The public is invited to review and comment on a draft list of priority surface transportation projects for the SEDA-COG MPO planning region for the next four years. This priority project list, known as the 2025-2028 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), includes over 260 highway and bridge projects valued at $521 million. The draft TIP projects and related documents can be found here.

The SEDA-COG MPO offers several options for public input: attend a public meeting with the opportunity to speak to regional planners in person, participate in the meeting virtually, or comment via the SEDA-COG website, by e-mail, or U.S. Mail. A public meeting will be held on May 6 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Union County Government Center, 155 N. 15th St., Lewisburg.

All comments on the draft TIP must be received by 4 p.m. on May 20. The SEDA-COG MPO will consider adopting the 2025-2028 TIP at its next meeting on Jun. 14.

PennDOT opened a Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TA Set-Aside) Program funding round on May 30, 2023. Seven project applications were submitted from the SEDA-COG MPO region. The SEDA-COG MPO ranked and submitted comments on these applications to PennDOT in Nov. 2023. Applications were reviewed based on such criteria as safety benefits, project delivery, reasonableness of cost, environmental justice, network connectivity, economic impact, and leveraging of other projects or funding.

Governor Shapiro announced the approved TA Set-Aside projects on Apr. 25 via a press release found here. Lewisburg Borough and the City of Sunbury from the MPO region received funding for the below projects. More details and a statewide list of approved projects can be found here.

• Market Street Bike/Ped Safety Enhancements - Lewisburg Borough
• Front Street Pedestrian Walkway - City of Sunbury

When the next funding round is announced, we'll provide details in our newsletter and other communications.

The TA Set-Aside Program provides funds to construct pedestrian and bicycle facilities; improve access to public transportation; create safe routes to school; incorporate community improvements such as historic preservation and vegetation management; provide environmental mitigation related to stormwater and habitat connectivity; create trail projects that serve a transportation purpose, while promoting safety and mobility; and provide for vulnerable road user safety assessments.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) reauthorized surface transportation programs through Fiscal Year 2026. In doing so, the BIL devotes $550 billion through 2026 for new federal investment in infrastructure, including roads, bridges, transit, water infrastructure, resilience, and broadband. The Federal Highway Administration has a comprehensive BIL resource website available here.

Some federal transportation discretionary grant programs currently open for applications include:

• Bridge Investment Program
• Safe Streets and Roads for All Program
• Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program
• Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program

A variety of recent funding resources have been developed for local governments and other BIL program applicants:

• Key Notices of Funding Opportunity
• DOT Discretionary Grants Dashboard
• DOT Competitive Grant Funding Matrix
• Discretionary Grant Preparation Checklist
• The DOT Navigator
• BIL Launchpad
• The Local Infrastructure Hub
• PennDOT Grant Alerts for BIL Programs

We will continue to monitor guidance related to the BIL and report updates in this newsletter.

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;
• Analyzing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and potential funding for trails and other bike/ped facilities;
• Updating member lists and arranging Committee meetings;
• Updating bike/ped facilities webmaps;
• Developing an online Esri Hub site for the 2019 Plan.
• Revising Committee Procedures and work group structure.

Questions can be directed to SEDA-COG's Bryce Buck.