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Interstate 83 Master Plan

Slide 1

Interstate 83 Master Plan

Corridor through the Capital

http://www.i-83beltway.com

Slide 2

Context and Setting

This slide shows a map of the Interstate 83 corridor in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Slide 3

Context and Setting

• I-83 constructed in the 1950/ 60’s
• I-83 runs from Baltimore, Maryland to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
• Lies in a relatively large urban area
• Access to and around the Capital Region

Slide 4

Context and Setting

• Roadway characteristics
  • 1960’s design standards
  • High percent truck
  • High ADT
  • Mix of through and local traffic

Slide 5

Context and Setting

• The Players:
  • Harrisburg Area Transportation Study (HATS)
  • Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)
  • Municipalities
  • Public
  • Consultants

Slide 6

Context and Setting

• Corridor/ Regional Characteristics
  • Rolling terrain
  • Urban setting (commercial/ residential)
  • Serves as part of the Capital Beltway
  • Lies in 2 counties

Slide 7

The Study

• Evaluate existing & future traffic congestion
• Evaluate safety characteristics
• Inventory environmental resources
• Develop preliminary design concepts
• Establish a planning tool for future activities

Slide 8

The Study

• Existing Deficiencies at 13 Interchanges
  • Accel/decel lane lengths — short weaves
  • Shoulders/medians — minimal or nonexistent
  • Interstate reduced to single lane @ major interchanges
  • Pavement & bridges — deteriorated
  • Ramps — radii

Slide 9

This slide shows a birds-eye view of one of the intersections along the corridor.

Slide 10

This slide shows another birds-eye view of one of the intersections along the corridor.

Slide 11

The Study

• Safety
  • High Crash Rates
  • Multiple Fatalities
• Congestion
  • Operational Deficiencies
  • Regional and Economic Growth

Slide 12

The Study

• Environmental Resources
  • Susquehanna River
  • Parks
  • Paxton and Spring Creeks
  • Floodplains
  • Residential properties
  • Commercial properties
  • Waste
  • Air Quality
  • Historic and Archaeological Resources
  • ’Active’ Cemeteries

Slide 13

This slide shows another birds-eye view of one of the intersections along the corridor.

Slide 14

The Study

• Characteristics Considered
  • Active Railroad
  • Maintenance & Protection of Traffic
  • Likely Construction Costs
  • System Continuity
  • Right-of-Way
  • ITS & Signing

Slide 15

The Study

• Transportation Needs
  • Safety
  • Congestion
  • Design deficiencies
  • Age

Slide 16

The Study

• Preliminary Concepts Developed
  • Anticipated an Environmental Impact Study (EIS)
  • Closer look at Corridor Needs
  • New focus on Fiscal Constraint
  • Identified Logical Termini & Independent Utility
  • Established 4 Sections
  • Evaluated Section Needs with known Environmental Resources

Slide 17

The Study

• Conclusions
  • Recommendations for Each Section
  • Flexible Vision of Corridor Improvements Structured Around Needs
  • Document = Framework

Slide 18

Life Happens

• Life Happens...
  • Economic Downturn
  • Structurally Deficient Bridges
  • PA realization that the cost of programmed projects far exceeded the available funding
• So...What to do?

Slide 19

The Present

• Status of Projects
  • Early Action Projects
    • Closure of Brandt Ave. Ramp — Safety Action (completed)
    • ARRA project (83/22 Interchange) — under contract 10/09
    • West Shore design (conceptual & not funded)
  • East Shore Section 1
    • Preliminary Design completed
    • CE Pending Approval
    • Funding — Not Fully Programmed
    • 5 construction sections developed some to proceed independently as ’early action items’

Slide 20

This slide shows a birds-eye visualization of improvements to the corridor.

Slide 21

This slide shows a birds-eye view of improvements to the corridor.

Slide 22

This slide shows another birds-eye view of one of the intersections along the corridor.

Slide 23

The Future

• Funding, Funding, Funding
• A vision for the future? OR
• Another shiny report on the shelf
• Ongoing Evolution

Slide 24

Thank You

• John Bachman — PennDOT
  • Senior Project Manager
• Mike Keiser, P.E. — PennDOT
  • District Highway Design Engineer
• Joe Hollinger — McCormick Taylor, Inc
  • And Staff
• John Bork — FHWA
  • PA Division Office
• Deborah Suciu Smith — FHWA
  • PA Division Office & Resource Center

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