Planning committee to host ‘municipal roundtable’
Meeting to identify safety, transportation issues
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LEWISTOWN -- The Mifflin County Planning Director has invited roadmasters from each of the 16 municipalities to what they are calling a "Municipal Roundtable" to identify safety and transportation issues for their areas on Thursday, Sept. 17.
Planning Director James Lettiere explained that this is in preparation for their comprehensive safety action plan to address disproportionate safety concerns for pedestrians and other non-motorized roadway users. Lettiere added that each municipality can apply for grant funding to have implementable dollars to address those concerns.
Lettiere hopes to familiarize them with his efforts in preparing the standard procedures and seek their input as to the needs for improved transportation areas, concerns regarding safety for vehicles, non-motorized transportation and pedestrians.
Lettiere also shared with his fellow planning committee that the second Transportation Advisory Committee is meeting that same day to discuss the preparation of the Comprehensive Safety Action Plan. They will present their plans, which will include ways to create a balanced transportation system that uses systemic and data drive solutions.
It also involves the analysis of crash data as well as the use of a community survey to identify problem areas and needs for non-motorized users by the use of Wiki-mapping. Wiki-mapping is a point drop and comment software system, which allows survey participants to show areas of concern and provide written comments on a county wide map.
Moving forward Lettiere is also seeking community feedback and by doing so hosting an open house on Thursday, Oct. 1, with their consultant team with Michael Baker International from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Mifflin County Annex Building.
Residents are encouraged to share their concerns and ask questions regarding non-motorized transportation needs in the county.
Several projects that are related to this plan include the Electric Avenue Project, which includes installing six-foot-wide bicycle lanes, five-foot-wide sidewalks, crosswalks and entrance signage for businesses along the east side of Electric Avenue from Ort Valley Road to Derry Park Drive. Lettiere said the only update to this project was that he is waiting for the contract agreement from PennDOT for the County's Transportation Alternatives Set Aside Grant, which will be between the county and PennDOT.
Lettiere also shared that the county's consultant in partnership with Menno Township Supervisors and their engineer were successfully awarded PennDOT Multimodal Transportation Funding in the amount of $372,184 for streetscape lighting, sidewalk enhancements, connections and pedestrian signs.
It also includes two gateway medians at both entrances into Allensville. Menno Township had previously requested $2,506,812 through the Commonwealth Financing Authority Multimodal Transportation Fund for what it called the Allensville Traffic Calming Project on Route 655. That request was denied.
Lettiere moved forward with plans to reapply through PennDOT for just the first phase, which would include only the gateway medians and crosswalks. The project aimed to improve safety, multimodal functionality, and the character of Main Street through traffic calming and streetscape upgrades.
Planned improvements, if awarded the original requested amount, included gateway medians to reduce vehicle speeds, crosswalks and expanded sidewalks for pedestrians and cyclists, and pedestrian-scale lighting to enhance safety and the corridor’s identity. The project also would have enhanced walkability and supported the local economy by making Allensville a more attractive place to live, work, and visit. Future phases could still include sidewalk and streetscape improvements.
Lettiere announced that the county's grant consultant, Delta Development submitted a grant application to PA-DCED through the PA-DCED, Commonwealth Finance Authority for the Allensville Traffic Calming and Infrastructure Improvement Project-Phase 2. If awarded, the funding will be used to install streetscape features including new sidewalks, concrete curbing, street lights to enhance walkability, ADA-compliant accessibility and stormwater infrastructure conveyance to prevent flooding during heavy rain and snow events.
The estimated total cost is $1,252,261, and Menno Township has requested that the 30% grant match requirement be waived. If awarded and everything goes as planned, these improvements could be completed by October 2029.