State College Area Connector: Planning and Environmental Linkages Study
PennDOT District 2 conducted the State College Area Connector Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) study to identify transportation needs within the PEL study area. The study evaluated a range of alternatives to determine how the alternatives addressed the study's purpose and need, balanced impacts on the natural and built environment, addressed traffic concerns within the overall study area, and met engineering considerations such as constructability, cost, and considered planning goals. The results of the analysis are presented in this PEL report
Below are two versions of the PEL Study report. The PDF version is a full-color version of the document that includes graphic illustrations. The text-only version contains the same content as the PDF, but excludes some graphical elements to allow for easier language translation and use of other accessible technology applications. It also does not include the appendices.
- State College Area Connector Final PEL Report (PDF)
- State College Area Connector Final PEL Report (Text-only) available below
- State College Area Connector Draft PEL Study Public Comment Summary Report (PDF)
The following documents were prepared in support of the PEL Study and are available for review:
- Final Purpose and Need for the SCAC PEL Study (PDF)
- Virtual Public Meeting Summary Report (PDF)
- September 2021 Open House Public Meeting Summary Report (PDF)
- April 2022 Open House Public Meeting Summary Report (PDF)
- October 2022 Open House Public Meeting Summary Report (PDF)
- Alternatives Analysis and Screening Report (PDF)
- Agricultural Resources Technical Memo (PDF)
- Archaeological Resources Technical Memo (PDF)
- Engineering Technical Memo (PDF)
- Hazardous and Residual Wastes Technical Memo (PDF)
- Historic Resources Survey Technical Memo (PDF)
- Planning and Environmental Linkages Questionnaire (PDF)
- Socioeconomic Technical Memo (PDF)
- Terrestrial Habitat Technical Memo (PDF)
- Threatened and Endangered Species Technical Memo (PDF)
- Traffic Analysis Technical Memo (PDF)
- Appendix A (PDF)
- Appendix B (PDF)
- Appendix C (PDF)
- Appendix D (PDF)
- Wetland and Watercourses Technical Memo (PDF)
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Study Overview
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and in coordination with the Centre County Metropolitan Planning Organization (CCMPO), is preparing this Planning and Environmental Linkages Study (PEL) for the State College Area Connector Study. A PEL Study is a high-level planning approach to transportation decision-making that considers the environment, community, and economic goals early in the transportation planning process. A PEL Study promotes a collaborative and integrated process.
The State College Area Connector PEL Study involves a seven-step process (Figure ES-1). Public and agency engagement occurred throughout the PEL process. Engagement took many forms throughout the PEL Study including a website, electronic mailing list, local pop-up meetings, public meetings (both virtual and in-person open house formats), stakeholder workshops, public officials meetings, and resource agency coordination meetings.
State College Area Connector Study Area
The PEL study area extends approximately 70 square miles and encompasses the communities and portions of roadways experiencing transportation problems and the locations of alternative solutions to address those problems in southern Centre County. The key roadways in the study area include I-99, US 322, PA 26, PA 144, PA 45, PA 192, and PA 64 (Figure ES-2). I-99, US 322 (Mt. Nittany Expressway), and US 322 (Potters Mills Gap) provide the potential logical termini for which alternative solutions could connect. For more information about the study area, see Chapter 1.
Purpose and Need
The purpose of this study is to develop and evaluate a range of alternatives to improve mobility and meet the needs of interstate, regional, and local traffic passing through and moving within the study area by reducing congestion, improving safety, and addressing system continuity.
Within the study area, an evaluation of the transportation network identified the following transportation deficiencies which led to the development of specific need statements:
- Existing roadway configurations and traffic conditions contribute to safety concerns in the study area.
- High peak hour traffic volumes cause congestion and result in unacceptable Level of Service (LOS), a measure of traffic flow/congestion, on US 322, PA 45, and PA 144 roadways and intersections within the study area.
- The roadway network configuration in the study area lacks continuity and does not meet driver expectations.
For more information on the PEL Study purpose and need, see Chapter 3.
Alternatives Development and Screening
A range of alternatives, typical of transportation studies, was identified and screened. A two-step: qualitative and quantitative screening process was used to systematically evaluate each alternative's ability to meet the identified study purpose and need, minimize environmental impacts, meet required engineering and constructability criteria, and address the identified study goals. During this screening process, any alternative determined not to meet the study's purpose and need was dismissed from further consideration as a viable improvement alternative
(Figure ES-3).
The screening process also identified "other future independent transportation projects" which did not fully meet the study's purpose and need but could still have independent utility as stand alone projects. These potential projects are identified in Chapter 8. PennDOT would work with the CCMPO and local stakeholders to develop an implementation plan and secure dedicated funding for project advancement.
Alternatives Recommended for Further Study
Based on the alternative screening process, the TSM, TCM, Transit, and No Build Alternatives were dismissed from further study during the Level 1 Screening for not meeting the PEL Study purpose and need. The US 322 Upgrade Existing and nine Build Alternative corridors were advanced through the Level 2A Screening and into Level 2B Screening for more detailed analysis. The US 322 Upgrade Existing Alternative was dismissed from further study during the Level 2B Screening, as it did not improve safety on the overall roadway network therefore did not meet the PEL Study purpose and need. Table ES-1 provides an overview of the alternative screening results.
Upon completion of the traffic, environmental, engineering, and planning screenings, various Build Alternatives were identified as recommended for each of these disciplines. When analyzing the traffic, environmental impacts, engineering parameters, and planning data, the US 322-10EX, US 322-1S and US 322-5 Build Alternative corridors best balanced all of those considerations and were identified as reasonable alternatives to be advanced for further engineering and environmental study in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) phase of the transportation project development process (Figure ES-4).
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is dedicated to working with the public and federal, state, and local officials and agencies to provide safe and reliable transportation solutions for Pennsylvania. To assist in accomplishing this objective, PennDOT, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and in coordination with the Centre County Metropolitan Planning Organization (CCMPO), initiated a Planning and Environmental Linkages Study (PEL) for the State College Area Connector Study in 2020.
A. What is a PEL Study?
A PEL Study is a collaborative and integrated decision-making process and is the first of five phases in the transportation project development process. This high-level planning approach considers the environment, community, and economic goals early in the transportation planning process. It also encourages the planning goals to be incorporated throughout later phases of the transportation development process (Figure 1-1). PEL studies foster early involvement with the public and regulatory agencies to be more effective. Overall, PEL studies expedite project schedules by identifying and reducing the number of alternatives to be advanced for more detailed environmental study and engineering design. Essentially, the goal of the PEL Study is to create a seamless decision-making process that minimizes duplication of effort, promotes environmental stewardship, and reduces delays from planning through project implementation.
PEL Studies are generally more focused than regional planning efforts, but broader than traditional project-specific environmental analyses typically conducted during the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. The PEL Studies can be used to produce a wide range of analyses or decisions for FHWA review, consideration, and possible adoption during the NEPA process for an individual transportation project, including:
- Purpose and need or goals statement(s)
- Range of alternatives identification
- Preliminary screening of alternatives and elimination of unreasonable alternatives
- Basic description of the environmental setting
- Preliminary identification of environmental impacts and conceptual environmental mitigation
This PEL Study must be prepared in accordance with 23 USC Section 168 as well as 23 CFR 450.212. These regulations allow analyses conducted during planning to be incorporated directly or by reference into subsequent environmental documents prepared in accordance with NEPA, provided that the studies were adequately documented; interested Federal, State, local and tribal agencies were involved; a reasonable opportunity for public review and comment on the PEL Study was provided; and the FHWA was engaged.
Some of the key criteria that a federal agency must consider in deciding whether to adopt planning-level analyses or decisions in the NEPA process include:
- Involvement of interested state, local, tribal, and federal agencies.
- Public review
- Reasonable opportunity to comment during the development of the PEL Study
- Documentation of relevant decisions in a form that is identifiable and available for review during the NEPA scoping process and can be appended to or referenced in the NEPA document
- FHWA review
FHWA has developed a PEL Questionnaire to aid the PEL Study in informing the NEPA process. The questionnaire is intended to act as both a guide and summary of the planning process and ease the transition from planning to NEPA analysis. A copy of the PEL Questionnaire is included in the State College Area Connector PEL Study technical files.
B. What is the Study Area?
The State College Area Connector PEL Study is approximately 70 square miles, extends through the southern portion of Centre County, and includes all or parts of six municipalities: Centre Hall Borough and Potter, Spring, Harris, College, and Benner Townships. The study area includes key transportation routes that provide access to regional destinations and beyond via major routes such as U.S. Route (US) 322, Pennsylvania Route (PA) 144, PA 45, and Interstate 99 (I-99) which, in turn, provide access to nearby I-80 (Figure 1-2). The study area is also shaped by the topography of the area and primarily encompasses the southwestern portion of Penns Valley that extends between Nittany Mountain to the north and the Seven Mountains area of the Tussey Mountain range to the south. Parts of Nittany Valley on the north side of Nittany Mountain are also included within the study area, as is the more urbanized Centre Region that connects both valleys at the southwestern end of Nittany Mountain. The limits of the study area boundary were defined to ensure that any relevant factors that may influence the study needs (and the development of the range of alternatives that would address these needs) are incorporated, including identification of logical project termini (US 322 Mount Nittany Expressway and Potters Mills Gap and I-99), assessment of environmental impacts, and development of potential mitigation.
C. What is the PEL Scope?
The scope of the State College Area Connector PEL Study includes a seven-step process (Figure 1-3).
Step 1 collects environmental, engineering, and traffic data to provide a foundation for use in future steps.
Step 2 analyzes the collected data to identify the challenges on the existing transportation system.
Step 3 documents transportation challenges by developing the purpose and need statement that will be used to identify and evaluate a Range of Alternatives.
Step 4 analyzes the alternatives to determine the transportation system benefits/issues and their associated potential natural, cultural, and socio-economic impacts.
Step 5 identifies alternatives to advance for further evaluation in future environmental and engineering studies.
Step 6 documents the results of the PEL Study and develops an implementation plan for future studies or projects.
Step 7 finalizes the PEL Study report and receives study concurrence from the FHWA.
Public and agency engagement extends through the entire PEL process with key milestones for specific public involvement activities.
A. What is the Study Area Transportation Network?
The study area has three components to the transportation network; roadways, active transportation facilities, and public transportation.
1. Roadway Network
Centre County, geographically positioned within the center of Pennsylvania, has key transportation routes that serve national and international trade, provide access to regional destinations, and link local trips.
The key roadway network within and adjacent to the study area contains different classifications of roadways that provide different functions. The following is a summary of the key area roadways.
I-80 traverses east and west across the United States from California to New Jersey, and I-99 is a north-south route that links the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-70/I-76) with I-80. I-80 and I-99 are classified as Interstate Highways. US 322 is an east-west freeway/expressway running from Cleveland to New Jersey. Regionally, it connects Harrisburg to State College and Clearfield. US 322 Business (also known as Atherton Street and Boal Avenue) connects to I-99. It is a major route through State College. US 322, US 322 Business, PA 26, and PA 144 are classified as principal arterial highways; and PA 45 is classified as a minor arterial (Figure 2-1). These routes, with the exception of PA 45, are identified as part of the National Highway System.
I-80 and I-99 are considered Primary Federal Freight Corridors, while PA-45 is considered a Critical Urban and Rural Freight Corridor. US 322 is also identified by CCMPO as a key trucking corridor that is a two-lane roadway and does not meet modern design standards desirable to accommodate the high truck volumes (CCMPO LRTP 2044, 2018 Update and LRTP 2050).
There are numerous major/minor collector and local roads that provide connections to these key roadways throughout the study area. Figure 2-1 illustrates the federal functional classifications for area roadways, which are defined in Table 2-1.
2. Active Transportation Network
Pennsylvania Bicycle Route G extends through the study area and is part of the statewide bicycle route system that serves as touring routes for travel, tourism, and recreation. It extends through Potter Township and Centre Hall (using Brush Valley Road, including PA 192), extending into Harris Township (using Brush Valley Road to Rock Hill Road and Linden Hall Road) and then into College Township (using Linden Hall Road to connect to Boalsburg Road and Warner Boulevard) and then out of the study area south by way of PA 45 (Figure 2-1). Cycling also occurs along other study area roadways which are not official bike routes.
Throughout the southern portions of the study area, there are trails that are used for recreational cycling and hiking (mountain trails). In the western portion of the study area, there are trails and paths within and adjacent to residential neighborhoods designed for less experienced cyclists. Pedestrian facilities are concentrated in the urban and village areas of the County.
3. Public Transportation Network
The Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA) is a joint municipal authority, comprised of State College Borough and College, Ferguson, Harris, and Patton Townships. CATA provides public transportation operations within the boundaries of the participating municipalities and extended service by contract to the areas of Bellefonte Borough, and Benner and Spring Townships.
CATA offers a variety of transportation services including:
- CATARIDE is a demand-response transportation network only for individuals age 65 and over or those eligible for paratransit under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) at reduced fares,
- CATACOMMUTE is a vanpool/rideshare transit,
- CATAGO is an on-demand bus service (similar to Uber),
- CATABUS provides traditional bus service on a fixed route.
- Currently, there are no CATABUS fixed routes that extend through the entire study area.
B. What Previous Transportation Projects/Studies Occurred in the Study Area?
Many transportation improvement studies and projects have occurred that influence travel within and immediately adjacent to the study area dating back to 1970s. However, in the 1990s, key regional and study area studies occurred which greatly influenced travel and development within the study area.
1. Interstate 80
- I-80 was completed in Pennsylvania in 1970.
- I-80 through Pennsylvania influenced traffic patterns, particularly an increase in interstate truck traffic. This increase in traffic affected travel conditions within the study area, specifically along PA 144 and US 322.
- Roadway safety and quality of life in Centre County communities traversed by these roadways were influenced by the I-80 completion.
2. Interstate 99
- US 220 study west of the State College area led to the development of a major improvement project for a new north-south interstate through Centre County that culminated with the construction of I-99 extending from Blair County to US 322 (the Mount Nittany Expressway).
- PA 26 corridor study resulted in the construction of I-99 from US 322 (the Mount Nittany Expressway) north towards I-80.
- I-80 Exit 161 (Bellefonte Interchange) is under development to replace the existing interchange with a new high-speed interchange and complete the I-99/I-80 connection. Construction of the interchange improvements will complete the goal for a major north-south interstate (I-99) through the center of the Commonwealth connecting two major east-west interstates, the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76) and I-80.
3. South Central Centre County Transportation Study (SCCCTS)
- SCCCTS was initiated in 1998 to evaluate and address transportation needs along the US 322, PA 144, and PA 45 corridors. The SCCCTS project needs identified specific transportation problems in each of the three corridors and on the local road system, as well as needs associated with regional travel patterns. The regional travel pattern need statement addressed the high percentage of through trips (in particular the high volume of truck traffic), high crash rates (including fatalities), poor Level of Service (LOS) including LOS associated with heavy truck traffic and increases in travel demand associated with local and regional planned development. However, SCCCTS was terminated in 2004 due to funding shortfalls.
4. Safety Improvements
- Following the termination of SCCCTS in 2004, short-term safety improvements along the US 322, PA 144, and PA 45 corridors were conducted between 2006 and 2015. These improvements included general intersection improvements (e.g., turn lanes), safety improvements (e.g., safety dot warning pavement markings, removal of passing zones), minor roadway realignments, and bridge reconstruction. These improvements were initiated to address some of the safety concerns identified during the SCCCTS study.
5. Potters Mills Gap (PMG) Transportation Project
- PennDOT and FHWA initiated the PMG Transportation Project to improve a 3.75-mile long section of US 322 in Potter Township within the area locally known as "Potters Mills Gap". This project area encompassed the southeastern portion of the SCCCTS study area. It was determined that this project had independent utility and addressed a defined purpose and need. The project included the construction of a new limited access four-lane roadway section that started at the Sand Mountain Road intersection and extended west, tying back into existing US 322 with a new interchange and roundabout, west of the PA 144/US 322 intersection.
6. SCCCTS Data Refresh
- In 2018, PennDOT collected data to update the traffic and environmental information from the former SCCCTS (2004), to identify changes to travel patterns, the transportation network, and environmental conditions. This information supported the 2019 decision by state officials to restart efforts to address regional transportation needs in the US 322, PA 144, and PA 45 area. Nearly, $15 million in state funding was allocated to advance the State College Area Connector Study.
C. What Planning has Occurred in the Study Area
1. Regional and State Planning
The CCMPO is responsible for coordinating Centre County's state and federally funded transportation projects. They work with PennDOT and local communities to prioritize the use of transportation funds for active transportation, highway, and transit projects. Funding allocations begin with developing the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), which includes a list of projects to be undertaken within a regulatory minimum planning horizon of 20 years. Of the projects listed in the LRTP, those that are expected to begin within the next 12 years are known as the Twelve-Year Program (TYP).
Funded projects expected to begin within the next four years are included in the Centre County Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) lists the transportation planning activities to be completed by the CCMPO between two specified years. In order to be included on the TIP, projects must also be in the CCMPO's adopted LRTP. LRTPs, TYPs, and TIPs are fiscally constrained, meaning the total estimated cost of all the projects listed must not exceed projected funding.
The State College Area Connector is identified in the:
Centre County Long Range Transportation Plan 2050
(September 2020)
The State College Area Connector was identified as one of the highest priority projects for the CCMPO and officials in Centre and surrounding counties.
Transportation Improvement Program
The State College Area Connector is included on the 2023-2026 Centre County Transportation Improvement Program and the 2023 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program.
The 2023-2026 TIP includes $15 million in discretionary funds for the State College Area Connector. Funding is provided for the Preliminary Engineering and Final Design phases.
2021 Pennsylvania 12-Year Program (August 2020)
The State College Area Connector is identified as MPMS No. 112784
Centre County Unified Planning Work Program (November 2021)
The State College Area Connector is identified as a Project Delivery - Key Project in the Fiscal Year 2022-2024 Centre County Unified Planning Work Program
2. Local Planning
a. Centre County and Local Planning Region Initiatives
Centre County includes seven separate planning regions, three of which extend within the study area: Centre Region, Penns Valley Region, and Nittany Valley Region. These three planning regions support the six municipalities within the study area: Spring, Potter, Harris, College, and Benner Townships, and Centre Hall Borough. The review of county and local planning documents and initiatives provides an understanding of the transportation concerns and initiatives along with land use visions and goals in the study area communities. In particular, a review of the following plans was conducted:
Centre County Comprehensive Plan Phase I (2003) and Phase II Implementation Strategies (2016 to 2020) identifies significant growth of residential, office and industrial development has occurred in the County – especially in the Centre Region area where Penn State University has served as a magnet for development. This growth is forecasted to continue. As a result, the need to identify transportation facilities that will accommodate this growth is a key part of the comprehensive planning process. Additionally, the plan identifies safety problem areas along US 322, PA 144, and PA 45 east of State College.
Centre Region Comprehensive Plan (November 2013) covers regional planning initiatives for State College Borough and College, Ferguson, Halfmoon, Harris, and Patton Townships. This plan recommends planning and implementing transportation improvements and investments for all modes to accommodate future land uses and suggests policy to evaluate crash data and traffic operations to identify intersections and roadways that need improvement. The Plan also recognizes the need to use the Capital Improvement Program and CCMPO LRTP and TIP to fund safety-related improvements that reduce the number of crashes, injuries, and fatalities; and use travel demand models and projections of freight movements to identify the need for increased capacity to improve future congestion.
Penns Valley Region Comprehensive Plan (adopted January 2006) covers regional planning initiatives in Centre Hall and Millheim Boroughs and Gregg, Haines, Miles, Penn, and Potter Townships. This plan includes references to the former SCCCTS study and advocates for an improved connection in the US 322 area for the Centre Region. It also recommends transportation improvements to upgrade arterial and collector roads to meet current design standards.
Nittany Valley Region Comprehensive Plan (adopted September 2004) and Plan Update 2020-2030 (adopted October/November 2019) covers regional planning initiatives for Bellefonte Borough and Benner, Marion, Spring, and Walker Townships. The plan recommends transportation improvements to upgrade arterial collector roads and the adoption of uniform road design criteria across the Region.
D. How does the SCAC PEL Study Fit within the Planning Context of the Study Area?
The State College Area Connector PEL Study included an evaluation of previous transportation studies and improvements along with current transportation problems in the PEL study area. It also included a review of county and regional planning documents and initiatives. Together these resources help provide an understanding of the transportation and land use visions and goals in the study area communities for consideration in the development of the PEL Study's purpose and need. This information is important to ensure that environmental and community values are incorporated into transportation decisions early in the planning process so that these considerations can be carried through project development and delivery and ensure that any resulting projects serve the community's transportation needs more effectively. Specifically, this included review of the Centre County Long Range Transportation Plan 2050 and the Regional Comprehensive Plans for Penns Valley, Centre Region, and Nittany Valley; in addition to multiple plans for zoning, bicycle travel, and the Boalsburg community. In summary, the plans document a need to:
- Promote the protection of historic rural communities, preserve the agricultural setting of Penns and Nittany Valleys and be compatible with local and regional land use plans.
- Address safety problems while preserving rural nature and/or villages in the study area communities.
- Address vehicular congestion from high volumes of truck traffic, commuters, and special-event traffic; traveler delays from frequent incidents, and traffic conflicts that result in crashes and safety issues.
- Consider public transit, park-and-ride lots, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and other non-motorized traffic (e.g., horse and buggy) to address commuter and internal travel needs in the study area.