The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDoT) has awarded a ten-year contract to Jacobs Engineering Group for designing a multi-modal transportation management solution to cut travel time along Interstate 76 (Schuylkill Expressway) Corridor in Philadelphia’s metropolitan area. 

As part of the deal, Jacobs will provide systems engineering and alternatives analysis, preliminary engineering, final design, right-of-way acquisition services, and construction consultation services for improvements on I-76 and supporting arterial roads between the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-276) and US Route 1 interchanges.

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation secretary Leslie Richards said: "The importance of this corridor to the Philadelphia region cannot be overstated. 

"The importance of this corridor to the Philadelphia region cannot be overstated."

"It’s imperative that we take advantage of new technologies and partner with Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and other key stakeholders and partners like Jacobs to offer citizens better options for travel between Philadelphia and the north-west suburbs." 

These improvement services are likely to include multi-modal enhancements, junction control, dynamic lane assignments, ramp metering, connected vehicle applications, variable speed limit signs and queue detection capabilities.

Jacobs buildings and infrastructure president Bob Pragada said: "The proposed upgrades to the Schuylkill Expressway represent the convergence of innovative technology and infrastructure that will directly improve the quality of life for the commuting public in the Philadelphia metropolitan region. 

"PennDoT has entrusted Jacobs to help create forward-focused, flexible yet practical travel solutions for this region, drawing on our broad transportation capabilities and experience from across the world."