Autumn River Street Project 2011 Nearing End of PE Phase

The traffic calming/safety will be located between South lane before crossing the project for River Street in Street and E. Northampton other lane, will be located Wilkes-Barre City is nearing Streets on S. River Street, and at Market Street and in the end of the preliminary between Union and Jackson front of the courthouse. engineering phase. The pur- Streets on N. River Street. New Americans With Dis- pose of the project is to slow The concrete islands are pro- ability (ADA) curb ramps down and re-direct traffic on posed to be placed between E. will be constructed at each the 4400-feet section of River Northampton and Market intersection, and a new Street between North Street, Streets, and between Market and sidewalk will be placed on near the Luzerne County Union Streets. the park side of the street Courthouse, and South Street between Union and Jack- which cuts through the Wilkes Refuge islands, places situated son Streets. University campus. This is the in the middle of the road where only section of River Street pedestrians can walk across one (Continued on Page 4) inside and outside of the city that has four lanes. The objectives of traffic calm- ing are to reduce vehicle speeds, improve safety for both pedestrians and drivers, and enhance quality of life. The proposed traffic calming and re-directing will be ac- complished via the use of landscaped and concrete is- lands down the center of the road. The landscaped islands Interested citizens view proposed River Street project renderings

Fall/Winter LTAP Courses Scheduled

The following LTAP courses are 1264 Emergency Lane Building scheduled for the fall/winter 304 South State Street period: Nesquehoning, PA 18240 Clarks Summit, PA 18411 Pavement Markings: Applica- Telephone: 325-3097 tions and Maintenance Mon- Equipment & Workers’ Telephone: 586-9316 ORGANIZATION roe County Safety - Schuylkill County Common Sense Solutions to November 2, 2011 8:30 AM - February 2, 2012 8:30 AM - Intersection Problems 12:30 PM 12:30 PM Luzerne County Smithfield Township Building Schuylkill Community Edu- January 10, 2012 155 Red Fox Road cation Center 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM East Stroudsburg, PA 18301 1-7 Centre St. Mahanoy City, PA 17948 NEPA Offices Telephone: 223-5082 Telephone: 773-1270 1151 Oak St., Pittston, PA Work Zone (Temporary) Traf- 18640 Managing Utility Cuts - CONNECTIONS fic Control - Carbon County

LACKAWANNA/LUZERNE METROPOLITAN PLANNING PLANNING METROPOLITAN LACKAWANNA/LUZERNE Lackawanna County Telephone: 655-5581 November 29, 2011 February 21, 2012 For additional information on 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM the LTAP courses, contact 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM Kate McMahon at 655-5581, Carbon County Emergency Extension 249 Management Services Building Clarks Summit Borough Getting Around in Montana By Nancy Snee

As a transportation planner, I tend to notice times several members of the herd take to transportation-related items when I travel. On the roads causing a bison jam. a trip to Montana in August, one of the first things I noticed was the difference in road After leaving Yellowstone through the construction practices. When I landed in West Yellowstone entrance, we headed Bozeman, my friend Chris, a high school back up north to Helena. From a planner’s classmate, told me that the trip back to Helena perspective, my friend lives in mixed-use, would probably take longer than usual be- high-density nirvana. Her condo is located cause of construction on State Route 287. So, downtown in a historical building that I expected to see the orange barrels a mile or fronts on a pedestrian mall called Last Chance Gulch. From her condo, she can so before the construction area, and lane Road construction site on state highway 287 in walk to a variety of specialty shops and cross-overs as we have here in Pennsylvania. Montana restaurants, the library, and a movie thea- I was quite surprised to find none of those things. When we reached the construction In Pennsylvania, we’re accustomed to seeing ter, and is able to bike to the community site, the pavement ended and we were travel- roadside memorials that designate the spot college where she teaches. This situation ing on a dirt road, with its fair share of ruts where someone lost their life in a crash. These made it easy for me to explore the city when and potholes, and no lane markings. are erected by family members or friends of the she was not available. “Welcome to the wild, wild, West!”, I deceased. In Montana, the American Legion Our final road trip took us to Glacier National thought. Riding through this site at night erects small white crosses at sites of fatalities - Park which is located near the state’s north- while my friend dodged potholes, not to men- one cross per fatality. This practice started in west border with Canada. From a transporta- tion on-coming traffic, was interesting to say 1952 when six lives were lost in a crash over tion standpoint, the most spectacular part of the least. the Labor Day Holiday in Missoula. A member the park is the Going-To-The-Sun Road. De- of the local American Legion had the idea that scribing this road, its construction, and scenic During my week in Montana, my friend and I putting up these crosses would remind people to did a lot of traveling around the state. When I qualities would require a whole separate arti- slow down and drive carefully. Unfortunately, cle, so I will provide some highlights only. wasn’t enjoying the scenery, I noticed that we saw several of these crosses - five at one Montana posts different speed limits for cars spot - in our travels throughout the state. The road, cut from the side of a mountain that and trucks and designates different speed serves as the axis of the Continental Divide, limits for daytime driving versus nighttime After spending some time in Helena, the state bisects the park from west to east for a dis- driving. We also saw a few signs designating capital, we headed to Yellowstone National tance of 50 miles. The road was built to “give “Cell Phone Pull-Offs” - Montana’s attempt Park. We drove south from Helena to Gardiner, the public the opportunity to see the magnifi- to reduce cell phone calls and texting while a town that seems to exist solely to accommo- cence of the park while keeping in harmony driving. date tourists, where we entered Yellowstone via with the park’s natural features and environ- the Roosevelt Arch, a stately stone gateway that The scarcity of traffic and the flatness of the mental functions.” It offers breath-taking proclaims, “For the benefit and enjoyment of all scenery that flaunts the handiwork of the terrain became apparent early on while riding people”. As we drove around the park, we dis- on the 2-lane state routes. The lack of traffic glaciers that formed the mountains and covered that the roads there are not used strictly scoured-out, U-shaped valleys below. There there made the traffic situation in our area by vehicles but also by animals - big animals - seem like New York City in comparison. I are only 25 glaciers left in the park and they that sometimes opt to travel via pavement in- are expected to be gone by 2020. guess that shouldn’t have been surprising stead of meadow. On our way back to the park given that Montana just hit the million mark entrance one day, traffic came to standstill. The You can’t travel this road and not wonder in population as of the 2010 census. So, the reason why became evident when a lone bison how in the world it was built. In doing some whole state has just 500,000 more people than came plodding up in the other lane, totally research, I found out that construction started we do in Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties oblivious to the traffic jam he was creating and in the early 1920s and the road opened to alone. I guess that’s what they mean by the the frenzied paparazzi vying to get his photo. traffic in 1933. During the construction proc- “wide open spaces”. We later heard from other travelers that some- ess, workers had to walk several miles just to get to the mountain and, once there, had to scale a distance of 2700 feet to reach the ac- Far Left: White tual job site. I was surprised to learn that only cross designating three men died during construction, all of fatal crash loca- them related to the great stone wall. tion Originally estimated at $600,000, the actual Left: Bison in construction cost was $2.5 million. It’s the Yellowstone Na- only road in the country that has been desig- tional Park shar- nated both a National Historical Landmark and a National Civil Engineering Landmark. ing the road with tourists There’s currently a $27.6 million restoration project being done on the road with stimulus funds to repair damage from rock slides and avalanches that have occurred over the years.

Page 2 CONNECTIONS Transportation Funding Situation Discussed at Annual PENNDOT Planning Partners Meeting manufacturer’s fleet of passenger cars or Other modernization techniques include: The chronic underfunding of the transporta- light trucks with a gross weight of 8500 making vehicle registration renewals every tion system in Pennsylvania was a topic of pounds or less, manufactured in the U.S. for two years and drivers license renewals every discussion at the annual PENNDOT Plan- any given model year. The standard has risen eight years; eliminating annual car inspec- ning Partners meeting which was held on slowly over the years and is currently at 30.2 tions for vehicles less than two years old; and October 18-20 in State College. miles per gallon for passenger cars and 24.1 phasing out registration stickers. Since state Transportation Secretary Barry Schoch ad- for light trucks. So, even though gas is more troopers have computers in their vehicles, the dressed the MPO/RPO representatives re- expensive than it was 30 years ago, we pay stickers no longer serve the purpose they garding the problem stating that the current less in gas tax revenues because vehicles get once did. more mileage per gallon. method of acquiring transportation funding Among the proposed increased funding op- is obviously not working. If it were, the Inflation also plays a role in the cost of mate- tions are the following: cap or move State state wouldn’t be $3.5 billion short. rials used to reconstruct roads. Assuming a 3 Police funding to the General Fund rather The Secretary likened the costs of the trans- percent inflation rate per year, purchasing the than having it come out of the Motor License portation network to the costs people pay same volume of asphalt, steel, concrete, and Fund; increase vehicle and driver fees to for access to other networks. For example, other materials in 10 years would require an keep pace with inflation at approximately 3 the average cost for access to cable televi- additional 33 percent in funding. percent per year; uncap the Oil Franchise Tax; restructure Act 44 so that the revenues sion was $7 per week in 1999. In 2009, it Secretary Schoch discussed the work of the that currently go to highways and bridges was $12 per week which represents a 79 Transportation Funding Advisory Committee would be redirected to transit. percent increase over 10 years. (TFAC) and the set of recommendations they Similarly, average cell phone costs were compiled on how to increase transportation The Decade of Investment refers to a pro- $16 per week in 2007, and $18 per week in funding over a period of ten years. The Com- grammatic approach to repairing and expand- 2010 representing a 13 percent increase mission came up with a three-pronged ap- ing the state’s transportation infrastructure. proach consisting of modernization tech- over 3 years, or a 4 percent increase in cost In his closing remarks, the Secretary urged niques and strategies, a recommended fund- every year. the planning partners to consider how a reve- ing package, and a Decade of Investment. The Secretary pointed out that increased nue system based on Vehicle Miles Traveled, costs for these networks come to us without In regard to modernization, the challenge was a system whereby every driver would pay discussion or options on our part. We pay to identify those changes that save money in according to the number of miles traveled per the increased cost or we lose the service. the long run even though initial costs may be year, could be implemented. higher than existing ones. An example is the The Lackawanna/Luzerne MPO received a In contrast, when corrected for inflation, the replacement of all traffic signal lights with briefing on the TFAC report and recommen- cost to people using the transportation net- LED lights in tandem with the synchroniza- dations by commission member, Tom Law- work has actually decreased by half since tion of signals with PENNDOT oversight. At son, at their meeting in August. Dealing with 1970. The actual fuel tax paid by an average present, local municipalities have ownership the funding shortage situation firsthand, the driver who drives about 12,000 miles per of traffic signals in the state, and most of MPO decided to write a letter of support to year was approximately $390 in 1970, and them cannot afford the proper upkeep of the governor and to all local elected officials dropped to $158 in 2010. This decrease has those signals. This step would lower energy urging them to take action on the TFAC rec- occurred in part because of the higher Cor- costs, help traffic flow more smoothly, re- ommendations this fall. porate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) duce congestion, which in turn improves air standards for vehicles. This term describes quality. the overall fuel efficiency of a vehicle

Getting Around in Montana (continued from Page 2)

on I-81 than we did during that 3.5-hour trip on I- About 600,000 vehicles use the road every 15 to Helena. For a person from the more popu- year despite the fact that it is only open for 3-4 lous part of the country, those wide open spaces months when free of snow. of the Treasure State take some getting used to. We left the park via the east gate which took So, if you’re into escaping the crowded east coast us through the Blackfeet Reservation. After in search of plentiful elbow room and beautiful, traveling several miles through pretty isolated jaw-dropping scenery, I highly recommend taking territory, I found myself actually looking for- in the Big Sky country of Montana and the na- ward to getting on I-15 where I was hoping tional parks. You won’t be disappointed. we would see more traffic and perhaps some cities. We did see more vehicles on the inter- state, but I’m sure I encounter more traffic Speed limit sign for trucks with daytime driving between Wilkes-Barre and Scranton and nighttime speed limits.

AUTUMN Page 3 Lackawanna/Luzerne MPO

LACKAWANNA/LUZERNE METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION

Published By: Luzerne County Planning Commission Contact: Nancy Snee Telephone: 570-825-1564 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Page Link: http://www.luzernecounty.org/county/ departments_agencies/planning_commission/ lackawannaluzerne-metropolitan-planning- organization PENNDOT District 4-0 Web Site: www.neparoads.com

River Street Project Nearing End of PE Phase (Continued from Page 1) All work will be done within the existing well as for driveways and other access points pressed concern about the lane reduction alignment of the roadway, meaning that no throughout the block. from 2 to 1 in each direction. One of the permanent Right-Of-Way is expected to be issues raised concerned the ability of emer- The new proposed configuration calls for taken, although some temporary easements gency vehicles to pass other vehicles if there one lane in each direction which will be 11 will be required during construction. is only one lane. The turning radius was also feet wide with 1-2 feet offsets to curb, and an issue for some people who questioned Traffic signal upgrades will include im- 10-11-feet turning lanes at each intersection. whether the proposed medians would inter- proved pedestrian phases at all signals, The turning lanes are estimated to be 75 feet fere with tractor-trailers or school buses countdown timer pedestrian signal heads, in length. making the turn from South St. onto River ADA-compliant push buttons and equip- At a recent public meeting, citizens ex- Street. Another issue voiced by those in at- ment, and signal timing/optimization of tendance was how the flow of traffic signals throughout the pro- traffic coming off the Market ject, including the signal at the St. Bridge would merge with corner of Ross Street. the through traffic. They cited A new mid-block crosswalk will the inconsistency of the traffic be constructed between Market signal at this location which and Union Streets which will sometimes allows a continuous require new pavement markings right turn, and the traffic back- and signing. There will be no ups on the bridge that occur signal here. when that is not the case. The width of the existing lanes is All of these issues will be con- 10-11 feet. There are 2 lanes in sidered before the project moves each direction, although in most into final design which is ex- cases, one of the lanes serves as a pected to occur in December. turning lane at the intersections as Proposed Rendering of Landscaped Median on section of River Street