August 2022
Your SEDA-COG MPO News & Updates
Welcome to the summer 2022 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.

We hope you enjoy our newsletter! Stay tuned for future editions on a quarterly basis.
Upcoming Meetings & Events
Below are upcoming transportation meetings and events being held in the region. Some meetings are conducted virtually or as hybrid meetings. MPO meetings have transitioned to hybrid meetings that enable in-person or virtual participation; meeting recordings are posted on the SEDA-COG YouTube channel. PennDOT LTAP has returned to offering in-person instruction, but a number of virtual classes and virtual drop-in sessions will also continue to be held.

August 24, 2022 – SEDA-COG Board of Directors Meeting
August 24, 2022 – Middle Susquehanna Active Transportation Committee Meeting
September 23, 2022 – LTAP Equipment & Worker Safety class at Berwick Borough
October 7, 2022 – SEDA-COG MPO Meeting
October 11, 2022 – LTAP Safe Driver class at Patton Township
October 12, 2022 – LTAP Winter Maintenance class at East Buffalo Township
October 26, 2022 – LTAP Bridge & Culvert Inspection class at Berwick Borough

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.
Transportation Staff Addition
We were glad to welcome Kristin McLaughlin, a 10-year SEDA-COG staffer, as a new addition to our transportation team in July. Kristin has taken on the role of principal transportation planner and will be supporting several aspects of the MPO's work program, contributing her extensive skills and abilities toward the region’s transportation planning process. We're excited to have Kristin join our dedicated and professional transportation team!

Kristin most recently worked in SEDA-COG's Community Development department administering Lycoming County’s CDBG program. She has been employed in the planning and community development field throughout the region for 20 years. Her previous positions include Elm Street Manager for Sunbury Revitalization, Inc.; Transportation Planning Specialist for PennDOT’s Bureau of Rail Freight; and Community Planner for Union County Planning Commission. Kristin also holds an American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification.
2023-2026 Transportation Program
Regional Program Adopted
The SEDA-COG MPO adopted its 2023-2026 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) on June 10, 2022. This priority project list includes 270 highway and bridge projects valued at $474 million that are expected to be undertaken over the next four years. The TIP submission documents were provided to PennDOT for review and approval. The 2023-2026 TIP projects and related documents can be found here.

On a statewide level, Pennsylvania's State Transportation Commission (STC) adopted the updated 12-Year Program on Aug. 17. The new plan anticipates $84 billion will be available over the next 12 years for improvements to roads, bridges, transit systems, airports and railroads. Metropolitan and Rural Planning Organizations partnered with PennDOT in the review and development of the update. Now that the STC has approved the update, it has been submitted to the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration for review and approval.

For more information about the 12-Year Program, visit www.TalkPATransportation.com.
SEDA-COG MPO Title VI Program
Title VI Program Adopted
The SEDA-COG MPO adopted its new Title VI Program on June 10, 2022. The Title VI Program defines how the SEDA-COG MPO provides the public with opportunities to comment on its regional transportation planning activities and documents compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The SEDA-COG MPO’s Title VI Program comprises a series of documents that demonstrate compliance with nondiscrimination policies. Component pieces include a Public Participation Plan (PPP) and Limited English Proficiency (LEP) plan that specify the methods used to engage a wide range of stakeholders in the transportation planning process. The documents were updated based on changes in regulatory guidance, demographic data, and widespread use of virtual meeting and other emerging technology.

The SEDA-COG MPO is committed to ensuring that all outreach strategies, communications, and public involvement efforts comply with Title VI, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other federal and state requirements. The MPO makes concerted efforts to involve members of all socioeconomic and demographic groups in the public involvement process.
Transportation Alternatives Projects Updates
SEDA-COG MPO staff were pleased to attend ribbon cuttings this summer for recently completed Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TA Set-Aside) projects. On June 24, Lewisburg Borough celebrated the opening of the latest phase of its multi-phase Bull Run Greenway Improvements Project. The TA Set-Aside funded project benefits the community with an extension of the Buffalo Valley Rail Trail, stream/floodplain restoration, and stormwater improvements. On Aug. 17, Clinton County celebrated the opening of Phase 4 of the Bald Eagle Valley Trail – the Susquehanna River crossing on a former railroad bridge. We were thrilled that the bridge was dedicated as Katie's Crossing, in honor of Clinton County Planning Director (and MPO member) Katie de Silva.

It was exciting to see the enthusiasm of the public and area stakeholders during these ribbon cuttings. We commend Lewisburg Borough, Clinton County, and all the partners that helped bring these important projects to fruition.

The SEDA-COG MPO offers technical assistance to TA Set-Aside project sponsors and reviews, ranks, and comments on applications from the region that are submitted to PennDOT. Applications are 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.

The next TA Set-Aside funding round is anticipated to open in summer 2023. When the funding round is announced, we'll provide details in our newsletter and other communications. More details on the TA Set-Aside program can be found here.
Hogan Boulevard Bike/Ped Safety Study
New Safety Study Presented and Accepted
On Aug. 12, the SEDA-COG MPO accepted the findings of a recent Hogan Boulevard Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Study, which was prepared for the MPO by Gannett Fleming, Inc. A key purpose of the study was to identify ways to make Hogan Boulevard (SR 150), between Pennsylvania Avenue and Canal Street in Clinton County, into a safer, more comfortable, and enjoyable corridor for walking, biking, and rolling. The study discusses proposed improvements in the primary categories of bike/ped infrastructure, operations, policy, and education.

Some of the study recommendations include:

  • Adopting Complete Streets policies
  • Committing to Vision Zero principles
  • Public messaging campaigns
  • Wayfinding and signage
  • High visibility crosswalks
  • Paths to connect businesses
  • Pedestrian lighting

The study's recommendations will be used by the MPO and other organizations in future planning and programming decisions. The study presentation from Gannett Fleming can be found here. The final study report will be published on SEDA-COG's website soon.
Active Transportation Committee Update
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 and graphics for the Committee;
  • Analyzing the American Rescue Plan Act and potential funding for trails, bike/ped, and recreation facilities;
  • Supporting Mifflin County with its countywide Active Transportation Plan development process;
  • Acquiring trail counters for getting data on bike/ped usage;
  • Completing sidewalk inventories in pilot communities.

To learn more, contact SEDA-COG's Katherine Wilde at
Transportation Tidbits
Act 54 of 2022, enacted on July 11, 2022, includes $5 million to provide grants to municipalities to install and maintain traffic signal technologies. The resultant new Traffic Signal Technologies Grant (TSTG) program is a reimbursement grant program for municipalities that is administered by PennDOT similar to the Green Light-Go program.

TSTG applications will be accepted from Sept. 1 to Sept. 30, 2022. A pre-application scoping form must be submitted by Sept. 23, 2022.
A page has been added to the PennDOT Traffic Signal Portal with links to the TSTG Guidelines and FAQs. It is worth noting that only traffic signal technologies at existing traffic control signals are eligible for this program.
PennDOT has opened a new application period for Rail Freight Assistance Program (RFAP) and Rail Transportation Assistance Program (RTAP) funding. The application round is open through Sept. 2, 2022. These programs provide financial assistance to eligible applicants (railroad companies, municipalities, users of rail freight, etc.) for the maintenance or construction of rail freight infrastructure. The intent of the programs is to preserve essential rail freight service and stimulate economic development through new or expanded rail freight service. Projects are limited to a maximum of 70% State share. More program details and application instructions can be found here.
In July, the Central Susquehanna Valley Transportation (CSVT) Project Northern Section was opened to traffic. This opening followed a one-time event on June 25, in which the public was permitted to walk and bike along a section of the new roadway and the river bridge to get a close-up look at the major project (approx. 6,000 people attended the event!). The Northern Section connects Route 15 south of Winfield in Union County to Route 147 south of Montandon in Northumberland County.

Construction on the CSVT Southern Section will be completed through three contracts. The first contract (earthwork) was bid in March and the contractor has begun prep work and early construction activities. Final design is ongoing for the second and third construction contracts, which will primarily involve structures and pavement, respectively. The Southern Section is planned to be opened to traffic in 2027.

More information can be found here.
As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, PennDOT will receive and distribute $171.5 million in formula funds for Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure over the next five years. PennDOT was required to submit a state EV infrastructure deployment plan to the U.S. Department of Transportation. See here for the Plan. PennDOT has also prepared an EV Mobility Plan that identifies specific actions to facilitate the transition to electrified mobility across Pennsylvania.
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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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