american society of highway engineers national project …northeast.ashe.pro/poy-under/ptc lawn...

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HIGHWAY ENGINEERS

National Project of the Year Award

OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM

AWARD CATEGORY (Check One): Under $20 Million Over $20 Million SPONSORING REGION (Check One): Northeast Mid-Atlantic Southeast

Great Lakes North Central South Central

Northwest Rocky Mountain Southwest

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR SPONSORING REGION: Primary Contact Name: ASHE Region Position: Phone (Office): Phone (Mobile): E-Mail Address: Secondary Contact Name: ASHE Region Position: Phone (Office): Phone (Mobile): E-Mail Address: PROJECT INFORMATION (From Section Entry): ENTERING AGENCY/COMPANY’S NAME: PROJECT NAME: TYPE: PROJECT LOCATION: CITY: COUNTY: CONSTRUCTION COST: BUDGETED CONSTRUCTION COST: PROJECT COMPLETION DATE:

PROJECT OWNER: STREET ADDRESS: CITY: STATE: ZIP: PHONE: FAX: CONTACT PERSON: E-MAIL ADDRESS:

PROJECT DESIGN FIRM: STREET ADDRESS: CITY: STATE: ZIP: PHONE: FAX: CONTACT PERSON: E-MAIL ADDRESS:

PRIME CONTRACTOR: STREET ADDRESS: CITY: STATE: ZIP: PHONE: FAX: CONTACT PERSON: E-MAIL ADDRESS:

Entry Form Completed By: Date:

[email protected] McNamee Northeast Regional Vice President

717.578.7565

Pennsylvania Turnpike CommissionLawn Service Plaza Auxiliary Truck Parking Simple

Lawn Service Plaza at MP 258.77 WestboundDauphin and Lebanon

November 29, 2019

Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission700 South Eisenhower Blvd.

Middletown PA 17057717.831.7109

Gary L. [email protected]

Jonathan M. Lessard 12.20.19

Trans Associates Engineering Consultants, Inc.4955 Steubenville Pike, Suite 400

Pittsburgh PA 15205

Terrence V. Olesniewicz412.490.0630

[email protected]

Hempt Bros., Inc.205 Creek Road

Camp Hill PA 17011717.737.3411 717.761.5019

Butch [email protected]

$6.6 Million $6.7 Million

PTC Lawn Service Plaza Auxiliary Truck Parking at MP 258.77 Westbound 2020 ASHE Project of the Year

Project Narrative

Introduction

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) has had an on-going strategy in place to

modernize service plazas along the Turnpike system. Most recently, this strategy has

evolved to include increased capacity for tractor-trailer parking at existing service plazas.

In 2015, Trans Associates Engineering Consultants, Inc. (TA) was tasked by the PTC to

complete a Systemwide Truck Parking Improvement Study to evaluate existing service

plazas and also identify other possible locations land was available to provide additional

truck parking facilities. A total of eighteen (18) sites were initially identified for further

analysis and conceptual development, including nine (9) from the 2013 Draft Parking

Study, as well as nine (9) new sites resulting from TA’s coordination and research efforts.

Fourteen (14) sites were selected for a study and final evaluation for consideration to

move forward with full design and construction.

Lawn Service Plaza, located east of the City of Harrisburg at approximately Mile Marker

259 westbound, was selected by the PTC for a new parking expansion to provide 77

dedicated tractor-trailer parking spaces. The project included the construction of over

6.3 acres of full-depth concrete pavement for the truck parking and circulation area,

installation of signing and pavement markings, expansion of an existing stormwater

detention basin, construction of a new, larger stormwater detention basin, repaving of

an employee parking area and access road, relocation of the electric service for the Plaza

underground, and upgrades to the plaza-wide LED lighting. Additional infrastructure

was also installed for video monitoring of the new lot, and to facilitate a future ITS

integration which would provide truck drivers on the Turnpike with advance information

that would include parking space availability.

Significant environmental and stormwater challenges were encountered due to the

presence of a wetland identified as potential Bog Turtle habitat, as well as the

requirements to be met set forth by South Londonderry Township ordinances and

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection regulations. The environmental

challenges and concerns were balanced with the necessity to maximize the number of

truck parking spaces that would be provided for the traveling public.


TA was the prime consultant and performed the study, design (conceptual, preliminary

and final) and construction documents for the plaza expansion of truck parking. Major

subconsultants included Raudenbush Engineering for survey, geotechnical and

environmental investigations and Santangelo & Lindsay, Inc. for lighting design. The

prime contractor for the project was Hempt Bros., Inc. of Camp Hill, PA.

Complexity

The design intent was to utilize the existing plaza and surrounding property to maximize

the number of truck parking spaces to be added. As the design progressed,

environmental constraints would limit the number of planned parking spaces. These

constraints included two (2) existing exceptional value wetlands, one of which was part

of a confirmed Bog Turtle habitat.

The Bog Turtle, one of the smallest turtles in America, is federally listed as a threatened

species, and therefore protected in Pennsylvania under the Endangered Species Act.

The Bog Turtle habitat and adjacent wetlands are required to be protected and

undisturbed during project construction. Stormwater flows, both during and after

construction, needed to be carefully controlled to maintain the existing habitat. To help

mitigate the impacts from a construction disturbance of over 11 total acres, the existing

detention basin was identified to be upgraded and expanded, and an additional

detention basin was proposed to provide additional stormwater management.

The environmental and local coordination process for environmental concerns with the

Lebanon County Conservation District was complex. Midway through the design and

permitting process, the Bog Turtle habitat requirements were updated, which further

required extensive coordination with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental

Protection.

The existing Lawn Service Plaza was required to remain open and operational during

construction. This included maintaining access for regular deliveries to the plaza, as well

as allow emergency vehicles to access the Turnpike and service plaza from the local

road. The existing access points were reconfigured as part of the parking expansion.

Control of traffic was designed so that construction limited disruptions to the existing

operation of the plaza.


Innovation and Originality

Innovative solutions were required to accomplish the site development goals and to

protect the adjacent environmental resources, both during and after construction. To

this end, both the existing and proposed basins were final designed to protect the

wetlands and Bog Turtle habitat. The basins were specifically designed to temporarily

act as environmental BMPs (Best Management Practices) for settlement of sediment and

stormwater quality control during the construction phase. Once the site was stabilized

and construction complete, these basins were converted to their final design

configurations. A geosynthetic clay lining was installed in the detention basins to

prevent water infiltration, as the geotechnical site investigation discovered the potential

for karst topography in the project area.

An innovative solution was required to meet South Londonderry Township’s stormwater

ordinances and PADEP water quality requirements for drainage runoff from the parking

lot before entering the basins. TA recommended the use of Stormceptor hydrodynamic

separators from Contech Engineered Solutions. As a secondary benefit to the use of this

system, the Stormceptors are proven to be highly effective at controlling hazardous

material spills. Potential diesel and oil spills can be anticipated to occur with regularity

from tractor trailers containing hazardous loads while parked.

Social/Economic Considerations

Commercial truck drivers are very important customers to the PTC. While only making

up approximately 15% of the total traffic, commercial traffic contributes almost half of

the PTC’s gross toll revenue annually. The trucking industry makes a positive impact on

the US economy by moving more than 70% of all goods across the country.

Commercial traffic on the Turnpike has steadily increased over the years especially as

demand for goods increases and secondary roadways become less attractive for drivers

seeking increased efficiency and safety.

By providing plentiful truck parking along the Turnpike, the PTC promotes the safety of

truck drivers and improves the efficiency of interstate commerce. As part of the Moving

Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21), Jason’s Law puts a “national priority on

addressing the shortage of long-term parking for commercial motor vehicles on the


National Highway System (NHS) to improve the safety of motorized and non-motorized

users and for commercial motor vehicle operators.” (United States Public Law 112-141

Section 1401.). Jason’s Law was named after Jason Rivenburg, a commercial truck driver

who was murdered in 2009. Jason was parked in an unsafe location because he was

unable to find suitable parking along the National Highway System (NHS). The Federal

Highway Administration (FHWA) has identified an ongoing nationwide shortage of truck

parking along the nation’s interstates. A recent Jason’s Law survey indicated that 39% of

drivers responded that finding a parking spot takes an hour or longer. When parking is

simply not available, many drivers look for parking at shopping areas, shipper/receiver

locations, on and off ramps, unsafe or isolated areas. Increased truck parking in key

locations, along with plans for a future intended use of ITS technology with this and

other lots will create more value for commercial truck drivers and provide up-to-date

information on safe and available parking locations.

Safety

Safety is priority number one for the PTC and was integrated into the truck parking

design, starting with the conceptual layouts for the site. The new location was designed

to be spatially separated from the existing Plaza parking to minimize conflict points

between tractor trailers and other classes of vehicles and more importantly, between

tractor trailers and the many pedestrians using the Plaza facilities and amenities. The

truck parking area was designed with a wide access from the existing truck ramp and

wide aisles for turns and maneuvering. Exclusive pull-through parking bays further

minimize conflicts between tractor trailers within the new lot. Lighting for the existing

Plaza and the new truck parking area was upgraded with efficient LED lighting to

provide safety and security for cars, trucks and pedestrians at night. Additional installed

security cameras will enhance safety and security for truckers parking overnight.

Aesthetics and Sustainable Features

This project features several sustainable features. One example is the use of Portland

cement concrete, selected for its long service life and ability to withstand the heavy

loads from constant tractor trailer use and is durable to withstand truck maneuvering

and the constant load experienced while parked for extended periods. The long life and

efficiency of LED lighting was selected to reduce power usage and at the same time


provide increased light throughout the parking areas. Native grass and vegetation

mixtures were selected for the stormwater basins to enhance sustainability, as well as

mitigate environmental impacts. Stormceptors, selected to continuously clean and

treat stormwater runoff, are built for a long service life and are designed for easy

cleaning and maintenance to continue long-term effectiveness.

Owners/Client’s Needs

Lawn Service Plaza was selected to provide much needed capacity for truck parking.

Despite the hurdles encountered, 77 tractor trailer parking spaces were successfully

added to address the necessity for increased truck parking while also positively

impacting the flow of commerce and personal safety of truck drivers.

american society of highway engineers national project …northeast.ashe.pro/poy-under/ptc lawn...

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