SEDA-COG – Page 51 – SEDA Council of Governments

Lycoming Valley Railroad Grade Crossing Work to start in late May

Posted on May 14, 2020 by DNS Admin

The SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority (JRA) will reconstruct two railroad grade crossings, which are part of the Lycoming Valley Railroad operations.

Canfields Lane in Montoursville and Commerce Park Drive in Williamsport will be down to single-lane traffic during construction.

The Canfields Lane grade crossing construction starts May 18 and both lanes will reopen May 22.

The crossing is adjacent to the Glenn O. Hawbaker asphalt plant and Jersey Shore Steel’s Met-Fab. The construction will also affect river boat access, and Loyalsock Township parks.

Work on the Commerce Park Drive grade crossing at the Faxon Exit will start May 29 and paving is projected to be completed on June 3. Access to Water Tower Square, Planet Fitness, and other businesses will continue over a flagged, temporary one-lane crossing.

Jannotti Rail Consulting Inc. is the track engineer, Railroad Constructors, Inc. from New Jersey is the track contractor, and Glenn O. Hawbaker is the paving contractor. The SEDA-COG JRA owns the track and Lycoming Valley Railroad is the operator.

The SEDA-COG JRA was formed in 1983 by the forward-looking efforts of its eight member counties to save rail lines and service abandoned by Conrail. The JRA’s public-private partnership was recognized by the World Bank as a model for public-private partnerships to stimulate rural economic development. Since 2004, the JRA has invested or leveraged over $46 million in rail capital projects with over 40 public and private partners. For more information, visit www.sedacograil.org.

SEDA-COG Housing Rehab Work Offers Opportunity for General Contractors

Posted on May 11, 2020 by DNS Admin

With Gov. Tom Wolf allowing construction to resume, general contractors have an opportunity to perform housing rehabilitation work with SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG).

Teri Provost, director of SEDA-COG’s Housing Rehabilitation, said the program benefits both the local community and workforce.

“We know that along with many others, contractors’ workload has been hard hit by the effects of the pandemic. With our housing rehabilitation work, we not only help our communities by rejuvenating housing stock, but we invest in our workforce by bidding out to local contractors,” Provost said.

Contractors are especially needed in Bloomsburg, Milton, and Shamokin. SEDA-COG also does housing rehabilitation work in the Borough of Berwick, Jersey Shore Borough, City of Lock Haven, Mount Carmel Borough, Mount Carmel Township, South Williamsport Borough, and the City of Sunbury, and in Juniata, Montour, Snyder, and Sullivan counties.

Housing rehabilitation bids typically range from $20,000 to $65,000, with timely payment to contractors.

Contractor work may include structural, roofing, plumbing, electrical, heating/furnace, window replacement, radon mitigation, energy-related improvements, and, if they have certain certifications, lead-based paint mitigation.

“Contractors can choose where they want to work, so there’s tremendous work flexibility,” Provost said. “Our work is year-round, so we offer a steady flow of projects. And if they don’t want to perform lead-based paint mitigation, we don’t require that certification for lead-free homes.”

Interested contractors can meet with SEDA-COG to answer questions. SEDA-COG streamlines the process for contractors with a rehabilitation specialist assigned to each community.

For more information, contact SEDA-COG’s Danielle King at 570-524-4491 ext. 7325 or dking@seda-cog.org.

Regional Transportation Priority List open for public comment, SEDA-COG to conduct public comment meeting

Posted on May 4, 2020 by DNS Admin

Regional transportation priority list open for public comment
SEDA-COG to conduct public comment meeting

From now through May 31, the public has an opportunity to review and comment on a draft list of regionally agreed-upon priority transportation projects for Clinton, Columbia, Juniata, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, and Union counties.

As part of the public involvement process, a public meeting and information session on the draft 2021-2024 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. on May 13.

Because of COVID-19 precautions, the public meeting will be conducted virtually, with an opportunity for questions. The meeting can be joined via teleconference or videoconference using the following credentials:
Teleconference: (267) 332-8737; Conference ID: 747467733
Videoconference: https://meet.lync.com/pagov/cmullins/G0C89D06.

If special needs accommodations are needed, please contact the SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) at 570-524-4491 at least five days before the meeting date so accommodations can be made.

The draft TIP can be viewed at SEDA-COG’s transportation website, www.seda-cog.org/departments/transportation by clicking on Transportation Improvement Program.

All comments on the draft TIP must be received by 4 p.m. on May 31 and must include the name and address of the commenter.

The SEDA-COG MPO works with local governments, businesses, and nonprofits to establish the region’s transportation priorities. Those priorities are detailed in the TIP, updated by SEDA-COG every two years in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and local project stakeholders.

Proposed TIP projects are valued at $376 million over the next four years. Some projects on the TIP include:

• The Central Susquehanna Valley Transportation (CSVT) project.
• Major traffic signal improvements are planned for Route 150 in Clinton County and corridor-wide safety improvements are planned for Route 54 in Montour County.
• Repaving is planned for portions of Farrandsville Road in Clinton County, Routes 11 and 339 in Columbia County, Route 522 and Electric Avenue in Mifflin County, Interstate 80 in Montour County, and Route 54 in Northumberland County.
• Rehabilitation or replacement of many deficient state and local bridges across the region.

The TIP includes 23 local bridges ─ one in Snyder County, two in Mifflin County, three in Clinton and Montour counties, four in Columbia and Northumberland counties, and six in Union County. Additional new local bridge projects may be addressed through the TIP in the future, using cost savings or special initiatives.

A Public Transit TIP also has been drafted by the SEDA-COG MPO and area transit agencies and includes transit projects worth $3.2 million for Call A Ride Service Inc. in Mifflin and Juniata counties and Geisinger Health System for the LIFE Geisinger Program.

Below, Table 1 shows a funding summary for the SEDA-COG MPO region by county and transit operator for each of the four TIP years, listed by federal fiscal year.

SEDA-COG Secures $150,000 Grant Funding for Rural Broadband

Posted on May 1, 2020 by DNS Admin

Lewisburg – A $150,000 grant was awarded to SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) to supplement its ongoing high-speed internet access efforts to three rural counties.

The U.S. Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant will help fund wireless networks in Juniata, Mifflin, and Perry counties where it’s not financially feasible for internet service providers to reach on their own.

John Brown, SEDA-COG’s executive director, said this is a critical service needed especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are thankful this grant award comes during the time it is most needed, with many people working from home, and businesses needing this essential internet service,” Brown said. “That’s why we’re here – to meet businesses and communities’ needs through every type of economic reality.”

Scott Kramer, SEDA-COG’s principal Information Technology specialist, said reducing the cost of providing broadband helps close the gaps for rural areas.

“The key is to incentivize the internet service providers to provide broadband services to our rural areas,” Kramer said.

Based on meetings with counties and Federal Communications Commission data, the target areas for the wireless networks include the Village of Honey Grove in Juniata County, the South River Road area (southwest of Mcveytown) in Mifflin County, and the Horse Valley Road area in Perry County.

The project will incentivize internet service providers in expanding their service to speeds of 25/3 or better to at least five businesses and 210 households. It will help retain 18 jobs and create two new jobs.

SEDA-COG will provide a total of $147,000 per county to internet service providers from the ARC grant and low-interest revolving loans. Per county, the ARC grant will be used as $47,000 reimbursable grants for internet service providers and the loans total $95,000 from the Pennsylvania Keystone Communities Program.

SEDA-COG published the request for proposals on March 6 and collected proposals from internet service providers today, May 1.

SEDA-COG enhances the quality of life and economic advantage for residents and businesses in 11 central Pennsylvania counties through its vital partnerships and initiatives. SEDA-COG also is an advocate for the interests of its communities at the state and federal levels. For more information, visit www.seda-cog.org.