Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Neilson bill to speed up road and bridge projects advances with bipartisan support

Neilson bill to speed up road and bridge projects advances with bipartisan support

Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus    July 8, 2025 | 4:04 PM

Today, the PA House Transportation Committee voted unanimously to advance H.B. 1608, bipartisan legislation authored by state Rep. Ed Neilson, chair of the Transportation Committee, and state Rep. James Struzzi, R-Indiana, for a vote on the House floor.

The bill would allow PennDOT and the Turnpike Commission to use Design-Build Best Value procurement to allow these agencies to complete road and bridge projects faster and more efficiently throughout Pennsylvania.

Design-Build Best Value procurement is an innovative tool that awards contracts to firms that would provide the “best value” in terms of saving costs and time.

Currently, because of a 2011 Commonwealth Court decision, all contract construction work must be completed by the lowest bidder, even if they are the least qualified for the project.

Neilson stated: “As the cost of maintaining our vast transportation infrastructure continues to rise, we need to find innovative ways to ensure these projects are completed by the most qualified team and in a timely manner to avoid frustrating drivers with long construction projects.

“DBBV is used successfully in many states and has shown to speed up construction and reduce costs,” the lawmaker continued.

House bill 1608 now moves to the House floor for a vote. Last session, similar legislation passed the House with strong bipartisan support by a vote of 189-14, but it never received a final vote in the Senate.