Category: 3. Business

King of Prussia, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that PA American Water will be performing a water main installation on southbound U.S. 202 (Dekalb Pike) in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County.

Motorists are advised of the following travel restriction:

Drivers are advised to allow extra time when traveling through the work area because backups and delays will occur. The schedule is weather dependent.

The water main installation is part of advance work before stage 2 of PennDOT’s sinkhole remediation project begins on southbound U.S. 202 (Dekalb Pike) sometime this spring.

PennDOT reopened northbound U.S. 202 (Dekalb Pike) on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, following eight months of construction to repair and reconstruct the roadway.

The ongoing work is part of a $22.4 million project to remediate sinkholes on U.S. 202 (Dekalb Pike), and on Route 29 (Morehall Road) in East Whiteland Township, Chester County.

Under this project, PennDOT’s contractor is utilizing a limited mobility grouting program, which involves drilling a series of holes through the pavement in a “grid” pattern. Pressurized grout is injected into the drilled holes to fill subsurface voids beneath the roadway. The filling of subsurface voids helps to stabilize the ground beneath the pavement to reduce the risk of future sinkholes. Additional work includes drainage improvements and pavement reconstruction.

Remediation of sinkholes on U.S. 202 (Dekalb Pike) and Route 29 (Morehall Road) were deemed necessary for a long-term solution following reoccurring sinkholes and emergency repairs resulting in traffic disruptions along both corridors.

For more information, please visit the U.S. 202 (Dekalb Pike) and Route 29 (Morehall Road) sinkhole remediation project webpages.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,200 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional X alerts. 

Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.pa.gov/DOTprojects. Subscribe to PennDOT news and find transportation results in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties at www.penndot.pa.gov/District6.

Find PennDOT news on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. 

MEDIA CONTACT: Brad Rudolph, bradrudolph@pa.gov

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ISLAMABAD   –   The rupee on Wednesday appreciated by 01 paisa against the US dollar in interbank trading and closed at Rs280.06 compared to the previous day’s closing at Rs280.07. According to the Forex Association of Pakistan (FAP), the buying and selling rates of the dollar in the open market were recorded at Rs280.75 and Rs282.8, respectively. The price of the Euro decreased by Rs1.46 to close at Rs327.16 from the previous day’s close of Rs328.62, according to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). The Japanese Yen came down by 01 paisa and closed at Rs1.78, whereas the exchange rate of the British Pound witnessed a decrease of Rs2.06 and closed at Rs377.80 compared to the previous day’s Rs379.86.

The exchange rate of the Emirates Dirham came down by 01 paisa and closed at Rs76.24, and the Saudi Riyal remained stagnant at Rs74.67.

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission will hold the public hearing and business meeting at Idaho Fish and Game’s headquarters office at 600 South Walnut Street in Boise. A public hearing will begin on Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. MST at the same location. Those wishing to speak to the Commission during the public hearing will have a three-minute time limit, with additional comments accepted in writing. People can address the commission on any topic pertaining to Fish and Game matters.

The business meeting will resume at 8 a.m. MST on Jan. 15 at the same location. Public comments are not accepted during the business meeting, but it is open to the public and available via Zoom. 

See the full agenda and details for action items.

Video Conference Information

Individuals with disabilities may request meeting accommodations by contacting the Idaho Department of Fish and Game director’s office at 208-334-5159 or through the Idaho Relay Service at 1-800-377-2529 (TDD).

A State Climate Extremes Committee has verified a new record for seasonal snowfall for the state of New Jersey. The twist? It’s from the snow season of 1995–96 (July 1, 1995, to June 30, 1996), 30 years ago. How is this possible, and what information led to the record being re-evaluated? A new report just released by the State Climate Extreme Committee (SCEC) explains.

How Record-Keeping Changes

Weather records, just like science, are not static. As record-keeping and weather observation techniques improve and expand further into more areas, old information can be analyzed and evaluated in new ways. In the 30 years since the snow season of 1995–96, the internet has become an ever-present and accessible way of rapidly sharing data—more observing locations have been established and more stations have transitioned to gauge-based or automated weather observations, rather than manual.

The way weather extremes and climate records are evaluated has also changed. Thirty years ago, state climate records were only considered if they occurred at National Weather Service (NWS)-based stations (mostly airports and Cooperative Observing Program [COOP] stations). Now that better communication of weather data and standards occurs nearly constantly and technology allows for the easier verification of records, the records are open to more locations. The extreme 1997 Montague, New York snow event laid the groundwork for the National Climate Extremes Committee to evaluate statewide weather records with the help of local and regional NWS, state climatologists, and national weather data experts, and it was followed by the SCEC starting in 2006 with its extensive investigative process. 

A Unique Observation

At the time of the 1995–96 season, only official NWS or COOP stations were considered eligible to be evaluated for official state records. In the case of the new record location, however, the observer for the High Point Park station was already a practiced NWS COOP observer that kept excellent records at a nearby established COOP station.
 

The observer demonstrated dedication to daily snowfall reporting and precise documentation of both snowfall totals and measurement techniques, further encouraging the SCEC to accept the High Point Park total of 122.0 inches as the statewide record for New Jersey seasonal snowfall.

Winter of 1995–96

Even early, the snow season of 1995–96 was quite cold with a very active storm track, lending even more support to the record. The Blizzard of 1996 was an historic event on its own, but even in its absence, numerous weather records and snowfall observations indicate the snow season of 1995–96 was exceptionally active. 

Surrounding stations also corroborated high totals for most of the significant storms and for the seasonal totals. All counties in New Jersey observed at least 45 inches for the snow season, and many locations in the terrain of northwest New Jersey, northeast Pennsylvania, and southeast New York recorded seasonal totals over 100 inches. The 122.0 inches at High Point Park stands out, but is a credible total for the season when compared to other totals in the area with similar terrain and the unusually large number of winter storm systems that impacted the area.

A New (Old) Record

Finally, after much re-investigation, meteorological analysis and documentation, the 1995–96 snow season record was confirmed, just in time for the 30th anniversary of the record-breaking season. The official record verified by the SCEC is as follows:

• Location: High Point Park, New Jersey
• Site Type: National Weather Service Cooperative Weather Observing Station
• COOP Station ID: 28-3935
• Seasonal Snowfall Total Value: 122.0 inches
• Date: July 1, 1995–June 30, 1996
   

TransLink’s new five-year plan outlines 34 actions shaped by feedback, focused on reliability, convenience, and comfort

NEW WESTMINSTER, BC – Better real-time transit information, more reliable elevators and escalators, easier ways to report cleanliness issues, and continuing design work for Bus Rapid Transit are among the improvements TransLink is advancing through its new Customer Experience Action Plan.

The five-year plan outlines 34 actions shaped by customer feedback and focuses on making every transit trip easier and more comfortable. The actions are built around five priorities that customers identified : Operational Reliability, Communication, Frequency and Convenience, Safety and Security, and Comfort and Cleanliness.

“Customers have been clear about what matters most to them, and this plan is our commitment to act on that feedback,” says TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn. “From real-time information to accessibility, safety, and comfort, we’re focused on delivering practical improvements people can see, feel, and rely on every day.”

Some initiatives identified to improve the customer experience include:

• Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
  • Next phase of design for three BRT corridors, including Metrotown-North Shore, Langley-Haney Place, and King George Boulevard. BRT will provide fast, frequent, and reliable service by operating with dedicated bus lanes, transit signal priority at intersections, and weather-protected stations.
• SeaBus Terminal Upgrades
  • Modernizing SeaBus terminals for better customer flow, comfort, and convenience. This includes replacing aging operational equipment such as the loading bay doors, emergency exit ramps, and ventilation systems in the south terminal skywalk.
• Major Bikeway Network (MBN)
  • Expanding the region’s cycling network, connecting to transit hubs and regional destinations to create a safer, more connected system for active transportation.
• Elevator and Escalator Upgrades
  • Multiple projects underway to replace aging elevators on the Expo Line and escalators on the Millenium Line, improving accessibility, reducing maintenance downtime, and providing more modern, spacious facilities.
• Real-Time Information Improvements
  • Enhancing real-time transit information, including the speed and accuracy of service alerts so that customers can better plan their journey.
• Cleaning and Maintenance Text Line Expansion
  • Expanding TransLink’s Cleaning and Maintenance Text Line to include more SkyTrain stations and introducing this service at select bus loops and exchanges so riders can enjoy a more comfortable trip.
• Safe Spaces Program
  • Improving customer safety at transit hubs by working with frontline staff to identify problem areas and making practical improvements that make stations brighter and more welcoming.

The plan was developed through extensive research, including input from more than 1,000 customers, transit staff, key business stakeholders, and a review of best practices from across the industry.

TransLink’s previous Customer Experience Action Plan delivered or is actively working on 33 of the 37 initiatives that include a wide range of upgrades and improvements for customers. Including:

• The opening of the first public washroom at Metrotown Station.
• Creation of the Transit Volunteer Program, which has grown to 130 active community volunteers since launching in 2022.
• Launch of the R6 Rapid Bus in Surrey, which recorded more than 5.2 million boardings in 2024, and is now the sixth busiest bus route in the region.
• Contactless Interac Debit payment across buses and fare gates, making TransLink the first agency in Canada to fully integrate this payment option systemwide.

This announcement demonstrates TransLink’s commitment to ongoing improvement, also reflected in the upcoming extension of HandyDART service hours until 2 a.m., which will improve service availability for customers starting January 11.

More information:
2026-2030 Customer Experience Action Plan

Media contact:
TransLink Media Relations
E: media@translink.ca