Although citizens may never conduct a traffic study, draft an engineering plan or pour concrete for a roadway structure, they can help PennDOT develop major improvements for state transportation facilities. Today, there is more to developing major transportation improvements than simply identifying problems. Because PennDOT and its Project Team must carefully evaluate the environmental and community impacts of proposed transportation projects. People across the country are becoming more concerned about the quality of our resources and communities.
Residents often express concern about a project's impacts on their communities and the environment.
PennDOT's goal is to improve the quality of life for Pennsylvania's citizens by minimizing community and environmental impacts, while studying proposed expansion projects that will serve local transportation needs. Before the first spade of earth is ever turned for a project, PennDOT will use a 10-Step Transportation Development Process to develop the project through its early engineering phases. These acts require that a range of transportation improvements are considered. Information is gathered and an analysis of the need for the project is completed and reviewed with resource agencies and the public. Step 4 considers a full range of alternatives and establishes the Preliminary Alternatives that will be evaluated in greater detail in Step 5.