Greater Philadelphia Bicycle News

PENNDOT ANNOUNCES PLANS TO DEVELOP LONG-RANGE PENNSYLVANIA MOBILITY PLAN

Press Release: 12/7/2004-HARRISBURG

On behalf of Governor Edward G. Rendell, state Transportation Secretary AllenD. Biehler, P.E., today announced plans to develop a long-range"Pennsylvania Mobility Plan," a blueprint outlining goals, objectives and strategies to guide the future of the state's transportation system. It will also prioritize needed transportation investments.

"The creation of a Pennsylvania Mobility Plan is our opportunity to shape the future of transportation throughout the Commonwealth and make realistic investments where they are needed the most," Secretary Biehler said. "This plan also will reflect our number one priority system, preservation.

"The Pennsylvania Mobility Plan is based on Governor Rendell's aspiration to consider transportation's role in economic development, community, environmental and quality of life issues. The plan will place an increased focus on alternatives and connections among transportation modes, such asair,highway and rail, and will examine ways to make the best use of limited funds.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) will incorporate extensive public outreach as the foundation of the program through the use of focus group discussions, interviews, surveys and other opinion-polling techniques.

Development of the Pennsylvania Mobility Plan was launched in the summer of2004 and is slated for completion during the summer of 2006.To date, PennDOT has involved 75 stakeholders, ranging from private corporations that use Pennsylvania's transportation system, to regional planning agencies and economic development organizations.

More information about the plan is available at www.pamobilityplan.com. Byvisiting the site, users can get current project information and also participate in an online survey, allowing them to comment on topics such asthefuture of Pennsylvania's transportation system and thoughts they have on the current system. To take the online survey, click "Your Ideas.

It is vital that the public and our partners play a major role in thedevelopment of this mobility plan for the simple reason that we all have astake in Pennsylvania's future," Biehler said. "The transportation choiceswemake today will have significant impacts upon our economy, environment andquality of life tomorrow.

"PennDOT has hired Gannett Fleming Inc., an international planning, design and construction management firm based in Camp Hill, as the lead consultant forthis project. Parsons Brinckerhoff, Philadelphia, also has consulted.