I-80 and I-99 INTERSTATE CONNECTION Appendix F Letters of Support
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80 26 80 Exit 161 Bellefonte INFRA Grant Application I-80 AND I-99 INTERSTATE CONNECTION Appendix F Letters of Support November 2017 34TH DISTRICT DISTRICT OFFICES SENATOR JAKE CORMAN BELLEFONTE OFFICE SENATE BOX 203034 DritJ i’ab THE STATE CAPITOL 236 MATCH FACTORY PLACE HARRISBURG, PA 17120-3034 BELLEFONTE, PA 16823 717-787-1377 (814) 355-0477 FAX: 717-772-3146 FAX (814) 355-6046 COMMITTEES LEWISTOWN OFFICE RULES & EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, CHAIR 31 WEST THIRD STREET LEWISTOWN, PA 17044 (717) 242-2410 FAX (717) 242-4775 TOLL FREE: 1-800-828-7300 WEBSITE: jokecormon.Com ênat iii 11rutu1gtuauta October 17, 2017 Secretary Elaine L. Chao United States Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, D.C. 20590 Dear Secretary Chao, It is my understanding that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has applied for funding from the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) program in order to complete the 1-99/1-80 Interchanges project in Centre County, Pennsylvania. The purpose of my letter is to recommend favorable consideration of this request. The project is an integral infrastructure improvement in my district and is intended to replace the functionally obsolete 1-80 Exit 1 61 (Bellefonte) Interchange with a modern interchange that will complete a key missing link on the National Highway Freight Network. The project will also provide for safer travel between the two interstates. Centre County is one of the fastest growing counties in Pennsylvania — the only county in Pennsylvania that is growing in population. We are fortunate to sit in an economic hub for over ten other counties. In addition, the County is a centrally-located transportation hub for the nation’s mid-Atlantic region. Completion of a modern connection will improve and enhance the economic position of Centre County and Pennsylvania on a national level. It should be noted that environmental clearance was obtained for the project in 2002 and right-of-way acquisition has been completed, but PennDOT needs additional funding to construct and finalize the improvements. This project is a key transportation link needed to sustain the economic health of communities across Central Pennsylvania and will provide safer travel for residents and visitors alike. I am very happy to support this application. Your consideration of this matter is appreciated. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any additional questions. Sincerely, Jake Corman JDC/mjw cc: The Honorable Patrick Toomey, United States Senator The Honorable Robert Casey, United States Senator The Honorable Glenn Thompson, United States House of Representatives The Honorable Bill Shuster, United States House of Representatives Secretary Leslie Richards, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Ms. Karen Michael, District 2-0 Executive, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Mr. Tom Zilla, Principal Transportation Plamier, Centre County MPO Mr. Jeff Luck, Chair, Centre County MPO MICHAEL K. HANNA, SR. 29 BELLEFONTE AVENUE DEMOCRATIC WHIP LOCK HAVEN, PENNSYLVANIA 17745 n 420 MAIN cAPrroL PHONE: (570) 748-5480 P.O. BOX 202076 TOLL-FREE: 1 (800) 845-7846 HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA 17120-2076 PHONE: (717)772-2283 n 519 DELLSTREET BELLEFONTE, PENNSYLVANIA 16823-4839 PHONE: (814) 353-8780 fliawfi COMMONWEALTH PENNSYLVANIA HARRISBURG October 13,2OL7 Secretary Elaine L Chao US Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 RE: PA Department of Transportation's Infrastructure for Rebuilding America Program Grant Application Dear Secretary Chao: I serve the 76th Legislative District of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The Interstate B0 Bellefonte Exit 161 in Marion Township lies in the Centre County portion of my rural district. This exit provides the current access to Interstate B0 from PA Route 26. In close proximity to this area is the official terminus of Interstate 99. The small stretch of roadway between I 99 and I B0 (SR 26) was never designed to handle the high volume of traffic it now has, thus making it very dangerous. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is applying for federal grant funding through the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America Program to replace the functionally obsolete I B0 Exit 161 Interchange with a modern interchange that will make a seamless connection between I B0 and I 99. The interchange will complete a missing link on the National Highway Freight Network. This interchange is essential for a number of reasons, a few of which I will highlight below. First and foremost is for safety reasons. This area is traveled by passenger vehicles, commercial trucks, Amish buggies and bicyclists and has seen a high number of crashes, causing injuries, death, and property damage. For economic reasons, Centre County is one of the fastest growing counties in Pennsylvania by percentage. A safer, more efficient and reliable roadway system will help retain existing businesses and attract new businesses. The project will significantly improve safety and travel time for employees using @ recycled paper Secretary Elaine Chao October 13,20L7 Page 2 I 80 and I 99 to reach their places of employment, which will enable companies to recruit workers from a larger area. In addition, Centre County is a centrally located transportation hub for both Pennsylvania and the nation's Mid-Atlantic Region. The interchange will improve the flow of goods and services through the area. The project will provide more efficient access to two designated Keystone Innovation Zones (Penn Eagle and Innovation Park) and two Keystone Opportunity Zones (Benner Commerce Park and Titan Energy Park) in Centre County. Centre County is home to a growing travel and tourism industry. Huge numbers of travelers come to Centre County for year round special events and attractions, including Penn State football, many other athletic events and tournaments, cultural events and musical entertainment in our area's top venues. It is also world renown for its beauty and natural resources that bring folks from far and wide. The interchange will improve travel time and safety for travelers. The environmental clearance was obtained for this project back in 2002 and right of way acquisition has been completed. The funding to construct the improvements has been the major hurdle in completing this much needed transportation infrastructure project. I am in full support of this grant proposal and sincerely hope that Penn DOT's request for funding for this important project in my legislative district will be granted. I would like to thank you for your time and attention in reviewing the application and look forward to safer traveling between Interstates B0 and 99 along a modern high speed interchange. Very Truly Yours, //(r/* MIKE HANNA State Representative/Democratic Whip 76th Legislative District MKH/tla Cc: Senator Robert P Casey, Senator Patrick J Toomey, Congressman Glenn Thompson October 11, 2017 US Department of Transportation Attn: Secretary Elaine L Chao 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE Washington, DC 20590 Dear Secretary Chao: I am writing to express our support for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s (PennDOT’s) Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) funding application for the construction of the I-99/I-80 Interchange in Centre County, PA. The proposed project will update the obsolete and unsafe I-80 Exit 161 Interchange (at Bellefonte) to modern interchange facilities and access roads, resulting in safe and congestion-free travel between the two interstate highways. The proposed project will provide additional benefit in support of PennDOT’s effort to implement a technology evaluation corridor along I-99 and I-80. The technology evaluation corridor is a collaborative project between PennDOT’s Bureau of Planning and Research, Bureau of Maintenance and Operations, Engineering District 2-0, and Penn State University to plan and develop I-99 and I-80 as a test bed for new technology, including connected and autonomous vehicle testing. The initial phase of this project is already funded and underway to identify national best practices that will help shape the implementation of the program. Because the existing at-grade intersections limit the utility for proposed testing, the completion of the high- speed interchange at Bellefonte has been identified as an integral part of the test bed. To move technology forward and support development into the future, we hope that you will view PennDOT’s application favorably and award funding to make this project a reality. Sincerely, Eric T. Donnell, Ph.D., P.E. Director Oct. 4, 2017 Secretary Elaine L. Chao U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 Dear Secretary Chao: The Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County (CBICC), along with the public and private investors comprising the Centre County Economic Development Partnership, fully supports the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s application to the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program for funding to complete the I-99/I-80 Interchanges project in Centre County, PA. The project will replace the functionally obsolete I-80 Exit 161 (Bellefonte) Interchange with modern interchange facilities and access improvements that will eliminate heavy traffic congestion between the two interstates that negatively impacts commerce, tourism, and new business investment into the region. Congestion at the current I-80 east- and westbound ramps at the Bellefonte interchange, particularly during morning and evening rush hours, and on holiday and Penn State football weekends, hinders efficient traffic flow, and poses considerable safety risks and costly delays for motorists. This is particularly concerning for the Centre County region because our economy is primarily people- based, from the 11,000 plus workers traveling here from neighboring counties each day for employment, to the tens of thousands of students that attend the main campus of Penn State University, to the 100,000+ plus visitors that converge on Centre County during college football weekends. Additionally, Centre County is centrally located as a transportation hub for both Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic Region.