Project Selection and Prioritization

Transcription

1 Safety and Preservatin First The lng-range transprtatin plan presents 150 apprved transprtatin prjects fr the planning perid. The vast majrity f these prjects will address structurally deficient bridges n the state highway system and maintain radway pavement cnditins in a state f gd repair. Other prjects will enhance the safety f the transprtatin system, which may reduce crashes and fatalities, and expand the bicycle/pedestrian netwrk. Additinal suggestins fr prjects were made thugh the nline survey and utreach meetings, r drawn frm Cnnectins, a reginal greenways planning dcument. Sme f these suggestins were fr prjects already prgrammed n the Transprtatin Imprvement Prgram r in the Twelve Year Plan. Other suggestins were fr minr imprvements that may be able t be addressed by PennDOT s Cunty maintenance department. Finally, several cmments addressed brad needs that will entail multiple prjects t achieve the desired utcme. In sme cases, feasibility r alternative analysis studies will be needed t determine the best curse f actin. These and ther yet-t-be identified transprtatin needs can be evaluated and ptentially added t the apprved lng-range transprtatin plan prject list at any time. As part f the prject develpment prcess, transprtatin prblems and ptential prjects generated frm municipality, agency, ther stakehlder input r public cmment that may require a lcal funding match are required t be supprted and spnsred by the municipality in which the prjects are lcated r by ther agencies r rganizatins that have the legal authrity t prvide r receive transprtatin funding. Dcumentatin in the frm f the level 1 and 2 Linking Planning and NEPA frms assures the cmmitment by the spnsring entity f the need and supprt f a prpsed prject. This prcess generally excludes ptential transprtatin prblems r prjects that can be addressed by lcal r agency jurisdictinal actins and funding; are general maintenance imprvements; r are nt a pririty f the municipality. This apprach results in a mre reasnable representative list f prjects and prgrams that can be advanced within the financial resurces available. Cambria Cunty Lng Range Transprtatin Plan,

2 Selectin Criteria Prjects included n the lng-range transprtatin plan meet at least ne f the fllwing transprtatin bjectives, which serve as prject selectin criteria: A. Maintain highway pavement and bridge cnditins t state standards. B. Maintain facilities t achieve r exceed facility and equipment lifecycles. C. Increase cnnectivity within planned grwth areas and amng mdes. D. Mdernize reginal access f highway, aviatin and rail mdes t reduce travel time and increase frequency f service. E. Reduce crashes and fatalities tward 0. F. Minimize recurring cngestin. G. Increase public transprtatin ridership. H. Increase bicycle and pedestrian trail mileage within and between designated grwth areas and t recreatin and turism destinatins. I. Prvide technical assistance and funding t cunty and municipal planning, when available. J. Maintain a general knwledge f envirnmental resurces and access t current GIS data. K. Supprt nging resurce evaluatin and designatin. L. Avid impacts t resurces, minimize impacts t resurces where avidance is nt feasible and mitigate impacts t resurces where practical. M. Recgnize and interpret resurces that intersect with transprtatin prject sites. N. Finance maintenance and preservatin with public funds. O. Finance imprvements thrugh public-private partnerships. Prject Priritizatin The Jhnstwn Area Transprtatin Study (Cambria Cunty) has an established prcess fr ranking multiple candidate highway and bridge prjects fr available funds n the transprtatin imprvement prgram and lng range transprtatin plan. Highway prjects are evaluated n eight criteria with tw criteria carrying a duble weight in the ranking scre: Current status in the Twelve Year Prgram AADT vlume served Municipality/Cunty served Lcal request, supprt and readiness Ptential t cmplete a missing link r gap sectin Linkage with majr ecnmic centers utside the Cunty Cambria Cunty has an established prcess fr ranking multiple candidate highway and bridge prjects fr available transprtatin funds. Cambria Cunty Lng Range Transprtatin Plan,

3 Relatinship t Ecnmic/Cnservatin Gals (duble weighted) Crash (accident) histry (duble weighted) Bridge prjects are als evaluated n eight criteria with tw criteria carrying a duble weight in the ranking scre: Current status in the Twelve year Prgram Inclusin n the Bridge Bill Prgram Bridge Sufficiency rating Relatinship t Ecnmic/Cnservatin Gals Lcal request, supprt and readiness AADT vlume served Length f detur, if bridge is psted r clsed (duble weighted) Structural Status (psted weight limit) (duble weighted) Each prject is scred using a cmputatin spreadsheet file; space is prvided fr qualitative cmments. Prjects are then listed with their scres fr apprval t the transprtatin imprvement prgram and the lng-range transprtatin plan. Prjects that are nt apprved t the transprtatin imprvement prgram r lng-range transprtatin plan may be reevaluated when additinal transprtatin funds are available, r in a new planning perid. The emphasis n funding highway and bridge preservatin is expected t cntinue largely as a functin f District 9-0 s technical leadership. The selectin and priritizatin f highway and bridge preservatin prjects (led by PennDOT District 9-0) received n cmment during the utreach meetings. As the Jhnstwn Area Transprtatin Study (Cambria Cunty) seeks t supprt ecnmic develpment, they may want t review hw the pririty preservatin prjects align with the Cunty s ecnmic develpment effrts. Fr example, if public and private effrts are fcused n preparing a site fr re-use r re-develpment, a resurfacing prject shuld be scheduled fr cmpletin as part f the site preparatin, nt during the site pening r first years. The Jhnstwn Area Transprtatin Study (Cambria Cunty) may want t facilitate sharing f these types f schedules amng ecnmic develpment agencies and District 9-0 when priritizing preservatin prjects. A Lcal Bridge Preservatin Prcess The Jhnstwn Area Transprtatin Study (Cambria Cunty) will priritize lcal bridges 20 feet r lnger using the PennDOT Bridge Management System 2 Risk Cambria Cunty has Analysis tl supplemented with additinal infrmatin regarding ther factrs f utlined a new prcess fr cnditin, functin, and perfrmance, such as average daily traffic r average daily ranking lcal bridges 20 truck traffic, length f detur, vehicle weight, etc. It will select the 10 highest risk feet r lnger fr available bridges and cntact lcal bridge wners fr lcal input n need. If the lcal wner is transprtatin funds. interested, discussins f prgramming and lcal cntributin will begin. If the lcal wner is nt interested, cnsideratin will prceed t the next-highest-risk lcal bridge wner. Cambria Cunty Lng Range Transprtatin Plan,

4 Fr lcal bridges less than 20 feet lng, the Jhnstwn Area Transprtatin Study (Cambria Cunty) will finalize and fllw this prcess t develp a JATS Lcal Bridge Management database and t identify and priritize prjects in the ff years f the transprtatin imprvement prgram update cycle: Prepare and send a letter t cunties and municipalities in the regin sliciting lcal bridge prjects (less than 20 feet); prvide table f recipient s lcal bridges as identified in the Cunty Bridge Database (a lcal versin f PennDOT s Bridge Management System much smaller but cntains at minimum a listing f bridge name, lcatin, type, size, status, last inspectin date, and cnditin); request that any new bridges be added and that any candidates fr remval be identified; ntify cunties and municipalities that inspectin data will be used in Cunty priritizatin f lcal bridge prjects; request inspectin data, where available; and request readiness t discuss a lcal funding cmmitment within 12 mnths (maximum) r by a specified date in advance f the transprtatin imprvement prgram update. Cmpile the respnse f ptential lcal bridge prjects and inspectin data int the Cunty Lcal Bridge Management Database; fllw up with lcal bridge wners t request any missing data. Rank lcal bridge prjects based n risk methdlgy. Meet with fficials (cunty r lcal) f high ranking bridges, bridge inspectrs and PennDOT District bridge unit t discuss ranked bridges; select the tw highest-risk lcal bridge prjects in each cunty; each pair culd include ne cunty bridge and ne lcal bridge, tw cunty bridges, r tw lcal bridges. Begin discussins f prject prgramming and lcal cntributin. Apprved Prjects Highway and Bridge Prjects The Jhnstwn Area Transprtatin Study (Cambria Cunty) selects the fllwing previusly identified highway and bridge prjects, including: Transprtatin Imprvement Prgram Twelve Year Plan PennDOT Decade f Investment prjects Carry ver prjects frm the previus lng-range transprtatin plan Cambria Cunty Lng Range Transprtatin Plan,

5 All current State SD bridges; csts are cnservatively estimated fr full replacement using the PennDOT suggested rate f $50 per square ft f deck area. Sme current bridge sufficiency ratings suggest that nly rehabilitatin may be needed, hwever, physical cnditins culd wrsen if these bridges are nt addressed until later in the plan perid. All current Lcal SD bridges > 20 feet; csts are als cnservatively estimated fr full replacement, as described abve. The ttal cst wuld be shared: 95 percent federal and state, 5 percent lcal. Table -1 prvides a summary f the estimated 2040 lng-range transprtatin plan prject csts. Table -1: 2040 Lng-Range Transprtatin Plan Prject Cst Summary Shrt-term Mid-term Lng-term Summary Cst Estimates by Perid Ttal $188,013,50 $97,074,100 $150,124,520 $435,212,270 These prjects are listed with their estimated dates f cnstructin and estimated csts in Appendix A. Transit Prjects JATS affirms the Transit Lng Range Plan, as shwn in Appendix B. As CamTran maintains and cnsiders expansin f its transit service area, it is Cambria Cunty affirms likely that future transit prjects will include the fllwing: CamTran s lng range plan Cntinued replacement f gasline-fueled buses with buses fueled by fr transit facilities and cmpressed natural gas. service. Extensin f natural gas supply lines t all facilities, including additinal cmpressed natural gas fueling statins. Additinal vehicles. Expanded maintenance facilities. Such prjects have nt been cst-estimated but can be freseen in CamTran s lng-range transit planning needs. Critical Prjects in Adjacent Cunties As pprtunities allw, Cambria Cunty shuld cntinue t advcate fr prjects in adjacent cunties that will benefit its residents and businesses. These prjects include safety imprvements t Rute 22 in Blair and Indiana cunties, study and highway and safety imprvements t PA 5 in Bedfrd and Smerset cunties, and similar imprvements t US 119 in Indiana Cunty. Cambria Cunty Lng Range Transprtatin Plan,

6 Table -3 Critical Transprtatin Prjects in Adjacent Cunties MPMS Rute Prject Title Prject/Imprvement Type YOE Cunty D HSIP CMB Safety Imprvement 201 Blair Rute 22 Safety Imprve Safety Imprvement TBD Indiana Pleasntville Mtn Imprv Relcatin/realignment TBD Bedfrd PA5 Windbr-Plsntvle Stdy Transprtatin Study 2015 Smerset US 119-Wake Rbin Curve Relcatin/realignment 2019 Indiana SR 119 Grve Chapel Safety Imprvement 2022 Indiana 219 Cmpletin f US Rute 219 frm Meyersdale t Interstate 8 (in Maryland) Smerset Additinally, imprvements t PA 711 in Indiana Cunty between PA 5 and PA 403 wuld be beneficial in mving traffic, particularly trucks, efficiently between Jhnstwn and US 22. Large-scale Cnceptual and Illustrative Prjects The lng-range transprtatin plan cntains three additinal prjects that were identified during the plan update prcess and that have reginal significance and substantial csts. These prjects are listed belw as Illustrative Prjects due t the fact that their feasibility, scpe, csts, r funding surces are nt yet clearly defined. Thus, these ptential transprtatin imprvements are currently nt prgrammed. Cmpletin f the New Germany interchange. This interchange was cnstructed as a half-interchange mre than a decade ag fr US 219 nrthbund traffic t exit and enter the limited access US 219 near New Germany. Lcal residents and fficials ppsed the suthbund prtin f the interchange. As f 2011, the New Germany area is a grwth area in the Cunty s Cmprehensive Plan. It functins as a small ecnmic center f lcal businesses, including manufacturers. A full interchange wuld supprt ecnmic and cmmunity develpment in this defined grwth area. Restratin f the Jhnstwn train statin. Amid changes in passenger rail ridership and ticketing technlgy, the train statin building becme discnnected frm rail peratins and been neglected. The building is significant fr its architecture and is ccasinally used as a gathering and perfrmance space. Restratin f the building wuld enable its use as a landmark visitrs center, fully integrated with Jhnstwn s rail histry and heritage. An additinal interchange n US 219 at Eisenhwer Bulevard. This interchange wuld reduce the traffic vlume between Eisenhwer Bulevard and US 219 and specifically at these tw turning mvement lcatins alng the busy PA 5/Scalp Avenue crridr. There are currently few unfunded transprtatin needs that can be specified and cstestimated. Only tw planning dcuments identify additinal transprtatin imprvements and enhancements fr Cambria Cunty. Cambria Cunty Lng Range Transprtatin Plan,