PennDot admits 'disastrous' response

0 Comments | Philadelphia Inquirer, The, February, 2007 | by Amy Worden

As ice and snow pounded three interstate highways last week, PennDot lost control of its handling of the storm and the results were "disastrous," the head of the agency admitted yesterday.

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary Allen D. Biehler apologized for what he called the "utter failure" of his response to the Valentine's Day storm that trapped motorists and crippled I-78, I-80 and I-81 for four days in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Biehler testified before a joint hearing before two Senate committees looking into the state's disjointed and ineffectual response to the storm.

James Joseph, director of Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, also acknowledged to the committee that his agency waited too long to fully activate state emergency...