Public comments on I-81 sought for multi-county improvement strategy
A new public survey will help shape the future of Interstate 81 through southcentral Pennsylvania.
The I-81 Improvement Strategy will serve as a playbook for setting priorities and funding future projects and will address needs along the I-81 corridor identified through technical analysis, partnerships and collaboration, according to a news release. Residents are asked to share their opinions on safety, congestion, conditions and access via a survey at I81SouthCentralPA.com.
Metropolitan Planning Organizations in the five counties through which I-81 weaves from the Maryland line - Franklin, Cumberland, Perry, Dauphin and Lebanon - are leading the planning process. The tri-county commission that includes Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry counties is spearheading the effort in coordination with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration.
“The I-81 Improvement Strategy is a no-borders evaluation of 100 miles of I-81 from the Maryland state line through Lebanon County that will identify the needs on the interstate and on connecting roads and infrastructure affected by I-81,” said Steve Deck, Tri-County Regional Planning Commission Executive Director, in the release.
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Phase one includes the development of a list of priorities, grouped by project, to be presented to stakeholders and the public. It is to be completed by next summer.
To be completed by next fall, phase two will cover development of conceptual improvements and initiatives to be considered for funding.
To support the analysis, a diverse range of stakeholders is invited to provide feedback, including residents, municipal officials, business owners, emergency service providers, transportation and trucking organizations, tourism groups and chambers.
“Partnering in this process to identify the safety, congestion, condition and access needs on I-81 is a tremendous opportunity for our region,” said Jon Fitzkee, Assistant Director of the Lebanon County Planning Department, in the news release. “We are the second-fastest growing county in the state and access to I-81 is key to our continued growth.”
With various projects on the horizon in Franklin County, planners and officials await the plan's results.
“We have newly developing freight-generating sites here in Franklin County and across the state line in Maryland that will add even more traffic and commerce to I-81,” said Steve Thomas, Franklin County’s Planning Director, in the news release. “The time is right to start building this playbook now.”
The Improvement Strategy will also tackle other concerns specific to Franklin County, including planning for a new Exit 12, and addressing traffic that the intermodal facilities recently constructed by railroad giants CSX and Norfolk Southern are introducing to the corridor.
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Railroad-related traffic also needs to be addressed within the greater Harrisburg region, along with the truck traffic that is being generated by major new warehouse and distribution centers that have been constructed throughout the Cumberland Valley.
“We know we don’t have to wait until 2040 or 2050 for problems on I-81 to emerge,” said Deck. “We are identifying the improvements we need to address today in order to maintain the roadway so it can continue to be a viable asset for mobility and sustaining our region’s economy.”
Public engagement is at the core of the planning process. The I-81 Team will offer opportunities for the public to weigh in every step of the way. Go to the website to learn more about the project, provide feedback through the online survey and join the email list.