There is a new opportunity for communities to realize planned improvements within PennDOT project scopes.  PennDOT Connects is a new transportation project approach that engages local communities in the PennDOT project development planning process.  PennDOT will be reaching out to local communities to discuss planned improvements prior to the preliminary engineering phase of a project. Areas of collaboration include safety concerns, bicycles and pedestrian facilities, transit access, stormwater management, local and regional plans and studies and more.  In order to incorporate a community’s desired improvement into a PennDOT roadway improvement project, the community would need to demonstrate this need as part of a written comprehensive plan.  Do you want bike lanes?  Check your comprehensive plan and be sure it is up to date and inclusive of your infrastructure needs.

 

The incorporation of pedestrian sidewalks or a wider shoulder for bicycle use is a small incremental cost increase on a large scale roadway project.  As a stand alone project, the cost is often, unfortunately, cost prohibitive for the community.  Is your community’s comp plan up to date?  If not, call us today and we can get started with the process of realizing your community’s transportation goals.

 

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is committeed to bettering our transportation system and our communities through collaborative planning. We must find creative solutions to sustain and expand mobility througout the Commonwealth. This means improving our planning process to reflect changing demographics and technological innovation. We are broadening the benefits we deliver and taking a more holistic approach to planning. We are tasking PennDOT staff and our planning partners to consider community needs at the beginning of the planning process to ensure the best allocation of our resources This new approach, PennDOT Connects, will make our planning processes more efficient and cost effective to the benefit of all Pennsylvanians. The full PennDOT Connects Policy (PDF) includes collaboration requirements and planning considerations, as well as the implementation timeline and more. 

 

The new approach to project planning and development expands the department's requirements for engaging local and planning partners by requiring collaboration with stakeholders before project scopes are developed. PennDOT Connects aims to transform capital and maintenance project development by ensuring that community collaboration happens early, and that each project is considered in a holistic way for opportunities to improve safety, mobility, access, and environmental outcomes for all modes and local contexts. Earlier collaboration will ensure that projects meet current and projected needs as much as possible, and can reduce costly changes further in the project development process.

 

Specific areas to be discussed during collaboration include, but are not limited to: safety issues; bicycle/pedestrian accommodations; transit access; stormwater management; utility issues; local and regional plans and studies; freight-generating land uses and more.

 

PennDOT Connects requirements to meet with local governments, Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) and Rural Planning Organizations (RPO) are being implemented on new projects on the state's 2017-2020 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).