Aug 11, 2008 9 min read

The State Transportation Commission recently approved an update to the 12-year transportation program that outlines $68 billion in investments and improvements to state highways, aviation, public transit, bridges and rail freight, including planned projects in Fayette and Greene counties. “This plan, developed in partnership with all regions of Pennsylvania, focuses on meeting our pressing bridge maintenance needs and preserving the gains we have made in pavement smoothness,” said state Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary and commission Chairman Allen D. Biehler. “Moreover, the updated program addresses challenges in improving aviation, rail freight and public transit.”

In the 12-year program, which takes effect Oct. 1, highway and bridge projects in the first four years total $12.2 billion; public transit, $7.5 billion; aviation, $604 million; and rail freight, $234 million.

Major projects that are initiated in the first four-year period may carry some phases into the second and third four-year phases. Any phase of a project listed in the second and third four years must be approved by the commission for inclusion in the first four years before construction on that phase can begin.

Seven rural planning organizations, 15 metropolitan planning organizations and Franklin County partnered with the state PennDOT in the review and development of the plan.

The updated program will now be submitted to the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration for review and approval. The Federal Highway Administration coordinates with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to review the plan’s conformity with air-quality requirements.

Highway funds listed in the 12-year program are distributed across the state according to a formula that weighs population, lane miles and vehicle miles traveled. Bridge funds are distributed based on the condition of each region’s structures.

The transportation commission consists of 10 appointed, private citizens and the majority and minority chairmen of the state House and Senate transportation committees.

State law dictates that the commission review and update the 12-year program every two years. No project can move forward unless it is listed on the program.

In Fayette County, the projects include:

– Replacing the Masontown Bridge that carries Route 21 over the Monongahela River between Fayette and Greene counties at a cost of $55 million in 2011 and 2012.

– Widening Route 21 from Thompson Crossroads to the Uniontown Mall entrance in South Union Township at a cost of $5 million in 2009, with an additional $22.1 million needed in 2013.

– Rehabilitating the Memorial Bridge that carries Route 119 over the Youghiogheny River in Connellsville at a cost of $17 million from 2009 through 2011.

– Replacing the Route 201 bridge over Route 51 in Perry Township at a cost of $5 million from 2010 to 2011.

– Replacing the Route 381 bridge over the Mill Run Reservoir in Springfield Township at a cost of $4.7 million in 2010 and 2011.

– Replacing bridges in Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties at a cost of $4.6 million in 2009.

– Restoring Route 21 from Footedale Road to Duck Hollow Road in German Township at a cost of $4.4 million in 2011.

– Concrete restoration on Route 119 from Buttermore Boulevard to the Everson interchange in Bullskin and Connellsville townships and the Mon/Fayette Expressway from Big Six Road to Route 40 in Georges Township at a cost of $4.4 million in 2009.

– Replacing the Perryopolis Road bridge over Lutz Run and an abandoned railroad line in Washington Township at a cost of $4.3 million in 2011 and 2012.

– Rehabilitating bridges in Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties at a cost of $4.1 million from 2009 to 2012.

– Bridge preservation projects in Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties at a cost of $16 million from 2009 through 2012.

– Replacing the Grindstone Bridge over Redstone Creek in Redstone and Jefferson townships at a cost of $3.82 million from 2010 through 2012.

– Restoring Route 51 from Rehoboth Church Road to the Westmoreland County line at a cost of $3.78 million in 2010.

– Replacing the Millerstown Road bridge over Indian Creek in Saltlick Township at a cost of $3.5 million from 2009 and 2011.

– Improving railroad crossings in Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties at a cost of $3.3 million from 2009 through 2012.

– Improving safety on various roads in Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties at a cost of $3.3 million in 2011 and 2012.

– Replacing the Rowes Run Bridge over Redstone Creek in Redstone and Jefferson townships at a cost of $3.2 million from 2010 through 2012.

– Replacing the Clinton Road bridge over Trout Run Creek in Saltlick Township at a cost of $3 million in 2009 and 2010.

– Improving intersections on Route 40 at Dearth Road and Canistra Road in Menallen Township at a cost of $2.8 million from 2009 through 2012.

– Replacing the Route 819 bridge over Jacobs Creek in Lower Tyrone Township at a cost of $2.8 million in 2009 and 2010.

– Restoring Route 40 from Route 381 to Dinnerbell Road in Wharton Township at a cost of $2.2 million in 2012.

– Replacing the Route 166 bridge over Dunlap Creek in Luzerne and Redstone townships at a cost of $2.2 million from 2010 to 2011.

– Replacing local bridges in Fayette County at a cost of $2.5 million from 2009 through 2011.

– Replacing the Route 51 bridge over Coal Lick Run in Uniontown at a cost of $2 million in 2011 and 2012.

– Replacing the Pittsburgh Street bridge over Trump Run in Connellsville at a cost of $1.9 million from 2009 through 2011.

– Replacing the Georges Creek Road bridge over Georges Creek in Springhill Township at a cost of $1.7 million in 2009.

– Performing wetland banking projects in Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties at a cost of $1.7 million from 2009 to 2012.

– Improving the intersection of Route 21 and Easy Street in Uniontown at a cost of $1.6 million in 2009 and 2010.

– Replacing the bridge that carries Bailey Lane over Benningtons Spring Run in South Union Township at a cost of $1 million in 2009.

– Replacing the bridge that carries Coolspring Road over Shutes Run in North Union Township at a cost of $1.2 million from 2009 through 2011.

– Replacing the Middle Run Road bridge over Middle Run in German Township at a cost of $1.5 million in 2010 and 2011.

– Replacing the New Geneva Road bridge over York Run in Nicholson Township at a cost of $1.6 million in 2009 and 2010.

– Replacing the Walnut Hill Road bridge over Coal Lick Run in South Union Township at a cost of $1.2 million in 2010 and 2011.

– Improving traffic signals on Fayette Street in Uniontown at a cost of $1.1 million in 2012.

– Upgrading Matthew Drive in South Union Township at a cost of $722,000 in 2009.

– Replacing the Route 166 bridge over Middle Run in German Township at a cost of $844,000 in 2009.

– Replacing the Leisenring Road bridge over Dickerson Run in Dunbar Township at a cost of $936,000 in 2009.

– Replacing the Layton Bridge over the Youghiogheny River in Perry Township at a cost of $371,415 in 2009.

In Greene County, the projects include:

– Replacing the Route 218 bridge over a Norfolk and Southern Railroad and the South Fork of Ten Mile Creek in Waynesburg and Franklin Township at a cost of $8.3 million from 2009 to 2011.

– Replacing the Route 88 bridge over Ten Mile Creek in Jefferson Township in Greene County and East Bethlehem Township in Washington County at a cost of $7.3 million in 2009 and 2010.

– Restoring Route 21 from Paisley to the Masontown Bridge in Monongahela Township at a cost of $4.8 million in 2009.

– Replacing the Interstate 79 bridge over Tower Hill Road in Franklin and Whiteley townships at a cost of $6.5 from 2009 to 2012.

– Replacing the Route 188 bridge over the South Fork of Ten Mile Creek in Franklin Township at a cost of $4.2 million in 2009 and 2010.

– Improving Route 19 from Stewart Street to Orchard Road in Waynesburg and Franklin Township at a cost of $936,000 in 2009 and 2010, with an additional $26.06 million needed in 2013.

– Installation of variable message signs in Greene, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties at a cost of $6.4 million in 2009 through 2012.

– Restoring Route 21 from Scott Run Road to Route 18 in Center Township at a cost of $4 million in 2012.

– Restoring four miles of Route 88 from the Greene/ Fayette county line in Dunkard Township at a cost of $3.78 million in 2010.

– Restoring Route 21 from the Junction Deli to Paisley in Cumberland and Monongahela townships at a cost of $3.3 in 2011.

– Replacing the Route 18 bridge over Ten Mile Creek in Center Township at a cost of $2.4 million in 2009 and 2010.

– Reconstructing one mile of Route 21 from the Masontown Bridge in Monongahela Township at a cost of $3 million in 2012.

– Replacing the Route 19 bridge over Dunkard Creek in Perry Township at a cost of $3.2 million in 2009 and 2010.

– Replacing the Route 88 bridge over Muddy Creek in Cumberland Township at a cost of $2.7 million from 2010 to 2012.

– Replacing the Eastview Bridge, which carried Route 18 over Ten Mile Creek, in Franklin Township at a cost of $2.6 million in 2009.

– Replacing the Route 18 bridge over Browns Creek in Franklin Township at a cost of $2.1 million from 2009 to 2011.

– Replacing the Children’s Home Bridge, which carries Route 188 over Ruffs Creek in Morgan Township, at a cost of $2.1 million in 2009.

– Replacing local bridges in Greene County at a cost of $1.9 million from 2009 through 2011.

– Replacing the Dry Tavern Bridge, which carried Route 88 over Pumpkin Run in Jefferson Township, at a cost of $1.4 million in 2009.

– Replacing the Route 18 bridge over Browns Creek near Tripp Hill Road in Morris Township at a cost of $1.13 million from 2009 through 2011.

– Replacing the Route 18 bridge over Garner’s Run in Washington Township at a cost of $1.1 million in 2009 and 2010.

– Replacing the Route 18 bridge over Browns Creek near Ingram Hill Road in Morris Township at a cost of $1.1 million from 2009 through 2011.

– Replacing the Rudolph Run Road bridge over Rudolph Run in Wayne and Perry townships at a cost of $1.3 million in 2009.

– Replacing the Route 21 bridge over the South Fork of Ten Mile Creek in Center Township at a cost of $1.6 million in 2009.

– Replacing the Boyd Run Bridge that carried Route 221 over Boyd Run in Washington Township at a cost of $1.05 million in 2009.

– Replacing the Muddy Creek Road bridge over Muddy Run in Cumberland and Jefferson townships at a cost of $498,326 in 2010 and 2011.

– Improving 10 existing traffic signals at intersections on Route 19 in Waynesburg at a cost of $468,000 in 2009 and 2010.

For more information, or to view the 12-year program, visit online at http://www.dot.state. pa.us/Internet/Bureaus/CPDM.nsf/CPMDHomepage?openframeset.