Skip to agency navigation
Skip to main content

Official website

of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    The .gov means it's official.

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 
    District 2 Projects - Centre County

    State College Area Connector

    Review the Draft Environmental Impact Statement

    Project Status

    Step 2 of 4

    Design

    Next Step:  Construction

    Public Outreach

    Public Hearing

    Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) District 2-0 and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will conduct a Public Hearing on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, for the State College Area Connector Project in Centre County. The hearing will be conducted as part of the 45-day comment period on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and Draft Individual Section 4(f) Evaluation (Section 4(f)).

    Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2026
    Time: Doors open at 4:00 PM, Public Hearing begins at 5:00 PM
    Location: Calvary Church-Harvest Fields
    150 Harvest Fields Drive, Boalsburg, PA 16827

    Public Hearing Testimony Slot

    During the April 7, 2026 Public Hearing, members of the public will be invited to share testimony.  Pennsylvanians can sign up in advance to give testimony using the link below.  Testimony times are scheduled in 5-minute blocks and can be supplemented with written testimony. We ask that speakers kindly arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled testimony time, as the proceedings may progress ahead of schedule. Persons interested in providing private oral testimony can sign up at the hearing.

    If you require special assistance to participate in the hearing, please contact Eric Murnyack, P.E., PennDOT Project Manager at EMurnyack@pa.gov.

    Sign Up to Speak at the Public Hearing

    Public Comment Period

    The 45-day public comment period on the State College Area Connector Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and Draft Individual Section 4(f) Evaluation (Section 4(f)) will be open from Friday, March 6, 2026 through Monday, April 20, 2026. Members of the public are encouraged to review the DEIS documentation available on our website here.

    Submit a Comment

    Project Overview

    County: Centre
    Municipality: Harris Township, Potter Township, Spring Township, Benner Township, College Township, Centre Hall Township
    State Route: Route 322/144/45
    Local Name: State College Area Connector
    Project Type: New Roadway / Roadway Improvements / New Alignment
    MPMS Number: 112784
    Last Updated: March 2026

    State College Area Connector Project - NEPA Phase Summary

    The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), proposes construction of an approximately 8-mile four-lane limited access facility connecting the Mount Nittany Expressway near Boalsburg to the newly constructed limited access portion of U.S. 322 at Potters Mills.

    A Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) study was completed that identified three Build Alternative corridors to advance for further study. These three PEL Build Alternatives corridors provide the foundation for outlining the current study area for which preliminary engineering and detailed environmental investigations will occur under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process.

    This website is intended to facilitate the public outreach efforts undertaken by PennDOT and FHWA during the NEPA process​.

    Anticipated NEPA Schedule

    The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a Federal law that was signed into law on January 1, 1970. NEPA requires federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of their proposed actions prior to making decisions. The range of actions covered by NEPA is broad and includes:

    • making decisions on permit applications,
    • adopting federal land management actions, and
    • constructing highways and other publicly owned facilities.

    Using the NEPA process, agencies evaluate the environmental and related social and economic effects of their proposed actions. Public review and comment are also required in NEPA evaluations.

    An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is a government document that is prepared for federally funded projects that may result in significant impacts on the environment. FHWA states “An EIS is a full disclosure document that details the process through which a transportation project was developed, includes consideration of a range of reasonable alternatives, analyzes the potential impacts resulting from the alternatives, and demonstrates compliance with other applicable environmental laws and executive orders. The EIS process is completed in the following ordered steps: Notice of Intent (NOI), draft EIS, final EIS, and record of decision (ROD).”

    Contact Information

    Eric Murnyack
    Design Project Manager
    814-765-0435
    emurnyack@pa.gov

    Leigh Woolridge
    814-768-0722
    lwoolridge@pa.gov

    Timothy Nebgen
    Community Relations Coordinator
    814-765-0598
    tnebgen@pa.gov

    Accessibility

    The project documents can be made available in alternative languages or formats if requested. If you need translation or interpretation services, have special needs, or have concerns that require individual attention, please contact the Project Manager listed above.

    Title VI

    Pursuant to the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, PennDOT does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. If you feel that you have been denied the benefits of, or participation in a PennDOT program or activity, you may contact the PennDOT, Bureau of Equal Opportunity, DBE/Title VI Division at 717-787-5891.