Latest news with #Route219
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Boynton bridge damage illustrates need for completed U.S. Route 219, lawmakers say
BOYNTON, Pa. – When raging floodwaters destroyed the Boynton Bridge late Tuesday, nature brought the critical U.S. Route 219 freight corridor to a halt, state lawmakers said Friday. The last six rural miles of two-lane Route 219 between Somerset and Maryland contain a series of vulnerable old bridges. And the Boynton Bridge's closure showed how damage to just one of the spans can disrupt the entire road network, redirecting the economic impact, said state Rep. Carl Metzgar, R-Somerset. State Sen. Patrick Stefano, R-Fayette, also stressed the importance of Route 219 – and of keeping commerce flowing through the region. Metzgar likened rural bridges like Boynton's to "bottlenecks" between two modern limited-access highways, Route 219 and Interstate 68. "This just highlights why we need (a four-lane) Route 219 completed," Metzgar said of a project that is proceeding toward the final design phase. "It's a perfect example of why we need that road done." PennDOT officials announced an action plan Friday to limit disruptions and detours through the corridor. Part of the $7 million plan will install a temporary truss bridge in Boynton while efforts get underway to build a new span by late 2026. Regarding the larger Route 219 completion project, state highway officials said in April that they still hope to receive their federal environmental impact clearance this summer to move the project forward. PennDOT, in lockstep with Somerset County officials, has a preferred six-mile route they hope to get clearance on, which will enable final design and right-of-way acquisition to get underway for the final segment of four-lane U.S. Route 219 to Maryland. $220 million is already secured for all of that that work, PennDOT officials reaffirmed in April – but the Somerset County commissioners are lobbying Washington, D.C., lawmakers for the final estimated $180 million that would enable construction, which is slated to begin in 2028, to wrap up the road expansion by 2031. "We're on track right now for 2031," Stefano said, adding that the project continues moving forward. The Boynton Bridge, he added, is just one more reason "why we have to make sure it stays on track."
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
PennDOT highlights upcoming construction for Clearfield-Based Region
CENTRE COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — Officials from PennDOT District Two highlighted over 50 projects set to begin during the 2025 construction season and 28 projects that will continue in the nine-county region. PennDOT anticipates investing more than $107 million in the region spanning Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Juniata, McKean, Mifflin, and Potter counties. This investment includes rehabilitating, reconstructing, and resurfacing 128 miles of highways and working on 24 bridges 'This year for the 2025 construction season, we're going to do about $107 million worth of projects,' District 2 Executive Thomas Prestash said. 'Geographically, our nine-county district is the same size as the state of New Jersey, but with only a fraction of the population. Providing those constituents with a safe and efficient transportation system is our mission, and we thank the Shapiro Administration for its continued support of that mission.' Notable projects that are expected to begin or continue this year by county include: Cameron County Route 120 highway restoration project improving 12.8 miles, $700,000. Centre County Route 26 (Jacksonville Road) highway restoration project near the Bellefonte Interchange in Marion Township, $8.6 million. Route 45 bicycle pedestrian improvement project in Ferguson Township, $810,000. Interstate 80 construction project to build a high-speed interchange between Interstates 80 and 99 near the Bellefonte Interchange in Marion Township, $259.3 million. Interstate 80 bridge replacements over Route 1010 and Township Road 476 in Marion Township, $22.9 million. Clearfield County Interstate 80 highway and bridge preservation project between mile markers 97 and 120 impacting 24 miles of roadway and six bridges in Lawrence, Pine, Sandy, and Union townships, $47.7 million. Clinton County Route 220 bridge rehabilitation project to preserve the structures spanning McElhattan Creek in Wayne Township, $2.2 million. Route 477 bridge replacement project impacting a structure spanning Long Run in Lamar Township, $1.5 million. Elk County Route 219 highway restoration project impacting 5.5 miles between Johnsonburg and Wilcox, $2.8 million. Route 1005 (Theresia Street) bridge replacement project impacting a structure spanning a tributary of Elk Creek in the City of St. Marys, $1.4 million. Juniata County Route 22/322 highway restoration project impacting seven miles in the Lewistown narrows, $6 million. Route 22 bridge rehabilitation project impacting the bridges spanning Township Road 466 in Delaware Township, $4.4 million. McKean County Route 346 bridge replacement project impacting a structure spanning Gates Hollow Run in Bradford Township, $1.4 million. Mifflin County Route 522 bridge replacement project impacting a structure spanning Jacks Creek in Decatur Township, $2.8 million. Potter County Route 4025 (Brizee Hollow Road) bridge replacement project impacting a structure spanning Brizzee Hollow Run in Oswayo Township, $1.2 million. 'We still have a lot to do, you don't have to drive too far to realize that. We have to make some more improvements on the roads. Yes, we still have some bridges that are in poor condition that need some work as well. So again, while we've done a lot, continue to do a lot, we need to continue to keep our foot on the gas pedal moving forward,' Executive Deputy Secretary for PennDOT Larry Shifflet said. PennDOT encourages motorists to 'Know Before They Go' by checking conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles by visiting downloading the 511 Android or iPhone app, or by calling 5-1-1. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Yahoo
UTA to implement ‘significant' service changes. Here's what to know
'Significant' transit service updates are coming to the Wasatch Front. Utah Transit Authority plans to add five new bus routes across Davis, Salt Lake, and Utah counties beginning as early as Sunday. The agency will also make a few large route adjustments to existing routes and expand more on-demand microtransit services. The agency is expected to add 1.1 million service miles and hundreds of new bus stops to its growing service area. Some changes have already been implemented ahead of schedule. The new South Jordan Downtown TRAX station opened last month ahead of the Salt Lake Bees' first game in Daybreak. A pair of new routes in Salt Lake County highlight changes coming to UTA's bus system. Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs, in 2022, voiced his frustration about the lack of transit service in the growing region, arguing that an already worsening traffic situation in the region could become "exacerbated" without alternatives. It ignited years of discussion and planning that landed in the new service. The new route — running every 60 minutes on weekdays — marks the beginning. The bus will connect UTA's Daybreak Parkway TRAX station at the end of the Red Line with Draper Town Center TRAX station at the end of the Blue Line via Bluffdale, Herriman and Riverton, as well as the Draper FrontRunner station along the way. Herriman Mayor Lorin Palmer told KSL-TV last week it serves as an important "part of the infrastructure" of the growing city because "we can only build so many roads." Meanwhile, Route 219 will also debut on Monday. The route, which will also run every 60 minutes, will connect UTA's Sandy Civic Center TRAX station along the Blue Line with Bluffdale, with stops in South Jordan and Riverton along the way. Other new bus routes set to launch include: Route 417: The service will connect Salt Lake City's west side with the Woods Cross FrontRunner station via stops along Redwood Road in northern Salt Lake and southern Davis counties. It will run every 30 minutes on weekdays beginning on Monday. Route 628: This route will replace the existing Midtown Trolley, adding more regular service and paratransit service to the route linking the Layton and Clearfield FrontRunner stations in Davis County. It will run every 30 minutes on weekdays and every hour on Saturdays. Route 823: The new service will run every hour between Provo Center Station and Spanish Fork via Springville on weekdays and on Saturdays. New routing is planned for a handful of other routes, including the ends of long-term detours for some routes and increasing frequency at others. Minor schedule tweaks are planned for dozens of other routes. More details can be found on UTA's website. Meanwhile, UTA on Demand — a microtransit system UTA made permanent in southern Salt Lake County nearly four years ago — is now coming to Utah County. Microtransit is essentially a blend between traditional bus and rideshare services. People can use an app to hail a ride from one portion of a service area to another, while the technology pairs other riders headed in a similar direction. UTA's new West Provo/Orem service area, debuting on Monday, covers 8.6 square miles, connecting Provo's and Orem's FrontRunner stations with key destinations like the Provo Airport. Service will be available within the zone from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day from Monday through Saturday. The agency also offers pockets of service within the west side of Salt Lake City, southern Davis County and eastern Tooele County. It recorded over 2,100 average weekday boardings at its peak last year, making it the busiest year of service it was officially added to the system in 2021. The new service figures to help Utah's largest transit agency as it seeks to bring transportation alternatives to the growing Wasatch Front. It logged over 40 million rides last year for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, and ridership data from the first quarter of 2025 show that this year could inch the agency closer to pre-pandemic ridership levels. Carlton Christensen, chairman of UTA's board of trustees, told reporters earlier this week that the agency is still exploring further service expansions like a fourth TRAX line, more bus rapid transit systems and upgrades to FrontRunner, following a visit from U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. All of those could increase future ridership. 'It's key to have an effective FrontRunner, TRAX (and) bus system in addition to our hard surface road area. It all comes together to accommodate the massive growth we have coming at us,' added Sen. John Curtis.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Somerset County hires former congressman Bill Shuster to lobby for U.S. Route 219 completion
SOMERSET, Pa. (WTAJ) — Somerset County is bringing in a high-profile lobbyist to push for the long-awaited completion of U.S. Route 219. According to our media partners The Tribune-Democrat, county commissioners voted unanimously to hire former U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, who has strong connections in Washington, to advocate for the project as federal spending faces new scrutiny. Shuster, who once chaired the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, now works for the lobbying firm Squire Patton Boggs. He will be paid $12,500 per month through the end of the year to push for the road's construction, which is slated to begin in 2029. 'He has those relationships (at the federal level) with the Department of Transportation. He has worked with President Trump,' Commissioner Pamela Tokar-Ickes said. Commissioners say securing funding and keeping the project on track is a top priority, given Route 219's economic impact on the region. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Maple producers looking ahead to spring with annual tree-tapping ceremony
Even though Somerset County is in the heart of winter, maple producers are already celebrating the oncoming spring. The annual Somerset County Maple Producers' Association tree-tapping ceremony is at 2 p.m. Feb. 22 at Baer Bros. Maple Camp, 245 Appy Acres Road, Somerset. The camp is owned by Mike and Sherry Lynch. The ceremony will feature Queen Maple LXXVII Gracie Paulman of Meyersdale and this year's contestants for the maple queen title. Maple King Jason Blocher will officially tap a maple tree. Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell C. Redding will be this year's special guest and speaker. The event will be held in conjunction with the Pennsylvania State Maple Tree Tapping Ceremony, an event started last year. Association President Everett Sechler of Sechler Sugar Shack, Confluence, said there also will be some state maple officials attending. More: PennDOT reviewing plans, responses for proposed Route 219 to Maryland completion project The maple sugar water harvest season happens when the days are warm but the nights are still freezing cold. The maple season could last for eight to 10 weeks, but the sap may run only 10 to 20 days. The season ends when the nights become warmer and the first stages of bud development are on the trees. Each tap yields an average of 10 gallons of sap per season, which boils down to about one quart of syrup. The association's tree-tapping event was originally deemed as the kick-off to the maple season for area producers. But in the past few years, the maple production has started earlier than usual. Some producers start tapping and boiling sugar water by the end of December. The majority of Somerset County's producers start their seasons by the end of January. More: Old-Growth Forest Network inducts Klondike Ridge area of Youghiogheny River Lake "There is truth in what is said (about the season starting earlier)," Sechler said. "But it's been a tradition to celebrate the maple season the last Saturday in February." The producers have sponsored the ceremony for more than 50 years, he said. There are about 75 members of the Somerset County Maple Producers' Association. "In those 50 years of celebrating the maple season, I can think of only two times we had to cancel that I know of," Sechler said. Visitors to the tree-tapping ceremony will be treated to free maple candies, and baked goods will be available. The Somerset County Maple Taste & Tour is set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 1, 2 and 8 and 9, at participating sugar camps. The 78th annual Pennsylvania Maple Festival is set for April 5, 6 and 9-13, in Meyersdale. Madolin Edwards has been a journalist at the Daily American for 38 years, covering school boards, borough councils, sports and new stories. Contact the Daily American staff writers at news@ This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Baer Bros Sugar Camp hosting 2025 tree-tapping ceremony
