Your SEDA-COG MPO News & Updates |
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Welcome to the summer 2021 edition of Pathways, a newsletter covering activities related to the SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). The SEDA-COG MPO is the official transportation planning organization for eight central Pennsylvania counties: Clinton, Columbia, Juniata, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, and Union.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, MPO meetings were transitioned to virtual formats and meeting recordings are posted on the SEDA-COG website. Starting in September, we will offer hybrid MPO meetings that enable in-person or virtual participation. During these difficult times, we remain focused on the health, safety, and well-being of our staff, partners, and stakeholders.
We hope you enjoy our newsletter! Stay tuned for future editions on a quarterly basis.
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Upcoming Meetings & Events |
Below are upcoming transportation meetings and events being held in the region. In accordance with state and national guidance for mitigating the spread of COVID-19, meetings are often conducted virtually. PennDOT LTAP has returned to offering in-person instruction, but a number of virtual classes and virtual drop-in sessions will also be held throughout 2021.
September 13, 2021 - CSVT Special Impact Study Public Meeting
September 17, 2021 - SEDA-COG MPO Meeting
September 21, 2021 - LTAP Pedestrians and Crosswalks class
October 12, 2021 - LTAP Seal Coat class
October 13, 2021 - LTAP Bridge and Culvert Inspection class
October 14, 2021 - LTAP Posting & Bonding of Local Roads class
October 19, 2021 - LTAP Active Transportation class
November 10, 2021 - Middle Susquehanna Active Transportation Committee Meeting
November 16, 2021 - SEDA-COG Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Project Review Meeting
November 19, 2021 - SEDA-COG MPO Meeting
We will post updated meeting information on our website. For more information, or for links to participate in virtual meetings, contact the SEDA-COG Transportation Planning staff. SEDA-COG MPO meeting agendas, minutes, and recordings can be found here. |
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The PennDOT Pathways Program was recently launched to analyze new sources of funding for Pennsylvania's transportation system to better serve our communities and residents. An alternative funding Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) study was begun in November 2020 and is underway to identify near- and long-term funding options to help build stable transportation funding for Pennsylvania. The study should be finalized in September and posted on the Pathways Program website. Viable solutions will be launched as PennDOT Pathways initiatives over the coming years.
One of the early findings of the PEL study is that tolling of major bridges in need of replacement or rehabilitation could be a viable near-term solution. To advance this funding alternative, PennDOT is simultaneously pursuing the first initiative of the PennDOT Pathways Program: The Major Bridge P3 Initiative. Other potential funding solutions being studied include: Managed Lanes, Congestion Pricing, Corridor Tolling, Road User Charges, and Fee & Tax Increases.
In addition, Governor Tom Wolf signed an Executive Order in March 2021 establishing the Transportation Revenue Options Commission, which was charged with developing comprehensive funding recommendations for Pennsylvania's large and aging infrastructure. The Commission's final report can be found here. The TROC report outlines the Commission’s review and recommendations of several potential revenue sources to ultimately replace the gas tax. |
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CSVT Special Impact Study |
The SEDA-COG MPO has been partnering with the Williamsport MPO on a Central Susquehanna Valley Transportation (CSVT) Project Special Impact Study. The study area consists of the following corridors:
- PA 147 from the Ridge Road interchange in Northumberland County to the I-80/I-180 interchange;
- Interstate 180 from the I-80 interchange to the US 15/Market Street interchange in Williamsport;
- US 15 from Winfield in Union County to the I-180/US 15/Market Street interchange in Williamsport.
Michael Baker International is the consulting firm providing technical support and report preparation. Ongoing coordination with a study management team, steering committee, corridor municipalities, and partnering agencies is providing essential information and guidance.
Additional outreach will gauge opinions on study analysis and recommendations through a public meeting and a public officials briefing on September 13, 2021. For information on how to connect to the 6:00 p.m. virtual public meeting, click here.
Recent efforts have been focused on refining recommended transportation strategies and land use scenarios for how the fully constructed CSVT project can support future regional growth. Study recommendations will address safety, system operations, economic development potential, and land use policy.
Final recommendations will be presented at the Williamsport MPO meeting on November 8, 2021.
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Long Range Transportation Plan Update |
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Plan Update Finalized and Adopted |
Work has concluded on the SEDA-COG MPO 2021-2045 Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). Consultant assistance from Michael Baker International was used to prepare performance measures content and visualization, along with coordinating public involvement and helping to compile the plan document. The final plan was adopted by the SEDA-COG MPO on June 25, 2021.
SEDA-COG's website hosts the entire plan and links to a story map (serving as a highly visual executive summary of the plan). Graphics will be developed annually to track and report on the LRTP's regional performance measures..
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Transportation Alternatives Funding |
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PennDOT opened a 2021 Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TA Set-Aside) program funding round on June 28, 2021. Approximately $18 million in statewide funds will be made available this round for projects that enhance pedestrian and bicycle facilities, improve access to public transportation, create safe routes to schools, preserve historic transportation structures, provide environmental mitigation, and create trails that serve a transportation purpose, while promoting safety and mobility.
TA Set-Aside projects must have a construction value of at least $50,000 and the project's construction funding request may not exceed $1 million, although higher awards can be justified for “exceptional” projects. Applications will be reviewed based on such criteria as safety benefits, project delivery, reasonableness of cost, environmental justice, network connectivity, economic impact, leveraging of other projects or funding, etc.
Project sponsors were required to submit a pre-application by August 16, 2021. The final application must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. on October 15, 2021. The SEDA-COG MPO will have an opportunity to review and comment on applications from its region in fall 2021. Project selections are expected in early 2022.
More information can be found here. |
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2023 Twelve Year Program Update |
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Twelve Year Program Update is Underway |
The Twelve Year Program (TYP) is Pennsylvania’s mid-range planning tool. It lists statewide planned projects and assigns funding to them over a 12-year period. The first four years comprise the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The TYP is updated every two years after regional Transportation Improvement Programs (TIPs) are submitted and approved by MPOs and RPOs.
The public comment period for the update of the 2023 TYP began on March 1 and concluded on April 14, 2021. The public submitted 7,423 survey responses and 2,473 mapped issues statewide. From the SEDA-COG MPO region, there were 129 survey responses and 109 mapped transportation issues. The results of the Transportation Survey are available here.
SEDA-COG MPO staff reviews the TYP public survey results alongside coordination with area counties and PennDOT District staff to identify priorities for the 2023 TYP. The draft TYP will be released for public comment in early 2022 and adopted in June 2022.
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Federal Transportation Funding Legislation |
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New Legislation Taking Shape |
Federal highway and public transportation programs are funded through multi-year surface transportation authorization acts. The current surface transportation program authorization expires on
Sept. 30, 2021. Both the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee have advanced their new surface transportation authorization legislation pieces, and the full Senate has passed its Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This bill is expected to be voted on by the House in September.
In March, the House Committee leaders announced that an opportunity was being provided for House members to submit candidate projects for congressionally directed spending in the upcoming authorization. SEDA-COG MPO staff coordinated with Congressman Fred Keller on project requests. Projects submitted by Keller can be found here.
We will continue to monitor federal transportation legislation developments and report updates in this newsletter.
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Active Transportation Committee Update |
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New Committee Keeps Rolling |
The Middle Susquehanna Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan was adopted by the SEDA-COG MPO in May 2019. To help implement this Plan, the SEDA-COG MPO and the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership formed a Middle Susquehanna Active Transportation Committee. The Committee's mission is to enhance quality of life in the Middle Susquehanna Valley through the development of a regional network of walkable and bikeable communities and the promotion of a bike-friendly and pedestrian-friendly culture. The Committee and its work groups on Safety, Connections, and Community Engagement are diligently laboring on multiple fronts to implement the Plan's action items, goals, and overarching vision.
A few recent successes include:
- Helping communities pursue funding from DCNR and WalkWorks grant opportunities to further active transportation in our region;
- Updating bike/ped priority project lists and mapping;
- Developing a branding approach for the Committee and initiating brand graphic ideas;
- Analyzing the American Rescue Plan Act and potential funding for trails, bike/ped, and recreation facilities;
- Continuing bicycle level of traffic stress analysis of local roads to complement what was already completed for state roads in the region.
To learn more, contact SEDA-COG's Katherine Wilde at
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The SEDA-COG MPO works to verify and update roadway data for Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) samples. Each year, SEDA-COG MPO staff complete field views of randomly selected HPMS sample sections in all eight MPO counties to verify data items such as left turn lanes, lane width, signalized intersections, and widening potential. The final data for 179 HPMS sample sites will be submitted to PennDOT by December 3, 2021. |
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Get travel info on the go. Check the latest weather forecasts, travel alerts, and overall travel conditions on the 511PA app or by visiting 511PA.com. Incident and construction information is available for roughly 40,000 miles of state-owned roadway. Traffic flow data is available for 15,000 miles of roadway. Winter road conditions are available for the 511PA core network. |
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SEDA-Council of Governments (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.
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