An upcoming event in Pittsburgh will include remarks from a local official.

The Southwest Pennsylvania Commission is holding a press conference to raise awareness and call attention to Crash Responder Safety Week on Tuesday morning in the Strip District.

Butler County Commissioner Leslie Osche will briefly share remarks about her son, PA State Trooper Joshua Osche, who is recovering from an injury sustained in August while responding off-duty to a crash in Robinson Township.

The event will also include first responders from area emergency response and law enforcement agencies discussing simple steps everyone can take to keep everyone safe during traffic incidents.

View the full story at butlerradio.com

The Pittsburgh Robotics Network recently announced the appointment of Jennifer Apicella as executive director. She has been serving as interim executive director since May and previously held the position of vice president of partnerships and programs.

The Pittsburgh Robotics Network serves as the nexus for over 140 robotics organizations in the Greater Pittsburgh region.

“Our region’s robotics cluster is one of the most advanced and innovative in the world, and I am delighted to be able to expand this work, fostering a community that facilitates new opportunities for commercial growth and industry partnerships to accelerate the adoption of robotic solutions across the globe,” says Apicella.

In June, the Pittsburgh Robotics Network announced a strategic partnership with Denmark’s Odense Robotics that’s aimed at generating transatlantic business growth opportunities and solidifying ties between the two global robotics ecosystems.

Apicella’s promotion comes as the PRN gears up for the Pittsburgh Robotics Discovery Day on Nov. 16. The event, free to the public, takes place at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. It will feature over 130 exhibitors including notable organizations such as Aurora, Agility Robotics and Carnegie Mellon University.

Pittsburgh Robotics Discovery Day is supported by partnerships with the Southwestern Pennsylvania New Economy Collaborative, the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, Innovation Works and the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission.

View the full story at businessjournaldaily.com

As part of the region’s Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) that the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) manages, the organization is hosting a public meeting for Beaver County residents on Monday, Nov. 13, 2023. At the meeting, residents will learn about the TIP and have the opportunity to share their thoughts on any local transportation and infrastructure projects they want addressed in their community. The TIP for years 2025-2028 is currently being developed. This meeting serves as an introduction/status update on the TIP before a draft plan is made available for the public’s review/comment period in late Spring 2024.

Sta­ff members from SPC, PennDOT, county officials, and area stakeholders will attend this meeting. SPC is hosting this meeting in Beaver County, and will host other meetings throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania in the weeks ahead.

If a member of the public is not able to attend this meeting in-person, but would like to learn more about the TIP (or has questions about transportation planning activities), they are encouraged to:

• Send an email to comments@spcregion.org
• Mail questions/comments to Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission’s address at 42 21st Street, Suite 101, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
• Call SPC at (412) 391-5590
• Visit the Get Involved! page on SPC’s website at www.spcregion.org/get-involved/

The meeting is being held Monday, Nov. 13, 2023 from 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm in the Beaver County Courthouse, 810 Third Street Beaver, PA 15009

View the full story at beavercountyradio.com

As the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) looks toward infrastructure projects beginning in 2025, they are seeking public input on what residents want to see improved around Beaver County.

Representatives from the SPC, PennDOT and local county officials will host a public meeting for Beaver County residents to discuss desired infrastructure projects for their Transportation Improvement Plan on Monday. The meeting will be held in the Beaver County Courthouse from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. and is expected to occur in other communities across Southwestern Pennsylvania in the coming weeks.

If residents are unable to attend, there are several ways to share feedback on potential projects:

• Residents can send an email to comments@spcregion.org
• Mail questions or comments to the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission’s address at 42 21st Street, Suite 101, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
• Call the SPC at (412) 391-5590
• Visit the Get Involved page on SPC’s website at www.spcregion.org/get-involved/
• A draft of the Transportation Improvement Plan will be available to the public in the spring of 2024.

View the full story at timesonline.com

Artificial intelligence is making a big change in traffic counting and classification.

After state, regional and local agencies spent years counting traffic using rubber hoses and classifying the types of vehicles by hand, electronic camera and computerized systems have made the chore easier, safer and more effective, officials say.

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission recently purchased four of the iTHEIA traffic-counting systems from International Road Dynamics, one of several vendors. After waiting for several months due to supply-chain issues, the commission deployed the systems — automatic cameras linked to a central computer — at six locations last month as a test run for using them regularly next year.

“We were able to get them out before the time expired for the year,” said Cort McCombs, manager of traffic counting for the SPC. “We were able to get a good test run this fall, so we’re ready to go full bore next spring.”

Under federal regulations, states must conduct traffic counts every three to five years on all roads that are eligible to receive federal funds. In this area, the state Department of Transportation has SPC do the count for a 10-county area, but other agencies and PennDOT itself do the counts in other areas from March to November every year.

Previously, counts were done in six-hour increments because personnel would need two hours to set up and take down the hoses. While the system was in place, the rubber hoses would count the number of vehicles, but one or two employees would be just off the roadway marking down the kinds of vehicles driving by, placing them in one of 13 categories from motorcycles to seven-axle trucks.

“Before we had these cameras, we had people on the side of the road,” said Jeremy Freeland, division manager for planning and research at PennDOT’s central office. “That was tedious. That was dangerous. We decided we wanted to avoid any injuries to our staff.”

When IRD and other vendors developed the automated systems, PennDOT reviewed them and decided to buy two a couple years ago. Then it held demonstrations at several locations across the state for other agencies.

“We were immediately interested and thought, ‘This is awesome,’” McCombs said. “This is how we should count traffic in the future.”

The agency waited for the next generation of the automated equipment before it spent about $60,000 on four of the systems. The new system takes about a half-hour to set up and can record traffic counts and the vehicles that pass through an area for 24 hours.

Developers have uploaded thousands of images of vehicles for computers to use to identify the type passing a particular location.

McCombs and Freeland cited several advantages: Tests have shown the computer recognition of the type of vehicle is about 3% more accurate than humans; the longer deployment gives a more complete picture of traffic in an area; and employees can be assigned other, safer work while the machines count traffic.

That information on traffic and vehicle use is invaluable when officials look for funding to improve road conditions, McCombs said.

“That’s the first thing that’s asked: What’s the traffic look like?” he said. “It’s the groundwork for everything else.”

Freeland said the state also uses the types of vehicles that use roads to determine the best surface to use. A road with mostly car traffic might get a different surface than an area with heavy commercial and tractor-trailer traffic.

Also, traffic patterns can help crews determine the best time of day to do work.

McCombs said the initial cost of about $15,000 for the AI system is a big increase from $500 to $600 for the previous systems, but the agency believes the new system is worth it.

“It’s initially prohibitive, but then it pays for itself,” he said.

Freeland agreed.

“It’s very new,” he said. “You can see it is a great tool to have.”

View the full article at unionprogress.com.

After more than eight years of limited funding, the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission will have $1.7 billion available for regional roads and bridges over the next two years due to increased federal funding, the most since 2015-16.

At a public hearing Wednesday on how to spend the funds in Allegheny County, Dom D’Andrea, SPC’s director of transportation, outlined the expected financing. Overall, including funds for public transit and alternative projects such as trails, the agency expects to have $3.1 billion to allocate over the next two years.

Under federal regulations, the regional planning group sets transportation spending priorities for the 10-county region. It oversees a 25-year long-range plan and a series of four-year plans that must be updated every two years, and hearings are underway to develop the two-year plan that will be adopted next June.

D’Andrea said the region expects a funding increase of about 7% over the next two years, mostly federal funds from the Biden administration’s infrastructure program. That will return funding to the level of 2015-16, which D’Andrea said is a positive step but noted that inflation has eaten up much of the benefits from the increase.

In addition to flat federal funding in recent years, the state Department of Transportation decided in 2021 to shift $3.15 billion through 2028 from local roads across the state to interstate highways. Officials said they feared federal officials might pull federal funding if they didn’t make a special effort to improve conditions on the interstates.

The additional stimulus funds this year will help to replace that money.

For the new plan, about 43% of the funds will be earmarked for bridges and 23% for roads. D’Andrea said the region has cut the number of bridges in poor condition in half over the past 15 years, but they still account for about 10% of all bridges and another 62% are considered fair.

“Yes, we keep investing in bridges,” he said. “We have cut our poor bridges in half, but there’s more to do …. We’re still attacking the bridge issue.”

The Transportation Improvement Program also will include about $1.4 billion for transit and other programs. Ryan Gordon, SPC’s transportation manager, said the allocation of funds for other programs will be presented to the board for approval next month.

Those programs include congestion management and air quality, transportation alternatives such as bike lanes and trails, and a new carbon reduction program.

Wednesday’s hearing was one of a series that will be held in each county and Pittsburgh as the agency develops the priorities for the region. It will present a proposed spending plan in May and hold another series of hearings before the board votes on the plan in June.

Even once the plan is adopted, the agency will hold monthly meetings to make adjustments as some additional projects are ready for construction and others are slower to develop.

“It’s really a living, breathing document that changes all the time,” D’Andrea said.

The commission covers Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington, Westmoreland counties and Pittsburgh.

View the full article at unionprogress.com

The Mexican economy 2023 growth is 3.2%. Growth industries are private consumption, services, agriculture, tourism, construction and automotive production not to mention a rise in nearshoring. There are Free Trade Agreements signed with most of the countries in Latin America.

Latin America and Caribbean markets will grow this year in “real” terms by 1.6% but in PPP terms, the region will expand by over 6% and per capita consumption, when measured in US Dollars will grow by a whopping 11%. Experienced speakers from Mexico, Colombia, Peru, and Chile will provide the most current and accurate information on how to trade with Mexico and the rest of Latin American countries.

Topics:

• US/Mexico, USMCA trade economy, opportunities, up-to-date information.
• Opportunities in Colombia, Peru and Chile.
• Main industries growth and U.S. company participation in trade shows

Speakers.

• Keenton Chiang, Commercial Counselor, U.S. Embassy Peru
• Lisa Foss, Commercial Officer, U.S. Embassy Chile
• Norcia Ward Marin, Commercial Specialist, U.S. Embassy Colombia
• Diego Gattesco, Director/Trade Americas Team Leader
• Ryan Russell, Director, U.S. Commercial Service Pittsburgh
• Efren Flores, Pennsylvania Office in Mexico City.
• Jackie Pacheco, Southwestern PA Commission
• Ed Schick, SBA Office of International Trade
• Andrea Hampton, Lehigh University SBDC
• Dough Harding, Duquesne University SBDC
• Brent Rondon, University of Pittsburgh SBDC

Date: December 7, 2023
Time: 9:00am-10:30am. EST.
Format: Webinar.  Fee: No cost.
Registration link:    https://pasbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/30959

Marketing sponsors: Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center (PASBDC) www.pasbdc.org, University of Pittsburgh SBDC, Lehigh University SBDC, Duquesne University SBDC, US Commercial Service, State of PA PREP – Regional Export Network, Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, SBA Office of International Trade.

Brent G. Rondon, MPA, CGBP.
Senior Management Consultant for International Trade

EXIM Bank Regional Export Promotion Partner (REPP)
University of Pittsburgh SBDC

View the full article at http://hispanos-n-pgh.blogspot.com/

As part of the region’s Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) that the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) manages, the organization is hosting a public meeting Thursday, Nov. 2, for Westmoreland County residents.

The meeting is scheduled for 2-4 p.m. in the board of commissioners meeting room inside the Westmoreland County Courthouse, 2 N. Main St., Greensburg. SPC staff members, county officials, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) officials and area stakeholders will be in attendance.

According to information provided Tuesday by the SPC, residents attending the meeting will learn about the TIP and have the opportunity to share their thoughts on any local transportation and infrastructure projects they want addressed. The TIP for years 2025-2028 is currently being developed. This meeting serves as an introduction/status update on the TIP before a draft plan is made available for the public’s review/comment period in late spring 2024.

SPC is hosting this meeting in Westmoreland County, and will host other meetings throughout southwestern Pennsylvania in the weeks ahead.

If a member of the public is not able to attend this meeting in-person, but would like to learn more about the TIP (or has questions about transportation planning activities), they are encouraged to:

• send an email to comments@spcregion.org
• mail questions/comments to Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission’s address at 42 21st St., Suite 101, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
• call SPC at 412-391-5590
• visit the Get Involved page on the SPC’s website at www.spcregion.org/get-involved/.

View the full article at latrobebulletinnews.com

The Pittsburgh Robotics Network today announced the appointment of Jennifer Apicella as its executive director, effective immediately. Apicella has been serving as its interim executive director since May 2023 and previously held the position of vice president of partnerships and programs since February 2021.

“Her dedication and proven leadership have been instrumental in advancing the mission of the PRN, which serves as the nexus for over 140 robotics organizations in the Greater Pittsburgh region,” said the organization in a press release.

“I am excited to be able to continue this work, steering the Pittsburgh Robotics Network into a future brimming with collaborative growth and innovation,” said Apicella. “Together with our partners, we’ll continue to amplify Pittsburgh’s already well-established standing as one of the top international hubs for robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence.”

“Our region’s robotics cluster is one of the most advanced and innovative in the world,” she added. “I am delighted to be able to expand this work, fostering a community that facilitates new opportunities for commercial growth and industry partnerships to accelerate the adoption of robotic solutions across the globe.”

The PRN recently named Jenny Sharpe as senior program manager of workforce development.

The Pittsburgh Robotics Network has also officially moved its offices into the Robotics Factory, located within the Tech Forge along Pittsburgh’s “Robotics Row.” It is backed by the PRN, Innovation Works, and the Southwestern Pennsylvania New Economy Collaborative.

The PRN said the Robotics Factory “serves as a catalyst for nurturing early stage robotics startups, expediting the commercialization of robotics solutions, and enhancing manufacturing capabilities. It’s through public and private partnerships like these that real impact can be achieved for the region.”

Kevin Dowling, chair of the PRN board of directors and managing director of the Robotics Factory, stated: “Jennifer’s appointment comes at a pivotal time, marking a new chapter for our region’s robotics ecosystem. Her proven ability to connect, inspire, and propel the robotics business community forward makes her the ideal leader to navigate the organization’s journey ahead.”

“The synergies between the Pittsburgh robotics business ecosystem and the broader global robotics sector is poised to reach new heights under Jennifer Apicella’s leadership,” the PRN asserted. In June, it announced a strategic partnership with Denmark’s Odense Robotics aimed at generating transatlantic business growth opportunities and solidifying ties between the two robotics clusters.

The PRN said it remains committed to helping regional robotics businesses and building its position as an “internationally recognized powerhouse in robotics and AI.”

“As our region continues to invest in providing new programs and resources to help grow our commercial robotics businesses, this will result in new companies here, who will then be able to provide more jobs in our community,” said Apicella.

The Pittsburgh Robotics Network has been preparing for the Pittsburgh Robotics Discovery Day on Nov. 16. The event is intended to showcase the region’s innovative robotics community.

Free and open to all, Pittsburgh Robotics Discovery Day offers business professionals, investors, entrepreneurs, job seekers, students, and the general public opportunities to engage with Pittsburgh’s robotics ecosystem. The event at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center will feature more than 130 exhibitors, including Aurora, Agility Robotics, and Carnegie Mellon University.

Partnerships among the Southwestern Pennsylvania New Economy Collaborative, the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, Innovation Works, and the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission are supporting the Pittsburgh Robotics Discovery Day.

The PRN said it expects this year’s event to draw thousands of attendees to experience live demonstrations of the technologies “changing the way we live, move, and work.” They can also meet the people making them possible, learn about various ways to get into the field—from traditional degrees to new training programs – and connect with community organizations “elevating the autonomy ecosystem.”

Attendees can visit four Discovery Zones—Robotics, Manufacturing, Career Pathways, and Community—for hands-on demonstrations of advanced robotics technology and next-generation manufacturing techniques. They can also explore career and business opportunities, said the PRN.

The event’s Main Stage presentations will highlight the humans behind the robots, as well as provide a chance to hear from emerging robotics and AI companies during the Robotics Factory Startup Showcase. The event will culminate in a Robotics and Tech Happy Hour held onsite from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. ET.

View the full article at robotics247.com

A year-long process of developing a Transportation Improvement Plan for southwestern Pennsylvania began Thursday at the PA CareerLink in White Township, where the Southwest Pennsylvania Commission conducted the first of a series of public meetings, which serve as a status update about the 2023-26 TIP and an introduction to what will become the 2025-28 TIP.

“It is a work in progress,” said Domenic D’Andrea, SPC transportation director, who conducted the hour-long meeting along with fellow SPC staffers Ronda Craig and Ryan Gordon, as well as Indiana County Office of Planning & Development Executive Director Byron G. Stauffer Jr. and Indiana County Chamber of Commerce President Mark Hilliard.

View the full article at indianagazette.com