Tom Corbett, Governor • Barry J. Schoch, Secretary
Issue 8 • Spring 2014
New Transportation Plan to Help Address Aggressive Winter’s Roadway Impacts By Wayne Mears, PennDOT Central Press Office
Spring is a busy time for PennDOT employees. After a long “In Cumberland County, we are now concentrating on winter of plowing snow and keeping the 40,000 miles of sweeping our Interstates and cleaning bridges, finishing prep state-owned roads passible, it’s now time to detach the plows work on two roads we’re paving this spring - Rich Valley and and turn a focus to maintenance. With the arrival of warmer Spangler’s Mill Road, and we have a large pipe job on Route weather, the men and women of PennDOT can make more 94 near the Adams County line. We are trying to address permanent repairs, building on the temporary fixes that had pothole issues as well, which are a result of the winter, along to be used through the winter and colder months. with managing to pick litter prior to our contracted mowers starting next month!” Pennsylvania’s motorists and bicyclists are certainly aware of the potholes created by these extreme conditions and they Other PennDOT maintenance crews around the state are can rest assured that these repairs are at the forefront of the experiencing similar challenges. While crews are working on department’s plans. Governor Tom Corbett championed Act roadways, motorists and bicyclists are urged to stay alert, use 89 of 2013, a transportation plan, giving PennDOT the much caution and be patient when they encounter PennDOT or needed funding to make many of the repairs that are badly other utility crews working night and day to reverse winter’s needed for roads and bridges alike. damage and begin a record number of transportation projects. In carrying out the extensive improvements needed across the state, PennDOT's Cumberland County Maintenance PennDOT also asks, while on your evening or weekend bike Manager in Harrisburg-based District 8, Dan Storm, is very ride, if you spot a particular stretch of state road or pothole familiar with the challenges that lay ahead for his team. that needs attention, don’t assume it’s documented. Call 1- 800-FIX-ROAD to report maintenance concerns on state “A lot of our spring maintenance work is dictated by the type roadways, including specific location information. of winter we have experienced,” he said. “This was a very tough winter, especially with freeze and thaw issues that have To learn more about benefits coming near you because of the a negative effect on the roadways. transportation plan, visit www.dot.state.pa.us and click on “PA’s Comprehensive Transportation Plan.”
In This Issue: Governor Corbett Announces Transit Investment Public Invited to Share Input on in East Liberty ...... 3 Transportation Priorities ...... 2 Trail Spotlight ...... 4 South Central Region Turns to Summits for Philadelphia Wins Competitive Grant for Bicycle Information Sharing, Advocacy ...... 2 Pedestrian Safety ...... 5
1 Public Invited to Share Input on Transportation Priorities
The public is invited to share their transportation priorities among all feedback on transportation priorities and assets, from freight connections to bike investments through a survey at and pedestrian facilities. Participants will www.PAOnTrack.com as part of then rate the appeal of how various PennDOT’s efforts to update the state’s investment scenarios, such as Long Range Transportation Plan and preservation and technology develop the state’s first-ever enhancements, affect their top priorities. Comprehensive Freight Movement plan. People taking the survey can also The plans will provide a strategic vision identify project needs that address traffic for investing in transportation assets to congestion, bridges, transit and more. meet current and future demands. The state Comprehensive Freight The plan’s goals, objectives and Movement Plan’s development was recommendations will help guide the recommended by the state’s state’s future 12-Year Programs and Transportation Funding Advisory regional long-range transportation plans. Commission, which Governor Tom Following a yet-to-be-established Corbett created in 2011 to develop public-comment period, the freight and The survey, available until May 30, innovative solutions to Pennsylvania’s long-range plans will be finalized in asks the public to identify their top transportation funding challenges. fall 2014.
South Central Region Turns to Summits for Bicycle Information Sharing, Advocacy By Wayne Mears, PennDOT Central Press Office
Last fall, PennDOT staff attended a bike summit to offer input and gather an understanding of what is needed to safely commute by bicycle in the city of Lancaster.
Maintenance Technical Leadership Division Chief Daryl R. St. Clair and Engineering District 8 Transportation Planner Dave Holcombe joined several individuals representing local stakeholders and member counties who made presentations on what was happening to improve bicycling in their areas.
Also, as part of the summit, attendees rode several routes in downtown Lancaster to survey the most bike-friendly routes. This field view is an important step in future bike safety planning for the streets of the city. To organize bicycling promotion for transportation, recreation and fitness in the eight-county area, Bicycle South Central Pennsylvania, a regional advocacy organization, was officially established.
Of the organization’s establishment, Lebanon Valley Bicycle Coalition president Pat Krebs said, “There are so many bicycling infrastructure and promotional activities underway in the region that we can learn from each area’s work and develop consistency and connectivity between our communities.” Daryl R. St. Clair and Dave Holcombe prepare to Building on the summit’s momentum, Harrisburg will host a summit, on May 29 and 30 in - complete field survey. spired by the fall BSCPA event. Participants will learn about opportunities to increase active transportation investments. This also presents an opportunity to develop relationships with other advocates, agency staff, elected officials and bike/pedestrian professionals.
Both sessions are free of charge and you may register at www.advocacyadvance.org/trainings . Select the Harrisburg May 29 and/or Harrisburg May 30 session.
To learn more about Bicycle South Central Pennsylvania, visit www.bicyclesouthcentralpa.org .
2 Governor Corbett Announces Transit Investment in East Liberty By Steve Cowan, Information Specialist Supervisor, PennDOT District 11
Once known as Pittsburgh’s “second additional transportation investment Ceremonies, noted that investment in downtown,” East Liberty was a thriving funds available for the project. transportation makes a better and community on the city’s east side, Improvements to the station are part of brighter future. He introduced dignitaries particularly during the 1940’s and 50’s. an overall $62.7 million investment to such as Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto, Rail and trolley lines, as well as the revitalize East Liberty. The total funding County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Pittsburgh-Greensburg turnpike (U.S. 30), to date from the state is more than Congressman Mike Doyle, each focusing helped make East Liberty a transportation $21 million. on the importance of Act 89 and the hub and brought many of Pittsburgh’s impacts that transportation funding will industrialists to the eastern side of The transit center improvements will have on not only this project but the Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, the include station reconstruction, a rebuilt southwest region as a whole. neighborhood began losing steam in pedestrian bridge, improved access for the 1960’s and 70’s with the advent of the community, new stairs, streetscaping Peduto noted that a community-based suburban shopping malls and changed and a storage area for bicycles. The state vision allows neighborhoods such as East planning directions. investment, coupled with federal dollars, Liberty to come back because of public has helped leverage another $76 million investment. A focus on public transit, Fast forward 30 years and you will find in economic projects. An estimated $480 modernization, jobs and housing are a completely different community. million in mixed-use development important aspects and it was critical for Bolstered by increased investment and initiatives since 2001, including three new transportation funding to be passed businesses such as Google and Target, buildings adjacent to the busway, have for projects such as this to occur. East Liberty has transformed from a brought a new vitality to East Liberty. blighted, shadow of itself to a once again East Liberty is back on the map flourishing neighborhood. More than 800 daily bus trips will because of this $137 million economic occur from the revamped station, with development program. The governor On April 1, Governor Tom Corbett held pedestrians and bicyclists also having noted that the state’s $7 million a press event at the East Liberty Busway better access through the station commitment to the bus station is the Station to announce a significant improvements. At the media event, “lynchpin” to the overall project. investment for the next phase of work for Corbett stated that public transit rider - Residents in East Liberty and surrounding the transit station on the Martin Luther ship has increased to its highest levels communities will find a modern, King Busway. Corbett announced that the in decades. accessible and inviting transit station state is investing $5 million into the that dovetails with revitalization of project from Act 89 transit funds. The PennDOT Executive Deputy Executive the neighborhood. governor is also making $2.8 million in Brad Mallory, acting as Master of 3 Trail Spotlight . . . Redbank Valley Trail Wins Trail of the Year
Department of Conservation and north from Lawsonham at milepost six The trail connects to the Armstrong Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary to just outside Sligo in Clarion County. Trail at the Allegheny River, and from Ellen Ferretti announced on Jan. 27 there to the 270-mile Erie to that Redbank Valley Trails in The trail is a rail-banked railroad Pittsburgh Trail and the 150-mile Armstrong, Clarion and Jefferson corridor, which allows the corridor to Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) from counties is Pennsylvania’s 2014 Trail remain open should the railroad wish Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Md. The of the Year. This new designation is to reinstate service. Allegheny Valley GAP connects with the C&O Canal coordinated by DCNR’s Pennsylvania Land Trust now has the title to the Towpath, creating a continuous 335- Trails Advisory Committee to elevate corridor and works with RVTA to make mile long trail from Pittsburgh to public awareness of the thousands of improvements for interim use. Washington, D.C. Redbank Valley miles of trails available for public enjoyment in Pennsylvania.
“Eighteen fantastic trails were nominated during this inaugural year for this designation,” Ferretti said. “Redbank Valley Trails stood out because of the dedicated work of tremendous volunteers; its scenic beauty; connection to other trail systems; and quick and efficient pace of development.”
President of Redbank Valley Trails Association (RVTA) Darla Kirkpatrick thanked DCNR upon learning of the award and commented, “This honor belongs to all of our amazing, dedicated volunteers and our community, local government and Volunteers have contributed more Trails is also part of an initiative to business supporters who have than 3,000 hours per year since 2010 connect Pittsburgh east to Ridgway in committed so much of their time, for record-breaking trail development. the heart of the Pennsylvania Wilds. energy, equipment and money. The Rosebud Mining Company donated When the Climax Tunnel at Milepost Trail of the Year designation will help equipment; the Trail Volunteer Fund of 17 is opened, it will create a huge trail us garner more support so we can the Pittsburgh Foundation and network of more than 656 miles, improve and open the Climax Tunnel; Grange Lime and Stone helped opening great economic development finish surfacing more miles; add underwrite the cost of equipment and potential for the entire region. amenities; attract more businesses for materials; and individual needed economic development in the contributions exceeded $300,000. region and make more people Combined, these efforts enabled aware of this truly beautiful volunteers to grade and compact recreational asset.” more than half the route and apply crushed limestone to almost half of Redbank Valley Trails includes 41.5 the trail. miles running along scenic Redbank Creek between the Allegheny River at Four-season, non-motorized trail use milepost zero through southern continues to grow as more miles are Clarion County to Brookville, Jefferson improved. Many cross-country skiers County. It includes many bridges and enjoyed the trail this winter. Local beautiful stone arches. The trail residents are using the trail for connects schools, soccer fields and exercise, recreation and rural areas to commercial and transportation. Many fundraisers residential centers and provides have already been held to benefit local points of creek access along its route. organizations and individuals. There is also a 9-mile spur that runs
See Trail Spotlight on page 5 4 Trail Spotlight from page 4 been awarded and will lead to repairs with over $6.9 million poured directly that will allow the tunnel's reopening into the local economy. and an enhanced trail experience. The GAP annually generates over $40 Some have said that the Redbank Valley million for the towns through which it Trails are as scenic as the Pine Creek passes. A single 2013 5-day, 4-night Trail in North Central PA, which has sojourn with 292 riders had $117,000 in been referred to as one of the 10 most positive economic impact to the 11 scenic trails in the country and which communities through which riders has generated more than $3.6 million in passed. annual associated tourism revenue. Redbank Valley Trails is working hard to A 2010 economic impact study on 34.8 bring that kind of much needed miles of the Armstrong Trail, to which economic benefit and recreational Redbank Valley Trails connects, and opportunity to its small towns and the which is part of the Erie to Pittsburgh region. RVTA provides current updates trail, indicated an estimated 80,638 on its improvements, trail conditions annual user visits to the Armstrong and activities through Facebook and its The 528 foot Climax Tunnel, completed Trail, resulting in a total economic website at www.redbankvalleytrails.org . in 1876 by the Allegheny Valley Railroad impact of $897,442 ($740,250 directly features beautiful local-cut stone with a into the local economy). For more information visit 4-layer brick arch ceiling. It is a critical www.explorePAtrails.com and choose the connection, but due to a hole and A just-released 2013 economic impact 2014 Trail of the Year slide. Also weakened ceiling, the tunnel is currently study on 66 miles of the Erie to featured on the site are 476 trails closed to trail users. However, a Pittsburgh trail between Titusville and covering more than 10,000 miles in $238,000 Transportation Alternatives Parker, found over 158,000 annual users, Pennsylvania. Grant and a $500,000 DCNR grant have over $7.4 million in economic impact
Trail users travel great distances to ride a long scenic trail and have a great economic impact, as tourism is Pennsylvania’s second-largest industry. For more information on the impact of trails and tourism, visit http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/cs/groups/public/documents/news/DCNR_20027937 and http://www.newpa.com/business/key- industries/tourism.pdf . Philadelphia Wins Competitive Grant for Pedestrian Safety
PennDOT and the City of Philadelphia announced that the city “We made the case with the federal government that an was named as one of three nationwide for a special federal grant investment of resources would make a difference for pedestrian to enhance pedestrian safety. safety,” Schoch said. “We welcome such opportunities to enhance safety in Pennsylvania.” The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) picked PennDOT’s Highway Safety Office worked with the Mayor’s Philadelphia for a $525,000 grant to expand pedestrian safety Office of Transportation and Utilities to update the city’s education and enforcement efforts. Philadelphia is one of only Pedestrian Safety Plan, which served as the basis for the three cities nationally to receive a grant among dozens that grant application. applied. Philadelphia was the only city in Pennsylvania that met the criteria to be considered for the grant. New York City and “We reduced pedestrian involved accidents in Philadelphia by 10 Louisville, KY were the other two recipients. percent between 2007 and 2012, but our work is far from done. I am delighted that NHTSA and FHWA recognized that power of “Pedestrian safety is a top priority for the Department,” said U.S. partnership that Philadelphia has with PennDOT. These funds Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “Through a combination are going to help make Philadelphia a national model for of education, enforcement, and improvements to walking routes pedestrian safety efforts,” said Philadelphia Mayor Michael themselves, today’s grant will improve pedestrian safety in A. Nutter. Philadelphia while serving as a model for communities across the country as well.” The plan calls for innovative outreach at and around high crash locations. Included will be targeted social media, an updated PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch said it is important that the police pedestrian training video and bus and subway city and state work together. advertising. Enforcement and follow up evaluation also are part of the plan. 5