PENNSYLVANIA — Pennsylvania’s House Transportation Committee has given bipartisan approval to House Bill 1833, a piece of legislation aimed at accelerating infrastructure projects and saving taxpayer dollars.
State Rep. Jim Struzzi (R-Indiana), the legislator behind the bill, expressed optimism about the positive impact of the proposed law. “This legislation will reduce the time it takes to complete an infrastructure project, and every year which you add or subtract translates into hundreds of millions of dollars,” said Struzzi.
The bill would allow the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Turnpike Commission to use Design Build Best Value (DBBV) as an alternative procurement process for infrastructure design and construction. DBBV enables project owners to consider various factors when procuring materials and services required for a project and encourages designers and contractors to collaborate.
Struzzi, who previously worked for PennDOT, believes his firsthand experience with the department helped shape the legislation. He also acknowledged the crucial role of bipartisan support in bringing the bill to fruition.
State Rep. Ed Neilson (D-Philadelphia), the majority chairman of the House Transportation Committee and the prime sponsor of the bill, echoed Struzzi’s sentiments. “It can take five to ten years to get a road or bridge constructed using current state government practices,” Neilson said, underscoring the need for the proposed changes.
Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, the minority chairman of the House Transportation Committee, emphasized the importance of maintaining quality while expediting projects. “Often times there is pressure to take the lowest bid on a project. Innovation and trying something new don’t automatically make an idea a bad thing,” stated Benninghoff.
The passage of H.B. 1833 comes as a significant development amid ongoing discussions on infrastructure improvements. The bill’s proponents argue that DBBV is an innovative method used successfully in other states to complete infrastructure projects, minimizing risk, producing cost savings, and enabling projects to be completed in record time.
The bill is now set to move forward for further consideration and voting.
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