Category: Transportation

The SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) adopted in late June one of its major transportation plans for an eight-county region that includes Clinton, Columbia, Juniata, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, and Union counties.

The adoption of the 2021-2024 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) signals the successful completion of a year-long effort that engaged county officials, municipalities, transit operators, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, other key stakeholders, and the public.

The TIP is the agreed-upon list of priority projects in the SEDA-COG MPO region. The program has a total of 229 projects to be addressed over the next four years.

“Despite the challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic and constrained funding, this is a key update for the region because we continue to collaboratively advance and invest in the region’s transportation network,” said Jim Saylor, SEDA-COG Transportation Program director.

TIP projects are valued at $376 million over the next four years. State funding will cover 71% of the Transportation Improvement Program project costs, local funding match is less than 1%, while the federal funding level is at 28%.

Some of the major projects on the TIP include:

• • · The Central Susquehanna Valley Transportation (CSVT) project.
  • · 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.

The TIP also 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.

The 2021 TIP will take effect on Oct. 1, 2020; the next comprehensive TIP update will occur in 2022.

The final adopted version of the TIP is on SEDA-COG’s website at https://bit.ly/3ffqAAI.

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.

Many Pennsylvanians may wonder why the 2020 Census matters. There are three simple reasons. First, it’s in the Constitution that every resident must be counted every ten years. Second, it’s important to participate to make sure we have fair representation in Congress. And lastly, our census count will affect the next decade of federal spending, policy, and decision-making.

It’s about fair representation. The census is used to decide how many seats each state gets in the U.S. House of Representatives. Pennsylvania has 18 Congressional representatives. We used to have 19 but lost a seat after the 2010 Census.

Census data are used to decide how $675 billion in federal public funding is spent every year. Federal spending on programs like highway planning and construction, transit formula grants, and transit capital investment grants. Pennsylvania gets $26.8 billion annually from just our 16 largest federally-funded programs. That’s about $2,000 per Pennsylvanian each year.
Everyone counts. Be a good neighbor and spread awareness in your community. Information and outreach resources are available at pa.gov/census.

In 2019, over 220 people benefited from roadway safety and maintenance training courses through a joint effort of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG).

Through the Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP), SEDA-COG sponsored 13 free training courses on roadway safety and maintenance issues last year. These classes were held in five central Pennsylvania counties, attracting 227 students – an average of 17 students per class.

Some training topics included salt and snow management, work zone traffic control, roadside vegetation control, bridge maintenance, and local road safety plans.

Attendees mostly were elected municipal officials and staff, including public works directors, roadmasters, foremen, managers, laborers, equipment operators, engineers, and law enforcement.

State College Borough was the area municipality that sent the largest number of attendees (35) to courses held in the area.

Eric Brooks, State College Borough Operations Manager, expressed praise for the essential and practical training. “We want our employees to work safely and efficiently along our municipal roadways. LTAP has provided our staff with the necessary education to achieve these goals, while also offering the opportunity to network with expert instructors and peers from other municipalities. I wholeheartedly recommend taking advantage of the LTAP services, as they have been invaluable for State College Borough,” Brooks said.

In 2019, SEDA-COG staff also helped connect municipalities to free technical assistance services (tech assists) available through LTAP. In total, there were 20 tech assists completed for area municipalities by LTAP experts, resulting in training for 34 municipal officials.

Tech assists were given on traffic studies, traffic counts, establishing speed limits, bridge maintenance, asphalt maintenance, proper signage, pavement markings, parking restrictions, traffic calming alternatives, and more.

LTAP classes currently scheduled for early 2020 include:

Work Zone (Temporary) Traffic Control
Teaches about proper work zone set-up requirements, traffic control devices, and flagging procedures.
8 a.m. – noon March 3
State College Borough Maintenance Garage
330 S. Osmond St.
State College, Pa. 16801

8 a.m. – noon April 9
Patton Township Building
100 Patton Plaza
State College, Pa. 16803

Asphalt Roads
Covers the latest techniques, materials, and equipment for addressing asphalt distress.
8 a.m. – noon March 10
Ferguson Township Building
3147 Research Drive
State College, Pa. 16801

Liquid Bituminous Seal Coat
Presents information necessary to properly plan and execute a seal coat operation for extending the useful life of municipal roads.
8 a.m. – noon March 11
Boggs Township Community Building
1290 Runville Road
Bellefonte, Pa. 16823

Safe Driver
Presents how to develop safe driving behaviors, skills, and awareness.
8 a.m. – noon April 16
Patton Township Building
100 Patton Plaza
State College, Pa. 16803

Equipment & Worker Safety
Provides a basic understanding of common safety factors and practices associated with road maintenance operations, including crack sealing, mowing, trench excavation, chain saw use, and snow plowing.
8 a.m. – noon May 7
Patton Township Building
100 Patton Plaza
State College, Pa. 16803

8 a.m. – noon May 20
Point Township Building
759 Ridge Road
Northumberland, Pa. 17857

PennDOT has been providing LTAP services to municipalities since 1983. LTAP is based on the premise that new technologies and procedures developed at the state and federal levels should be transferred to local municipal officials and employees for improving the overall transportation system.

Each year, free PennDOT LTAP training and technology transfer programs train and assist nearly 5,000 municipal employees statewide in effective maintenance procedures, essential safety practices, and infrastructure management processes.

LTAP classes may be sponsored at the request of municipalities. To register for any of the classes or learn more about other LTAP activities in the SEDA-COG region, please contact Steve Herman at 570-524-4491 or email sherman@seda-cog.org. LTAP news and information is available at gis.penndot.gov/ltap.