spokes-people winter 2014

8122019 Spokes-People Winter 2014

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullspokes-people-winter-2014 16

Tom Corbett Governor bull Barry J Schoch Secretary

ssue 7 bull Winter 2014

1

Landmark Transportation Plan Brings Additional Investments to

Bicycle Pedestrian Mobility

On Nov 25 2013 Governor Tom Corbett signed House Bill 1060 into law Pennsylvaniarsquos most comprehensive

transportation legislation in decades The transportation package will keep Pennsylvania safe and economically

competitive by investing an additional $23 billion to $24 billion into the statersquos transportation network by the fif

year of the plan

This unprecedented comprehensive package will bring much-needed additional investment to Pennsylvaniarsquos

transportation system Through the newly established multimodal fund $2 million is allocated for bicycle and

pedestrian facilities in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 state fiscal years

The annual additional investment estimates are illustrated below

In This Issue

PennDOT Employees Brave the Elements Commute By Bicycle 2

Route 35 Juniata River Bridge Project Comes Full Circle 3

Advisory Committee Reconstituted New Members Announced 4

Trail Spotlight 5

To learn more about Pennsylvaniarsquos new transportation funding plan visit wwwdotstatepaus

983140 983140

Transportation Mode Year 1 Jan 1-June 30 2014) est Year 5 est

State Roads and Bridges $186 million $13 billion

Public Transportation $59 million $480 million - $495 million

Local Roads and Bridges $34 million $237 million

PA Turnpike Expansion Projects $12 million $86 million

Multimodal Fund $30 million $144 million

DirtGravelLow-Volume Roads - $30 million

TOTAL $321 million $23 billion-$24 billion



PennDOT Employees Brave the Elements Commute By BicycleBy Ashley Schoch PennDOT Central Press Office

Dedicated cyclists enjoy commuting by bicycle even

during the winter After a few years of mediocre

winter snowfall totals Pennsylvania residents have

experienced several storms and even the sub-zero

temperatures of ldquoPolar Vortexesrdquo this season TwoPennDOT employees ndash Charlie Carey assistant chief

bridge engineer in the Bureau of Project Delivery

and Scot Wohlin civil engineer ndash commute daily

regardless of the temperature and have varied

experiences and recommendations when opting for

two wheels in snow and slush

Careyrsquos commute from Camp Hill includes heavy

commuter routes beginning with Route 1115

crossing the Harvey Taylor Bridge across the

Susquehanna River and using bustling Front and

North Streets to reach the Keystone Building where

PennDOTrsquos central office is located Wohlinrsquoscommute brings him through the city of Harrisburg

from the midtown area to the Keystone Building

The employees donrsquot have to worry about parking as

the building features indoor and outdoor bike racks

for commuter use

Due to increased exposure to the elements Carey

and Wohlin recommend preparing for winter riding

by dressing appropriately Proper attire includes

layering clothing for warmth covering the ears and

face and wearing eye protection Rain coats or other

moisture-repelling clothing along with and water-resistant boots and gloves are helpful on

particularly wet days

ldquoCommuters can get a feel for cold weather attire as

they go alongrdquo Carey said ldquoIt has been my

experience that I need gloves below 50 degrees a

hat below 32 degrees and can usually wear shorts

down to almost 32 degreesrdquo

Much like those commuting by car the cyclists

ensure their vehicles and supplies are ready for

snowy or icy commutes Wohlin rides a comfort bike

with fat tires and a heavy tread to ensure security insnow and ice while Carey rides a mountain bike with

tires reinforced with Kevlar to reduce flat tire

potential A tire-change kit should be carried and to

transport these tools and work clothes both men

use bike bags that strap to the bikersquos luggage rack

Even with preparing themselves and their bicycles

varying weather patterns affect the type of commute

a bicyclist has in the winter Both riders note that

sidewalks along the river and across some bridges in

the Harrisburg area may not always be shoveled

Debris from snow-clearing operations can scatter

onto the routes on which they ride Because riding in

ice snow and rain can place extra wear and tear on a

bicycle Carey suggests riding a less expensive bike

in the winter

Of the varied weather that occurs during the winter

Wohlin finds ice as the hardest element to contend

with

ldquo[Ice] creates buildup on the side of the road andnarrows the useable street width making you closer

to the cars andor in the traffic lane for short periods

of timerdquo he said ldquoSteep downhill grades on icy

roads are also treacherousrdquo

Despite the unique challenges posed by the winter

season bicycling is a healthy commuting alternative

Those who are interested in trying it themselves

should ensure that they are prepared with

appropriate equipment attire and especially riding

knowledge

Scot Wohlin PennDOT Central Office employee is ready to facthe chilly evening commute home


httpslidepdfcomreaderfullspokes-people-winter-2014 36 3

Route 35 Juniata River Bridge Project Comes Full Circle

Over the better part of a decade PennDOTrsquos

Clearfield-based Engineering District 2 moved

through the process of planning anddesigning what became the Route 35 Juniata River

Bridge Project Connecting the boroughs of Mifflin

and Mifflintown in Juniata County the bridge serves

as a main artery to carry car and truck traffic through

the area In addition a new pedestrian bridge spans

the Juniata River in the same location as the original

traffic bridge

The project came to a symbolic close Nov 19 2013

when the district held a very special ldquoRoll amp Strollrdquo

event on the new pedestrian bridge The ldquoRoll amp

Stroll included remarks from Mifflin Borough MayorJim Frampton who then rode his ldquoRascalrdquo across the

bridge It also featured a presentation from PennDOT

to the Juniata County Historical Society District 2

presented the society with a plaquemarker from the

original traffic bridge

During the planning and preliminary design process

area residents had ample opportunity to offer their

input and comments PennDOT held three different

public meetings providing project information in

English and Spanish each time in order to reach out

to the substantial Latino community in the projectarea

A study taken during the design phase found that

more than 200 pedestrians and bicycles use the

bridge on a given weekdaymdasha large number given the

combined population of the two boroughs is roughly

1500 people Many area residents work at the local

chicken plant and use the pedestrian bridge to make

their way to work each day

PennDOT staff also met many times with public

officials to answer questions and allay concerns

Through internal meetings and input from arearesidents five alternatives were whittled down to th

preferred alternative selection

The bridge project spanned three construction

seasons and included

bull a new traffic bridge on a re-aligned Route 35

bull a new bridge over the railroad

bull a new box culvert between the railroad bridge an

the river bridge

bull a new pedestrian bridge in the location of the


bull a roundabout at the new alignment of Routes 35

and 3002

bull improvements to the Route 30023005

intersection and to the Route 35333 intersectio

and

bull re-alignment of Route 35 easing traffic impacts

the borough of Mifflin and carrying traffic across

the new bridge at a location down-river from the

old bridge

The district bid the project on May 26 2011 Notice

proceed on the $1594766534 project was given to

New Enterprise Stone amp Lime Co Inc on July 5 201

District 2 held a project kick-off ceremonytree

planting on July 28 2011 at the Mifflin Borough Par

District 2 also held an official ribbon cutting and ca

parade for the new traffic bridge on Dec 5 2012

By Marla Fannin Community Relations Coordinator PennDOT District 2



Advisory Committee Reorganized New MembersAnnounced

The Pennsylvania Pedalcycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee also known as PPAC was created by Act 72

in 1995 The purpose of the PPAC is to advise and comment on all phases of cycling and pedestrian program

activities being undertaken or financially assisted by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and

agencies of state government

Last fall PPAC was reorganized and the members were reappointed with new members being added to better

represent Pennsylvaniarsquos residents and visitors The list below contains the names of all the members new

and reappointed and the stakeholders they represent

Majority Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee John C Rafferty Jr

Minority Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee John N Wozniak

Majority Chairman of the House Transportation Committee Nicolas Micozzie

Minority Chairman of the House Transportation Committee Michael P McGeehan

Secretary of Transportation Barry Schoch

Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources Ellen Ferretti

Statewide Constituencies Joe Stafford

Trail Constituencies Patricia Tomes

Pedestrian Constituencies Hans van Naerssen

Metro Philadelphia Alex Doty

Metro Pittsburgh Scott Bricker

MPORPO Lauri Ahlskog

Senior Citizen or Disabled Constituencies Farley Wright

Children and Education Constituencies John Schubert

Recreational Cycling Club Fred Richter

Public Member William Hoffman

Public Member Chandra Kannan

983140 983140

983140 983140

983140



T r a i l S p o t l i g h t

East Coast Greenway from Canada to Key West Connects45 Million People

Imagine deciding that right after you retire from your career you will

hop on your bike and ride with your dog 650 miles self-supportedalong the east coast That was the mission of Dan McCrady an

occasional bicyclist who set off to make a difference Or can you

imagine riding from Maine to New York at the age of 90 That is

what Barbara Cate did with her husband Tracy These are the types

of inspirational stories that the East Coast Greenway a 3000-mile

system of trails from the Canadian border to Key West inspires

The greenway is a collaboration of local communities counties and

states working together to link existing trails with new ones to make

a complete trail connecting the entire East Coast It connects 15 of

Americarsquos most densely populated states the District of Columbia

and virtually all major cities along the eastern seaboard and providesrecreation transportation and access to historic assets for more than

45 million people

Pennsylvaniarsquos portion of the trail a 55-mile route connecting Trenton

NJ to Philadelphia and on to Wilmington is being built rapidly with

the help of several groups and communities The communities actively

engaged in the project include Morrisville Falls Tullytown Bristol

Township Bristol Borough Bensalem Philadelphia Tinicum Ridley

Eddystone Chester Trainer and Marcus Hook When discussing the

statersquos efforts Executive Director of the East Coast Greenway Dennis

Markatos-Soriano has said that Pennsylvania and Philadelphia are

leaders in greenway development and partners are ldquobuilding healthysustainable and thriving communities throughout the region and along

the whole eastern seaboard In fact the statersquos partnerships are cited

as a reason that the East Coast Greenway Alliance will be hosting the

National Spring State of the Greenway Summit in Philadelphia in 2015

In Pennsylvania the greenway connects a series of on and off-road

trails along the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers as well as the Cobbs

Creek watershed Currently more than 90 percent of the route is on

roads but current and forthcoming projects will ensure that the

Pennsylvania section will be off road on all but 12 miles of the route

This will be achieved through 13 projects over the next three years

Sadie and Dan McCrady in Bristol Pa

The Cates on the bridge of the Farmington Riv

in Conn

Key West Over Sees Heritage Trail

Schuylkill River Boardwalk under construction

fall 2013

Down East Sunrise Trail Hallowell Maine

(Continued on pag



For more information on these trails visit wwwgreenwayorgWritten by

Andrew Hamilton RLA ASLA APBP - Mid-Atlantic Trail Coordinator

Some projects that are under way or will soon begin to enhance the greenway include

bull Expanding the 250 miles of completed trails in the Philadelphia region through the efforts of the William Penn

Foundation and the Circuit aiming to connect all of the regionrsquos trails

bull Re-opening the Delaware and Lehigh Towpath from Bristol Borough to the Calhoun Street bridge in Morrisville

listed on the National Register of Historic Places and owned by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge

Commission that carries the greenway across the Delaware River from Trenton and

bull Five trail projects from the Bucks County border to the center of Philadelphia that when complete will be

named the North Delaware River Greenway

This expansive project vision in Pennsylvania is reflected in the broad progress of the greenway project overall Th

greenway currently incorporates 169 individual trails that are interconnected by roadways Today the East Coast

Greenway is 29 percent off-road trails with roadways connecting these trails Every year approximately 50 miles o

new trail are built and incorporated into the East Coast Greenway which serves as a spine trail for the East Coast

as many trails are connected to it This connection creates a network of trails allowing experiences along the trail

to range from urban suburban village forests and riverfronts to seafronts and rural landscapes

To help administer this large project that has been worked on for 22 years a dedicated team is actively engaged

The initiative has a dedicated Board of Trustees and advisory committees with seven people staffing it nationally

The East Coast Greenway Pennsylvania Committee is a coalition of non-profit organizations and local governmenthat together is stronger than its many parts The East Coast Greenway would not be a reality today in

Pennsylvania without the help of these partners including the Delaware River City Corporation Delaware River

Waterfront Corporation and Pennsylvania Environmental Council the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia th

Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission and many more

Beyond ensuring that the greenway serves as a gateway for mobility and tourism it is recognized for its health

benefits The Chair of the Board of Trustees for the East Coast Greenway Alliance David C Read is the Vice

President of Ambulatory Care Operations and Medical Oncology at Dana Farber Cancer Institute Read sees the

East Coast Greenway as vital for the populous of the East Coast from a public health standpoint

ldquoThe development of the East Coast Greenway is more important now that ever Having a sister to the Appalachia

Trail but one for all non-motorized users that is ADA assessable is very relevant to the countryrsquos most populous

regionrdquo he said ldquoIn these times of obesity crisis and diabetic epidemic we need to create safer traffic separated

opportunities to bike and walkrdquo

To find out more about the East Coast Greenway and efforts to complete it or to become an initiative member visi

wwwgreenwayorg Maps of the East Coast Greenway from Washington DC to New York City are available for a

nominal mailing cost by emailing infogreenwayorg

(Continued from page 6)



PennDOT Employees Brave the Elements Commute By BicycleBy Ashley Schoch PennDOT Central Press Office

Dedicated cyclists enjoy commuting by bicycle even

during the winter After a few years of mediocre

winter snowfall totals Pennsylvania residents have

experienced several storms and even the sub-zero

temperatures of ldquoPolar Vortexesrdquo this season TwoPennDOT employees ndash Charlie Carey assistant chief

bridge engineer in the Bureau of Project Delivery

and Scot Wohlin civil engineer ndash commute daily

regardless of the temperature and have varied

experiences and recommendations when opting for

two wheels in snow and slush

Careyrsquos commute from Camp Hill includes heavy

commuter routes beginning with Route 1115

crossing the Harvey Taylor Bridge across the

Susquehanna River and using bustling Front and

North Streets to reach the Keystone Building where

PennDOTrsquos central office is located Wohlinrsquoscommute brings him through the city of Harrisburg

from the midtown area to the Keystone Building

The employees donrsquot have to worry about parking as

the building features indoor and outdoor bike racks

for commuter use

Due to increased exposure to the elements Carey

and Wohlin recommend preparing for winter riding

by dressing appropriately Proper attire includes

layering clothing for warmth covering the ears and

face and wearing eye protection Rain coats or other

moisture-repelling clothing along with and water-resistant boots and gloves are helpful on

particularly wet days

ldquoCommuters can get a feel for cold weather attire as

they go alongrdquo Carey said ldquoIt has been my

experience that I need gloves below 50 degrees a

hat below 32 degrees and can usually wear shorts

down to almost 32 degreesrdquo

Much like those commuting by car the cyclists

ensure their vehicles and supplies are ready for

snowy or icy commutes Wohlin rides a comfort bike

with fat tires and a heavy tread to ensure security insnow and ice while Carey rides a mountain bike with

tires reinforced with Kevlar to reduce flat tire

potential A tire-change kit should be carried and to

transport these tools and work clothes both men

use bike bags that strap to the bikersquos luggage rack

Even with preparing themselves and their bicycles

varying weather patterns affect the type of commute

a bicyclist has in the winter Both riders note that

sidewalks along the river and across some bridges in

the Harrisburg area may not always be shoveled

Debris from snow-clearing operations can scatter

onto the routes on which they ride Because riding in

ice snow and rain can place extra wear and tear on a

bicycle Carey suggests riding a less expensive bike

in the winter

Of the varied weather that occurs during the winter

Wohlin finds ice as the hardest element to contend

with

ldquo[Ice] creates buildup on the side of the road andnarrows the useable street width making you closer

to the cars andor in the traffic lane for short periods

of timerdquo he said ldquoSteep downhill grades on icy

roads are also treacherousrdquo

Despite the unique challenges posed by the winter

season bicycling is a healthy commuting alternative

Those who are interested in trying it themselves

should ensure that they are prepared with

appropriate equipment attire and especially riding

knowledge

Scot Wohlin PennDOT Central Office employee is ready to facthe chilly evening commute home












traffic bridge































the river bridge




and 3002



and




old bridge




































983140 983140

983140 983140

983140

















45 million people





















in Conn



fall 2013


(Continued on pag
















































traffic bridge































the river bridge




and 3002



and




old bridge




































983140 983140

983140 983140

983140

















45 million people





















in Conn



fall 2013


(Continued on pag
































































983140 983140

983140 983140

983140

















45 million people





















in Conn



fall 2013


(Continued on pag





















































45 million people





















in Conn



fall 2013


(Continued on pag





































spokes-people winter 2014

Documents