Posted on 02/23/2007 6:10:20 AM PST by randita
From The Morning Call
February 23, 2007
Blame for I-78 mess spreads
PennDOT, PEMA leaders say county, local officials also at fault.
By Christina Gostomski Call Harrisburg Bureau
The top brass at PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency accepted blame Thursday for the state's bungled response to the snow and ice storm that snarled traffic on Interstate 78, but said officials at the local and county levels were at fault as well.
At a Senate hearing, Transportation Secretary Allen D. Biehler said ''inaccurate information within the PennDOT family,'' including repeated assurances from local Department of Transportation employees that there was no ''gridlock'' on I-78, kept him guessing exactly what was happening Feb. 14.
Biehler and PEMA Director James Joseph apologized to stranded motorists, accepted partial blame for poor communication and answered scathing questions from senators at the hearing before the Transportation Committee and Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee.
But lawmakers stopped short of calling for anyone to lose their jobs — some went as far as to say they didn't want that to happen — and officials failed to answer who was supposed to be in charge during the Valentine's Day storm, which also caused problems on I-80 and I-81.
''Who's in charge? Who makes the call when the snow hits the fan?'' asked Sen. James Rhoades, R-Schuylkill.
Sen. Michael O'Pake, D-Berks, added, ''You can't react to a crisis with a committee.''
Biehler and Joseph responded that they weren't kept adequately informed of the growing crisis, making it difficult for them to do their jobs. Biehler said PennDOT crews at the district level didn't accurately communicate road problems to those higher in command.
(Excerpt) Read more at mcall.com ...
Why should this be so difficult?
Why isn't the Katrina media up in arms about this? Could it be because PA has a 'Rat governor?
I lived in different areas of Pennsylvania from 1992 to early 2006. I remember in those early years in Chester County, the snow removal was atrociously bad. But from 1995 up until this fiasco, snow removal was actually quite good.
What I heard that makes sense is that decisions were made by committee - and you can't do that during an emergency.
Exactly.
The Media is lagging on this, but a lot of people are laying the blame at Fast Eddie Rendell's feet. He's safely re-elected now, but if he wasn't I think the ramifications would echo that of the Chicago snowstorm that unseated their mayor a while back.
IT was never a problem before Rendell was Govenor. I lived in PA for decades and I visit lots of family there all the time. And nothing in the past EVER came close to this. Sure, when freezing rain is currently coming down, I've seen I-81,I80 and I78 closed. But opened shortly after the weather event ended, the worst was having the road open the following afternoon. But days and days? For a storm not as bad as past storms? Something REALLY stinks.
He's one of the most ineffective political hacks ever to be elected.
Poor little nitwits can make this all go away by claiming it's Bush's fault. Nobody will question that.
PennDot has never been known to anyone in this area of Chester County as being good at what they do. The same snow or ice storm bring dramatic comparisons. You may struggle
to use Pa roads exiting the state. The conditions may be ugly and dangerous. You break out over the Maryland line and you are in a different world. The same weather but much different approach to road work. I intend to film the difference next storm and send it to Fast Eddie. Maybe he can send these PennDot workers to Maryland and see how they keep the roads clear and in good repair?
The outcome will eventually be a call by PennDOT and Rendell for millions of dollars to be spent on report documenting how to avoid this in the future. Some political cronies will get the contract and the report will never be used...unless they conclude that global warming was the real culprit and the solution is to extract federal dollars to fund another study.
That is so true. I had to drive from northern MD to northern NJ on 02/15 (the day after the storm). Interstates 70, 695, and 95 in MD, along with Interstates 95 and 295 in DE, along with the New Jersey Turnpike were plowed, salted and dry.
You notice this just driving up US 1 and crossing the line into PA from MD even without any inclement weather. The road magically turns bumpy once you leave Maryland.
One of the things I hate about this state is these little townships. We pay income tax to both the township we live in and the one my husband works in. This is supposed to be for 'services' he receives while in the township. Yet, they NEVER plow the roads so he can get home. One year, he took over 3 hours to go 8 miles because it snowed all day and they never plowed once, so when 5 O'clock came, it was a disaster. I want our taxes back.
Ugh... don't get me started on the bajillions of dinky and useless local governments in Penna. I suppose I was one of the lucky ones, as when I lived in West Goshen Township, and later Upper Merion Township, we actually did get decent services (and Upper Merion Township had no income tax at the time). But it would make so much more sense if everything was just done at the county level, instead of having numerous duplicated government positions everywhere (along with the extra taxes needed to make them all work).
Toll roads usually get priority when it comes to plowing, etc.
dums never have to say they're sorry.
I remember this happening a lot on US 202 when you crossed from DE into Penna. To be fair, when Tom Ridge was governor, a lot of these roads were not only fixed, but were in very good condition.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.