Posts Tagged ‘pennsylvania department of transportation’

Canonsburg, PA – Member companies of the Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC) invested more than $411 million over the past three years to repave, rebuild and improve roadways and transportation infrastructure across the state of Pennsylvania, according to a survey of participating members. Since 2008, approximately 21% of the payments have been made toward local roads, while approximately 79% went toward improving roads maintained by the state.

Kathryn Z. Klaber, president and executive director of the MSC, issued the following statement on the industry’s commitment to improving the roads and infrastructure that support Marcellus activity:

“Preparing and restoring roads associated with Marcellus development is a responsibility that our coalition members take very seriously. We understand and recognize the concerns regarding the increase in truck traffic and its impact on our roads. And we also understand, as good neighbors, that we must do everything to ensure that we leave these roads in better condition than when our operations started. This $411 million industry investment in our roads since 2008 is just one example of the natural gas industry addressing local concerns in a direct and straightforward manner. It’s an investment that will continue to grow as responsible shale gas development continues across the Commonwealth.”

Natural gas operators are required by law to bond each mile of posted road traveled, submit road management plans (Excess Maintenance Agreements) to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, and acquire hauling permits prior to truck traffic traveling on a given road. Road management plans outline which roads an operator may travel while also stipulating a maintenance plan for each roadway.

NOTE: Today, the MSC is hosting the second annual Marcellus Transportation Safety Day. This seminar is designed to better educate carriers and truck drivers supporting the natural gas industry on Pennsylvania’s regulations to continuously improve their safe operating practices. Speakers include representatives from the Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. For additional information, visit www.marcelluscoalition.org.

Posted At: Marcellus Shale Coalition.org

Dougherty, Leventhal and Price personal injury Attorneys Patrick E Dougherty, Joseph G. Price and Paul T. Oven settled a motor vehicle accident case against a paving company winning $14.5 million for their client. The client sustained traumatic injuries in the one car crash.

The client turned out of a driveway and traveled about a half mile when the passenger side tires left the road and dropped six inches in an open and exposed dirt shoulder. Traveling at about 45 mph, the tires ran along the dirt shoulder. The client then over-steered the vehicle back into the road, yawed and then struck two trees. The impact of the crash nearly threw the plaintiff through the rear window.

The paving company contracted with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to pave and shoulder more than 40 miles on a number of roads.

Shouldering and paving is a process whereby the edges of the road are prepared and two layers of surface are laid. Afterward, steps are to be taken to immediately restore the shoulders of the road or to protect or warn the public about the open road edge and drop off.

Despite completing the edge and paving work, the paving company did not shoulder the road or protect or warn the public about it at any time prior to completing the shoulder work.

Now a quadriplegic, the client spent months in various hospitals for intensive physical therapy and rehabilitation. A life care plan was prepared outlining the extensive costs associated with future medical care and medical management. The client is now at home under 24 hour care.