Latest News from State Capitol and 55th District

December 11, 2025

511PA is Available to Help You Travel Safely

Whether traveling several hours or just a few miles away, millions of Pennsylvanians will hit the roads for the upcoming holidays. And you certainly need not live in the region for very long to know that weather and road conditions can change frequently.

Want to know if hazardous conditions have caused a road closure? Want to know where the closest plow truck can be found? The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has put all that information in one place, known as 511PA.

The program provides reliable traffic, weather and transit information to travelers to reduce congestion and improve safety and mobility in Pennsylvania. It uses real-time traffic data from various sources to give all the latest updates.

Though it is not necessary to download the mobile application, I did so for the purpose of writing this column. I was impressed with the useful information available to travelers.

On the home screen, you can enter the start and end points of an upcoming trip. It will then show you areas of concern along your route, whether they be related to weather, construction or simple traffic congestion.

For a large-scale event, PennDOT will often create a section dedicated to helping travelers make their way to the location. Such was the case in August when the Little League World Series was held in Williamsport. 

Aside from the app, information is available through 511PA by dialing 5-1-1 from any phone or by visiting 511PA.com on your computer or mobile device.

You may also follow any of the 511PA regional X (formerly Twitter) pages. 511PA tweets include news releases and traffic advisories, along with all traffic and construction events on the 511PA network in that region. You can access these regional pages from the X link on the 511PA web page.

With winter officially set to begin on Dec. 21, you’ll want to take extra caution to ensure safe travel. Here are winter driving tips provided by PennDOT. 

• Carry a winter emergency travel kit.
• Listen to weather and travel advisories, and if you don't have to travel in bad weather, don't.
• Keep your gas tank at least half full.
• Slow down and increase following distance.
• Avoid sudden stops and starts.
• Beware of roads that may look wet, but are actually frozen, often referred to as "black ice."
• Use extra caution on bridges and ramps, where ice can often form without warning.
• Carry a cellphone.
• Do not use cruise control while driving on snow-covered roads.
• State law requires you to turn on your headlights when your wipers are on.
• Use your low beams in particularly bad weather, especially in cases of heavy or blowing snow.
• Remove ice and snow from windows, mirrors, and all vehicle lights before you drive and as often as needed.
• Remove snow and ice from the hood and roof of your vehicle. State law states that if snow or ice from your vehicle strikes a vehicle or person and causes death or injury, you can be ticketed.
• Do not park or abandon your vehicle on snow emergency routes.
• Do not pass or get between trucks plowing in a plow line (several trucks plowing side by side).
• Make sure someone else knows where you are going and when you expect to arrive. In case you run into an emergency and need help, someone will know where to look for you.
• If you do become stranded, it's better to stay with your vehicle until help arrives. Run the engine every hour or so, but make sure the tailpipe is clear and keep the downwind window cracked open.
• Do not drink and drive and always wear your seat belt.

Here are some additional news topics and reminders I would like to share.

Happy Chanukah! – If you and your family celebrate Chanukah, as you gather around the candles, may their light be a reminder of how powerful hope and unity can be. This year, I hope we all find renewed strength to choose peace in our homes, communities and the world. May the light of Chanukah guide us toward days free of all forms of violence. Wishing everyone a safe, peaceful and joyful Chanukah.

Mailing Delays from Some State Agencies - The Shapiro administration recently announced the termination of a vendor responsible for handling outbound mail from some state agencies. This vendor failed to deliver a significant volume of documents, and it remains unclear how many Pennsylvanians may have been impacted.

Among the affected agencies was the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), which indicated some invitations to renew driver licenses and vehicle registrations, driver license camera cards, vehicle registration cards and address update cards were delayed. 

A new vendor has been hired, and all previously unsent mail should be delivered within 7-10 days. 

If you are waiting for official paperwork from a state agency and believe your mail has been delayed, you are welcome to contact my Washington Township/Export office at 724-387-9113 or my New Kensington office at 724-472-4102. We may be able to assist in determining the status of missing materials or help facilitate communication with the appropriate agency.

Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program Accepting Applications - The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) is seeking applicants for $10 million in funding to support security enhancement projects for nonprofit organizations serving diverse communities throughout the Commonwealth.

The Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program was part of Act 83 of 2019, which directs PCCD to administer grants to nonprofit organizations that primarily serve individuals, groups or institutions that are included within a bias motivation category for single bias hate crime incidents as identified by the FBI’s Hate Crime Statistics publication. Applicants are eligible for security enhancements designed to protect the safety and security of the users of a facility located in the Commonwealth that is owned or operated by the nonprofit organization.

More information about the program can be found on PCCD’s section on pa.gov. The deadline to apply is Jan. 12. 


Representative Jill Cooper
55th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jordan Frei
724.875.8450
jfrei@pahousegop.com
RepJillCooper.com / Facebook.com/RepJillCooper