Signs along Route 322 in Potter Township indicate that some local residents are concerned about PennDOT’s State College Area Connector project.
BALLSBURG — Ahead of two public meetings scheduled this week on the Route 322 State College Area Connector Project, Harris Township supervisors spoke about three potential routes PennDOT is considering. Meanwhile, a group of concerned citizens announced plans to independently explore other options for the project with the public.
The long-talked-about project will provide a ‘missing link’ four-lane highway from Potter’s Mills to State College.
A planning-environment linkage study conducted by PennDOT in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration identified 70 square miles of U.S. Route 322, State Route 45, and State Route 144 with existing road networks and configurations. Existing and projected transportation needs within the area were assessed. It raises safety concerns and lacks continuity.
In September, PennDOT narrowed nine options for connecting routes to three options, Potter Township and Harris Township on current Route 322, to create a four-lane highway from the Seven Mountains to the State College area. rice field.
This eliminated an alternate route for the Route 144 corridor (the route over Center Hall Mountain).
PennDOT held a public meeting at Mount Nittany Middle School on October 19th and 20th from 5:00pm to 8:30pm. This included presentations with updates on data collection and current recommendations, as well as a Q&A period with the audience.
Harris Township
Prior to the conference, Harris Township Supervisors issued the following statement: Residents will be left homeless and unable to earn a living. Farms are lost. The unique rural character of our region is forever changed.
“While we are aware of the safety issues that exist along the 322 corridor, we are against using the restricted access highway to address these concerns,” Harris said. Township superintendent writes.
“We do not know how the proposed superhighway will achieve either the safety goals set for this project: lower speeds and safer highway designs.”
Last month, a joint meeting of Harris and Potter township supervisors discussed how the proposed route would erode property values, force homes to be sold, and create additional safety issues. Residents expressed concern about whether
A PennDOT study found that the recommended route can “minimize” relocation of homes and businesses. But farming community representatives say family farms in the corridor are at risk of being fragmented or lost entirely.
“We urge PennDOT to reconsider the design of this road. Instead of a limited-access highway, we recommend that they design a conditional road,” said Harris Township supervisor. is writing
“For us, that means a four-lane divided highway with minimal medians, roundabouts, or other left-turn alternatives, and most importantly, restrictions through corridors. It’s about slowing down.”
They pointed to the Route 41 project in Chester County. There, instead of previous plans for a four-lane alignment with restricted access, PennDOT is “going with a situational design that incorporates roundabouts and other safety features.” Mainly for the community. oppose.
U.S. Route 41 is a 22-mile (22-mile) highway, mostly following a two-lane road undivided in the countryside, similar to the corridor of U.S. Route 322 through the towns of Potter and Harris. .
“If roundabouts and contextual designs can be used in other parts of Pennsylvania, why aren’t they considered here?” the supervisor wrote.
They also questioned why the Central Region Climate Action Goal and the Pennsylvania Climate Action Plan were not considered in the PEL study and instead were used as part of the project’s environmental review, noting that the lack of consideration was “flawed.” Yes, and goes against good planning.” them now.
A PEL study is a multi-step process and the first of five steps in advancing a transportation project.
Preliminary engineering and environmental studies, final engineering design, site acquisition and construction follow after the survey is completed.
The supervisor wrote that the study should also account for other projects in the state that affect truck traffic through Center County. These include the Central Susquehanna Valley Thruway in Snyder, Northumberland and Union counties. PennDOT decision making.
“Increased transparency is needed to increase public confidence in our state’s ability to plan and build roads that are suitable for our region,” the supervisor wrote.
Construction on the project—currently estimated to cost between $432 million and $517 million—is not expected to begin until at least 2028 and will take about six years to complete.
But by then, community members need more answers, according to Harris Township supervisors.
“To PennDOT, residents, businesses and farmers along this corridor now have to live in a stalemate while the project goes through an environmental review. We cannot make any decisions about our homes, businesses or farms until we do so,” they wrote.
“While PennDOT has everyone playing the waiting game, property values are impacted. I highly recommend Lee to move forward.”
Exploring options
On October 30, the Center County Historical Society and Hammer Center for Communities, in partnership with the Pennsylvania State University Landscaping Service, sponsor a design charlet to explore alternative design options for Route 322 and the Penn Brush Valley . The event will be led by Dan Marriott, Associate Professor of Landscape and Architecture at Penn State University, and will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Calvary Church at his 150 Harvest Field Drive in Bolesburg will be
Space is limited. Registration can be completed at: centerhistory.org/research-explore/connector/ Or call us at 814-234-4779.
According to the press release, the session will involve organizations and residents interested in developing a broader vision for the future of highway corridors and valleys.
“In addition to the variety of safe road design options available on the 322, and beyond the restricted-access highway, Charette believes that projects like this will unite the valley community, rather than divide it. We will consider opportunities we can offer,” Marriott said in a press release.
“Using the example of Pennsylvania and other states, Charrett recommends measures to calm traffic, pedestrian and bicycle access, programs that support sustainable agriculture, and measures to minimize the negative impacts of 322. Investigate the designed recreation and wildlife corridors and spend the afternoon working closely together with neighbors and professionals to consider future options.”
Landscape Architect faculty and students at Penn State University are available to assist members of the community. The goal is for communities to “establish clear design expectations for safe multimodal transportation, planning and economic development, (and) heritage and land protection as well as influencing 322 design.” Create a specific list of
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