, replaced, or preserved by PennDOT or industry forces.

Additionally, Carroll said 2,256 miles of roadway were improved by department or partner crews during this time — including 773 miles of paving.

“We are proud of our PennDOT people,” Carroll said. “They all are dedicated servants to the 13 million residents of Pennsylvania, providing a safe and efficient transportation system. We feel we have the best staff and they all do a great job every day.”

In his meetings with PennDOT employees, Carroll said he reviewed everything that is planned and he reminded them of what’s ahead.

“The winter season will be here soon,” Carroll said. “And PennDOT is ready.”

Carroll said that PennDOT has allocated about $75 million for its fleet of vehicles.

“We want to minimize breakdowns and reduce the amount of time that vehicles are out of service,” Carroll said. “And I want to let the public know that PennDOT is hiring.”

Carroll said now that his visits are complete, he wanted to say that his message has been consistent.

“First, we wanted to thank our employees for the work they do,” Carroll said. “And we wanted to deliver a message of optimism and that safety is our top priority.”

Carroll also said he was happy that Gov. Shapiro will remain in Pennsylvania and not on the Democratic ticket with Vice President Kamala Harris. Shapiro was one of the finalists under consideration for the vice president slot on the ticket.

“Gov. Shapiro has been an outstanding leader for Pennsylvania,” Carroll said. “We are glad he will continue in that role.”

Information about state infrastructure in Pennsylvania, including completed work and significant projects, is available at www.penndot.pa.gov/results .

Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov .