Spring Focus of Proposed 2009-2012 TIP 2008 is Bridge Repair/Replacement The proposed 2009-2012 most of the listed projects are Park-n-Ride: 4 projects - Transportation Improvement geared toward system preser- Butler Twp., intersection of Program (TIP) has been de- vation, maintenance, and im- I-80 and PA 309; veloped by the Lackawanna/ provement. These projects in- Luzerne MPO. clude intersection improve- White Haven Borough - loca- ments, existing signal improve- tion undetermined; The TIP comprises the first ments, and road resurfacings. four years of the 12-year pro- Nuangola Borough - SR gram and the Long Range Some of the other projects on 2042 at Exit 159 of I-81; Transportation Plan. It is a the proposed TIP include the listing of projects and line following: Sugarloaf Twp. - Tomhicken items for which funding has Road, near Exit 145 of I-81 Widening: 2 projects - been designated. The proposed TIP is slated to !-81 between the Central Line items are designated be adopted by the MPO at Scranton Expressway and funding sources that can be the July meetings, pending Davis Street Interchanges; used for a particular category the results of the public com- ment period. It will then be project, such as rail, highway Airport Beltway, Hazle Town- reviewed and adopted at the reserve, transportation en- ship hancement, etc., when state and federal levels after needed. New Roadway: 2 projects - which it will become effec- South Valley Parkway which tive as of October 1st. In addition to the line item will provide better access to The public version of the categories, there are specific the Luzerne County Commu- 2009 TIP can be accessed at project listings. nity College from PA 29; the MPO web page (see page The primary focus of the TIP Extension of Route 424 to PA 4 for web address). is bridge replacement, bridge Route 924 in Hazle Township Contact Nancy Snee at 825- rehabilitation, and bridge which will provide improved, 1564 for an electronic copy preservation projects. safer access into the Humboldt of the TIP. Industrial Park. Other than bridge projects, Long Range Transportation Plan To Be Updated The Long Range Transporta- completing the data- palities in Lackawanna County tion Plan (LRPT) is being up- gathering stage of the plan, having jurisdiction over land use, dated as part of the Bi-County and will soon be launching linking transportation and land Comprehensive Plan. At the into the visioning phase. use projects is challenging. May 14 MPO meeting, the The public will have an Another challenge in looking project consultant gave a brief opportunity to provide in- ahead 25 years into the future is presentation on the progress of put and feedback about the the current regulation that 80% of the project. plan at the public meetings the TIP funding must be geared The purpose of the LRTP is to that will be held throughout toward system maintenance, and develop, maintain, and man- the duration of the project, only 20% can be used for new age an adequate, safe, accessi- and/or via the web site for roadway projects. This directive, ble intermodal transportation the project, www. plus the regulation to maintain system that will provide an lackawanna-luzerne.com. fiscal constraint throughout the efficient movement of people There will be a survey on plan, makes the visioning process and goods within Luzerne and the web site in the near fu- all the more difficult. Lackawanna Counties. ture seeking ideas and in- However, preparing the LRTP as put. The plan will look at all part of the bi-county comprehen- CONNECTIONS modes of transportation as One of the main intents of sive plan, offers an opportunity to they currently operate, and the LRTP is to try to find a resolve these and other issues. will consider how conditions way to better link land use To learn more about the LRTP may change over the next 25 with transportation pro- preparation, or to provide input, years. jects. With most of the mu- contact Nancy Snee at 825-1564 nicipalities in Luzerne The consultant is close to or Steve Pitoniak at 963-6400. County, and all the munici- LACKAWANNA/LUZERNE METROPOLITAN PLANNINGORGANIZATION State of the Luzerne County Trail System Outlined The Wyoming Valley Wellness Trails Part- Luzerne County Levee Trail System, the Sus- The trail includes four inter-connecting nership has compiled an inventory of all the quehanna Warrior Trail, and the West Side looping trails that lead hikers to low- existing and proposed trails in Luzerne Trail. It will also provide connections to area lying areas, ridgetop overlooks, former County. parks, schools, senior facilities, and health coal-mined lands, and natural wooded care facilities. Planning for this project will areas. The report outlines the status of 15 trails in start in 2008/2009. the county, and discusses the funding as- Penobscot Ridge Mountain Bike pects of the projects, as well as the issues Greater Hazleton Rails to Trails: A 4-mile Trail: This introductory bike mountain that need to be addressed as the organiza- section of this trail is open from the City of trail runs about 2 miles, and encom- tional sponsors of the trails go through the Hazleton to Ashmore. When completed, the passes large reclaimed mine areas of trail construction process. trail will be 16.4 miles long and will act as a land to the south of Wanamie and the spur to the Delaware & Lehigh National Heri- conservation lands of Penobscot Ridge. Below is a brief outline of the trails de- tage Corridor. It will also connect the Greater There are two trailheads that can be ac- scribed in the report: Hazleton Area with Eckley Miners’ Village, cessed at points along the Kirmar Park- Ashley Planes Heritage Park: This 405- Lehigh Gorge State Park, and nearby State way. acre site, once completed, will be one of Game-lands. In addition to providing the Sugar Notch Trail: Planning for this the most important historic sites in the usual facilities for walkers, joggers, and bik- trail is in process. When completed, this county, providing visitors with a glimpse of ers, the trail can be used for cross-county ski- trail will be part of the Sugar Notch a former state-of-the-art transportation fa- ing and geocaching (treasure hunt involving Residential Development. It will pro- cility for moving coal over Wilkes-Barre Global Positioning System units). vide access to the Greater Hanover Area Mountain. The park will include a walking Lehigh Gorge Trail: This trail follows over Recreation Park, and will connect the trail with interpretive signage. 20 miles of abandoned railroad grade along park with the Sugar Notch playground Back Mountain Trail: Upon completion, the Lehigh River and provides opportunities about a mile away. A second trail will this trail will run for a total of 13 miles for hiking, biking, cross-county skiing and run from a trailhead at the lower fields along the route of the Lehigh Valley Rail snowmobiling. Parking areas for access to the of the Recreation Park to a trailhead Line, originally developed in the 1880’s to trail can be found in White Haven in Luzerne adjacent to the Sugar Notch Cemetery assist a local ice manufacturer bring his ice County, and Rockport and Glen Onoko in for distance of 3 miles. to market. Two miles of this trail are cur- Carbon County. Susquehanna Warrior Trail: This rently open and can be accessed at the Luzerne County Levee Trail: The Levee 18.5-mile trail is situated along the Sus- Luzerne Borough trail head site near the Trail consists of 12 miles of paved trails in quehanna River on the west side of the Knights of Columbus parking lot. total, divided into four sections or reaches, on valley, running parallel to US Route 11 Black Diamond Trail: This trail project is both the east and west sides of the Susque- from the PPL Riverlands Park in Salem in process and not officially open to the hanna River. The trail system connects people Township up to Larksville Borough. public. It will consist of 16 unimproved to the river that helped create the Wyoming There are segments of the trail open at rail-trail miles. 1.5 miles are estimated to Valley, and offers lessons in the history of the this time at the southern end. This be completed by late summer of this year. valley on several kiosks located along the nearly-flat trail will have a gravel sur- The trail will connect White Haven Bor- trail. The riverside natural area in Kirby Park face and six trailheads, and will connect ough with Wilkes-Barre City, skirting the contains historic features of a park and zoo to the Mocanaqua loop trails across the east edge of Mountain Top along the way. designed by the Olmstead Brothers which river from Shickshinny Borough. A trailhead to the trail is located near the was abandoned after the flood of 1936. Wapwallopen Creek Greenway/Trail: Mountain Top Hose Company on PA Luzerne County National Recreation This planned suburban trail/greenway Route 437, but the public is cautioned to Trail: Phase 1 of this 1.8-mile trail is open , system will provide about 20 miles of use the trail in groups since it is not offi- and runs from the Pittston Riverfront Park to on - and off-road trails in three loops, cially open. Port Griffith. When completed, the trail will with connecting segments, throughout Wilkes-Barre City Trail/Greenway Sys- run for 16 miles connecting Port Griffith to Mountain Top. It will connect portions tem: This plan will identify trail/greenway Wilkes-Barre City to the south and connect- of Wapwallopen Creek, Mountain Top, routes in the city that connect to existing ing to Old Forge to the north.