WEEKLY TRANSPORTATION UPDATE 8/30/2010

Travel Advisories:

1. PennDOT: Nighttime Lane Closures Monday, Tuesday On I-476 Southbound
Two of three southbound lanes closed Monday night

2. PennDOT: Route 202 Construction to Result in Weeknight and Weekend Lane Closures in West Goshen Township, Chester County for Pavement Replacement

3 PennDOT: Southbound Route 1 Twin Bridge to be Reduce to Two Lanes Next Week

4. PennDOT: Township Line Road to be Closed and Detoured for Drainage Pipe Installation

5. PennDOT: Black Rock Road to Close September 7 for Road Reconstruction

6.PennDot: Eastbound South Gulph Road to be Close for Water Main Installation
The right lane on westbound I-76 will be closed at Gulph Mills on September 9


7. PennDOT: Nighttime Lane Closures Monday At Route 202 And Route 63 Intersection
Daytime single lane conditions on Route 202 also continue through


GVF in the News:

1. PennDOT: Nighttime Lane Closures Monday, Tuesday On I-476 Southbound
Two of three southbound lanes closed Monday night
KING OF PRUSSIA: The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced nighttime construction early next week will reduce Interstate 476 South to one lane Monday night and to two lanes Tuesday night between the Mid-County Interchange (Exit 20) and Interstate 76 Interchange (Exit 16), the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced today.

The contractor’s lane closure schedule is as follows:

• Monday, Aug. 30: Southbound “express lane” closed, 7 p.m. until 6 a.m. Tuesday Aug. 31;

• Monday, Aug. 30: One lane closed on the southbound two-lane section, 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 31; and

• Tuesday, Aug. 31: Southbound “express lane” closed, 7 p.m. until 6 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1.

Motorists are advised to expect delays and backups entering the work zone, especially on Monday night when two southbound lanes are closed.
All scheduled activities are weather dependent and may be postponed in the event of rain.
No construction related lane closures will be in place Wednesday night, Sept. 1, through Tuesday, Sept. 7 for the Labor Day weekend.
The work is part of PennDOT's $71.7 million project to reconstruct 3.5 miles of I-476 between Exit 20 and Exit 16. Reconstruction on the southbound side is scheduled to be completed late this year. The northbound side of I-476 between Exit 16 and Exit 20 will be reconstructed in 2011.
For more information on the I-476 improvement project, visit www.476blueroute.com.
PennDOT reminds motorists they can log on to 511pa.com or call 511 from any phone to check traffic conditions on major highways before heading out.
For more information, visit www.dot.state.pa.us/district6 or call 610.205.6700.
Media contact: Charles Metzger, PennDOT Community Relations Coordinator, 610.205.6801.


2. PennDOT: Route 202 Construction to Result in Weeknight and Weekend Lane Closures in West Goshen Township, Chester County for Pavement Replacement
KING OF PRUSSIA: A series of travel restrictions are scheduled this week (Aug. 29-Sept. 2) on Route 202 between Paoli Pike and High Street in West Goshen Township, Chester County, as crews continue to replace deteriorated concrete pavement on the four-lane highway, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said today.

Weather permitting, the contractor’s schedule for this week is:

• Sunday (August 29) – One lane will be closed on northbound and southbound Route 202 between Westtown Road and Paoli Pike in West Goshen Township, Chester County, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next morning for shoulder reconstruction;and

• Monday through Thursday (August 3-September 2) – One lane will be closed on northbound and southbound Route 202 between Westtown Road and Paoli Pike in West Goshen Township, Chester County, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next morning for shoulder reconstruction.

PennDOT advises motorists to allow more time for travel along Route 202 during construction because backups will occur. This work schedule is dependent on the weather.
The road construction on Route 202 is part of PennDOT’s $19,377,081 project to rehabilitate and improve 4.3 miles of Route 202 between the Route 100 Interchange and High Street in Chester County. The project is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Allan A. Myers, LP of Worcester, Montgomery County is the general contractor on the federally-funded project, which is scheduled to finish in Dec. 2011.
PennDOT reminds motorists they can log on to 511pa.com or call 511 from any phone to check traffic conditions on major highways before heading out.
For more information, visit www.dot.state.pa.us/district6 or call 610.205.6700.
Media contact: Charles Metzger, PennDOT Community Relations Coordinator, 610.205.6801.

3. PennDOT: Southbound Route 1 Twin Bridge to be Reduce to Two Lanes Next Week
KING OF PRUSSIA: The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced that the left lane will be closed on the Route 1 (Roosevelt Expressway) Bridge over the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia from 9 a.m. Monday (August 30) to 5 a.m. Thursday (September 2) for concrete installation.
Motorists are advised to allow extra time when traveling on the Route 1 bridges because traffic slowdowns will occur.
The work is part of PennDOT’s $10.7 million project to rehabilitate the deck, superstructure and substructure of the Route 1 Twin Bridges over the Schuylkill River. This project is financed with federal funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
Buckley and Company, Inc. of Philadelphia is the general contractor on the $10,760,387 project. Construction is expected to finish by February 2011.
PennDOT reminds motorists they can log on to 511pa.com or call 511 from any phone to check traffic conditions on major highways before heading out.
For more PennDOT information, visit www.dot.state.pa.us.
Media contact: Charles Metzger, PennDOT Community Relations Coordinator, 610.205.6801


4. PennDOT: Township Line Road to be Closed and Detoured for Drainage Pipe Installation
KING OF PRUSSIA: The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced that Township Line Road will be closed and detoured between Route 413 and Mill Creek Road in Buckingham and Wrightstown townships, Bucks County, on Tuesday through Thursday (August 31-September 2) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for drainage pipe installation.
During construction, Township Line Road through traffic will be detoured over Route 413, Route 232, Swamp Road, and Mill Creek Road. Local access will be maintained up to the construction zone. Motorists advised to allow extra time when traveling through the area.
The work will be perform by PennDOT Bucks County Maintenance crews.
PennDOT reminds motorists they can log on to 511pa.com or call 511 from any phone to check traffic conditions on major highways before heading out.
For more information, visit www.dot.state.pa.us/district6 or call 610.205.6700.
Media contact: Charles Metzger, PennDOT Community Relations Coordinator, 610.205.6801.


5. PennDOT: Black Rock Road to Close September 7 for Road Reconstruction
KING OF PRUSSIA: Toll Brothers will close Black Rock Road between Troutman Road and Longford Road in Upper Providence Township, Montgomery County, beginning September 7 for road reconstruction, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced.
During construction, Toll Brothers will detour Black Rock Road over Hallow Road, Egypt Road, and Longford Road. Local access will be maintained up to the construction zone. Motorists are advised to allow extra time when traveling through the area.
Toll Brothers will complete the work under a PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit.
PennDOT reminds motorists they can log on to 511pa.com or call 511 from any phone to check traffic conditions on major highways before heading out.
For more information, visit www.dot.state.pa.us/district6 or call 610.205.6700.
Media contact: Charles Metzger, PennDOT Community Relations Coordinator, 610.205.6801.


6. PennDot Eastbound South Gulph Road to be Close for Water Main Installation
The right lane on westbound I-76 will be closed at Gulph Mills on September 9
KING OF PRUSSIA: The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation today announced that eastbound South Gulph Road will be closed between Crooked Lane and Henderson Road in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, Monday through Thursday (August 30-September 2) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for water main installation.
Eastbound South Gulph Road through traffic will be detoured over Henderson Road, Shoemaker Road, and Crooked Lane. Local access will be maintained up to the construction zone. Motorists are advised to allow extra time when traveling through the area.
The right lane on westbound Interstate 76 will be closed at the Gulph Mills interchange from 10 p.m. September 9 to 5 a.m. September 10.
This work is part of PennDOT’s $10.5 million project to build new ramps to connect westbound Interstate 76 with the intersection of Henderson Road and South Gulph Road in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery. The project is financed with federal funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
Glasgow, Inc. of Glenside, Montgomery County, is the general contractor on the federally-funded project.
PennDOT reminds motorists they can log on to 511pa.com or call 511 from any phone to check traffic conditions on I-76 and other major highways before heading out.
For more PennDOT information, visit www.dot.state.pa.us.
Media contact: Charles Metzger, PennDOT Community Relations Coordinator, 610.205.6801.


7. PennDOT: Nighttime Lane Closures Monday At Route 202 And Route 63 Intersection
Daytime single lane conditions on Route 202 also continue through
KING OF PRUSSIA: The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced that motorists in the North Penn area will encounter lane closures Monday night for construction activities at the intersection of Route 202 (DeKalb Pike) and Route 63 (Welsh Road) in Upper and Lower Gwynedd townships, Montgomery County, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said today.
Flaggers will direct alternating single lanes of traffic on both Route 202 (DeKalb Pike) and Route 63 (Welsh Road) through the intersection between 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 30 and 6 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 31 for utility work.
In addition, northbound and southbound Route 202 (DeKalb Pike) again will be restricted to one lane of traffic between Sumneytown Pike and Route 63 (Welsh Road) Monday through Thursday, (August 30 – Sept. 2) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for roadway construction.
Flagger-controlled single lane conditions also may be in place Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Route 63(Welsh Road) between Stump Road and Route 202 (DeKalb Pike).
Significant delays are likely at all locations, and motorists are advised to add extra time for travel through the work zone, or to avoid the area if possible during construction.
This work is part of the $17.7 million project to widen and improve two miles of Route 202 (DeKalb Pike) from Swedesford Road to Route 309, and to connect Route 202 (DeKalb Pike) with the new Route 202 Parkway, which also is under construction.
All planned operations are weather permitting.
For more information, please visit www.us202-700.com.
PennDOT reminds motorists they can log on to 511pa.com or call 511 from any phone to check traffic conditions on major highways before heading out.
For more information, visit www.dot.state.pa.us/district6 or call 610.205.6700.
Media contact: Charles Metzger, PennDOT Community Relations Coordinator, 610.205.6801.

GVF in the News:

8. Follow GVF on:
Facebook 

Twitter 
Flickr

and

YouTube

9. MCCC to Pilot Transportation Shuttle Between Campuses Managed by GVF for Fall 2010
Aug. 25, 2010, Blue Bell/Pottstown, Pa.—Montgomery County Community College will pilot a transportation shuttle program between its Central and West campuses during the fall 2010 semester, which begins on Sept. 1. The shuttle will enable students to travel back and forth between campuses for classes and activities READ FULL ARTICLE

Local Interests:

10. Philly.com:SEPTA smart-card proposal panned by passenger advocates
SEPTA's new "smart card" fare system could mean that rail passengers would get a free ride into Philadelphia and pay a double fare on the way home. READ FULL ARTICLE
 


11. Philly.com: Pennsylvania legislators to consider hike in transit funding
HARRISBURG - The Rendell administration on Monday will make a last-ditch attempt to persuade legislators to address the state's multibillion-dollar transportation-funding shortfall before the legislative session ends this year. READ FULL ARTICLE

12. Pottstown Mercury: Pottstown's future addressed in 422 plan
POTTSTOWN — Officials from the borough and the seven surrounding municipalities were recently presented with a plan that, among other things, calls for the revitalization of older communities like Pottstown and the preservation of open space surrounding the borough. READ FULL ARTICLE

13. Philly.com: Editorial: Highways need transfusion
Commuters and businesses can't afford for legislators to ignore Gov. Rendell's call to raise at least $1 billion more for roads, bridges, and mass transit. The state's transportation network is badly underfunded. READ FULL ARTICLE


General Interests:

14. SJ-R.com: LaHood: Agreements near on high-speed rail funding
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Friday he believes federal officials are close to reaching agreements with freight railroads so that billions of dollars in stimulus money can be spent on faster passenger rail service. READ FULL ARTICLE


15. Statepress.com:TWD: an ignored technological ‘epidemic’
As U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood said, cell phone use while driving is an “epidemic.” Nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 due to distracted driving according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. READ FULL ARTICLE
 

16. Passenger Transport: Five More Ways to Share APTA’s National Public Transit Petition
Increased federal investment in public transportation is greatly needed, and the American Public Transportation Association has created a National Public Transit Petition to present at a special event in Washington, DC, on Sept. 22. READ FULL ARTICLE