Graphic Courtesy of PennDOT
Shown above are a few of the proposed connector routes for routes 322 and 144 in PennDOT District-2’s State College Area Connector Study.

STATE COLLEGE — More than 400 individuals attended an open house event Tuesday at Calvary Church in Boalsburg. PennDOT updated the public on the State College Area Connector Study.

The department conducted a study to develop and evaluate a range of alternatives to improve mobility and meet interstate and regional ‘through traffic’ and local needs.

PennDOT will reduce congestion, address safety and improve system continuity within the study area while accommodating other modes of traffic and supporting regional land.

PennDOT believes that inadequate system linkage and intermodal connectivity exists in the study area and currently does not accommodate regional and interstate traffic, in particular heavy truck traffic, along with local commuter and non-motorized traffic.

Transportation projects advance through five phases before they can be used by the traveling public.

The first step involves the planning and environmental linkage studies (PEL). This plan remains the most current activity in the study and will remain so until winter at minimum.

Then, PennDOT will conduct preliminary engineering and environmental studies (NEPA).

They will follow with preparation for the final engineering design and acquire the right-of-ways before breaking ground and beginning construction.