State announces liquid fuels fund distribution for local road repair

HARRISBURG, Dauphin County – PennDOT announced today the distribution of $470.2 Million in liquid fuels funds for road and bridge maintenance statewide, a three percent increase from last year.

“Fixing and maintaining Pennsylvania’s roads, highways and bridges is a top priority of the Shapiro administration,” PennDOT said in the release.

“We have the fifth-largest state-maintained road system in the country, and there are even more locally owned roads and bridges,” said Acting PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “These critical investments help keep our communities safe and connected.”

Municipalities receive funds based on population and miles of locally-owned roadway. To be eligible for liquid fuels, a roadway must be formally adopted as a public street by the municipality, meet certain dimension requirements, and be able to safely accommodate vehicles driving at least 15mph.

“We appreciate that PennDOT recognizes that local government is an important partner of the transportation network in Pennsylvania, being responsible for 2/3 of the road miles in the Commonwealth,” said Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors Executive Director David Sanko. “This liquid fuels distribution is an integral part of local funding, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with PennDOT to help ensure that local governments are able to cover the costs of building and maintaining our portion of the network.”

“The Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs commends the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for recognizing borough governments as important partners of the statewide transportation network,” said Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs Executive Director Chris Cap. “These liquid fuels allocations are an essential funding component for preserving this vast network of locally maintained roads, which are so vital to the continued economic viability of this Commonwealth.”

Local officials say the funding allocation is nowhere near enough to keep roadways maintained.

Shenandoah will receive $125,783.77 this year to maintain 15.28 miles of roadway. For the borough’s 2019 road program, repaving one block of Ferguson Street cost the borough nearly $50,000, and asphalt prices have skyrocketed since then.

About $1.6 Million has been allocated to northern Schuylkill municipalities.

Local allocations are below:

Schuylkill County

Municipality Miles of RoadwayPopulation Liquid Fuels Allocation ($)
 Ashland 14.802,47192,202.94
 Frackville 18.563,860129,391.32
 Gilberton 6.5257929,654.93
 Girardville 5.391,30839,758.76
 Gordon 3.9176126,315.15
 Mahanoy City 11.173,49999,133.72
 McAdoo 9.752,47175,986.69
 Ringtown 4.9372128,867.29
 Shenandoah 15.284,243125,783.77
 Barry Township 15.1391662,819.57
 Butler Township 30.854,906186,581.97
 Delano Township 3.2340817,748.99
 East Union Township 14.931,64777,721.70
 Eldred Township 27.2271399,655.44
 Kline Township 10.711,47060,970.34
 Mahanoy Township 12.223,19260,970.34
 New Castle Township 1.7534711,893.57
 North Union Township 18.321,41183,260.78
 Ryan Township 20.682,589113,218.05
 Union Township 24.371,22899,919.18
 West Mahanoy Township 16.632,785103,756.76

Columbia County

 Municipality  Miles of Roadway  Population  Liquid Fuels Allocation ($)
 Centralia 2.2057,154.91
 Beaver Township 16.5887669,079.66
 Conyngham Township 6.3868932,944.85
 Locust Township 29.691,458121,700.86
 Main Township 14.841,27170,643.24
 Roaring Creek Township 15.0455658,348.59

Luzerne County

 Municipality  Miles of Roadway  Population  Liquid Fuels Allocation ($)
 Hazleton        95.1229,963847,203.82
 West Hazleton        14.735,163140,652.12
 Black Creek Township        26.231,909118,744.81
 Hazle Township        75.1110,160424,891.52

Northumberland County

 Municipality Miles of RoadwayPopulation Liquid Fuels Allocation ($)
 Kulpmont        11.552,75886,955.97
 Marion Heights          2.8356019,212.85
 Mount Carmel Borough        18.035,725159,580.23
 Mount Carmel Township        13.322,50087,974.81
 East Cameron Township          3.1362621,369.53

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