PennDOT Asks For Public Input On Electric Vehicle Infrastructure

HARRISBURG, PA — PennDOT launched a public survey Wednesday required under the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to distribute $171.5 million in federal funds for electric vehicle infrastructure in Pennsylvania.

PennDOT is required to submit a state EV infrastructure deployment plan to the U.S. Department of Transportation by Aug. 1.

There are more than 23,000 electric vehicles registered in Pennsylvania, more than double the number registered in 2019.

In anticipation of an influx of electric vehicles, Pennsylvania initiated a project to install charging stations on the interstate highways to connect to a network of alternative fuel corridors.

PennDOT launched a survey to provide public input to prepare a plan to receive the funding.

Local transportation planners across the state have been working on providing recommendations to PennDOT for charging stations for several years.

"PennDOT is committed to making future-focused investments in Pennsylvania to update our highway network to accommodate more electric vehicles and hybrids," Yassmin Gramian, PennDOT secretary, said in a prepared statement.

"We have received public and stakeholder feedback throughout this process, which is vital to understanding wants and needs as this transformational technology takes hold."

The chargers are required to be located no more than 1 mile from an Interstate exit or highway intersection and no more than 50 miles apart.

The funding supports the commonwealth goal of expanding EV charging along the previously designated Alternative Fuel Corridors.

In Pennsylvania, the corridors are I-70, I-76, I-78, I-79, I-80, I-81, I-83, I-84, I-90, I-95, I-99, I-276, I-376, and I-476.

These are PennDOT goals:

• Make EVs more affordable;
• Make EV charging more accessible;
• Invest in fleet electrification;
• Invest in traditionally underserved, low-income, persons of color and otherwise vulnerable population areas; and
• Increase EV awareness, education, and technical capacity.
• The survey is available here.

The public can also submit feedback by emailing ra-pdevcorridors@pa.gov.