Emissions-testing contract could save taxpayers money
Pennsylvania taxpayers should save $57 million under the terms of a new emissions-testing contract announced by Gov. Edward G. Rendell. The five-year agreement between the state Department of Transportation and MCI Communications Services Inc. calls for a 42 percent cut in the program’s management fee to $2.40. That $1.75 savings should be subtracted from the cost of each emissions test, Transportation Secretary Allen D. Biehler said. Most emissions inspection stations pass the management fee on to customers as part of the overall cost of emissions testing.
“In negotiating this contract, our goal was to save money for Pennsylvania motorists,” said Biehler. “It’s up to all stations to do the right thing and reduce their test fees so that every customer benefits from the savings in this new contract.”
MCI has provided oversight for Pennsylvania’s vehicle emissions inspection program since 1997. The new, five-year contract will take effect Monday.
The program management fee covers the costs of administering the auto emissions program in the state and includes the cost of station oversight through audits, collection of data and analysis, as well as the storage of that data.
PennDOT regulations require stations to post both the test fees and the program management fees. All stations should post the new $2.40 fee on Monday. There are about 6,600 stations participating in emissions testing in the 24-county emissions area and nearly 6.6 million vehicles are tested annually.
Competition permits customers to choose inspection sites based on price, service and convenience. PennDOT continues to encourage customers to shop around for the best price and to visit www.drivecleanpa.state.pa.us
for a list of the most current, certified emissions inspection stations and their test fees.
Another key highlight under the new MCI contract is the gathering of vehicle safety inspection data. Pennsylvania’s 17,000 safety inspection stations will be able to voluntarily participate in the electronic capturing of safety inspection data. This data will assist PennDOT in monitoring program effectiveness and assessing the safety impact of Pennsylvania’s annual safety inspection program.
“The data gathered from an automated inspection program will continue to help advance vehicle and highway safety by identifying trends and targeting potential issues,” Biehler said.