New PennDOT Contract Saves Nearly $6.5 Million Annually While Maintaining Environmental Stewardship

HARRISBURG, Pa., July 25, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A recently negotiated contract for vehicle emissions and safety inspection station management services will save the state approximately $1 million annually and could save vehicle owners nearly $5.5 million. 

Parsons Commercial Technology Group, Inc., a provider of auto emissions management programs, has been contracted to oversee privately owned safety and emissions inspection stations in the 25 counties where emissions testing is required.

Beginning Oct. 9, the new contract reduces the program management fee paid by station owners for each initial emission test from the current $2.40 to $1.47. With more than 5.7 million tests administered each year, this is a projected savings of $5.3 million.

The new contract also reduces the program management fee for auto safety inspection stations using PennDOT's e-SAFETY program from the current 74 cents per inspection to 18 cents, a $200,000 per-year savings to participating stations. PennDOT will actively encourage stations to pass along these savings to consumers.

"We are extremely pleased with this new contract and the opportunity to ultimately save consumers money through these reduced costs," said PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch. "Reducing costs to inspection station owners – a savings which can be passed on to consumers - is a welcome sign in these tough economic times."

The new contract will also save PennDOT about $1 million annually because Parsons will charge less to oversee the safety inspection program in the 25 counties.

PennDOT, working with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), is committed to ensuring Pennsylvania has the most effective program possible, focused on minimizing customer impact while meeting Federal Clean Air Act obligations. PennDOT and DEP will continue reviewing the state's auto emission program to identify potential program enhancements in the future.   

For more information on PennDOT's safety and emissions inspection programs, visit the Motor Vehicle Information Center at www.dmv.state.pa.us.

Media contact: Jan McKnight, 717-787-0485

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Transportation