PennDOT is hosting two public meetings next week to discuss its State College Area Connector projectthat aims to rework a portion of U.S. Route 322 east of town. PennDOT plans to wrap up the first phase of the project this spring but wants more public feedback before proceeding to the project’s next step.
PennDOT Portfolio Manager Eric Murnyack said since the last public meeting in September, maps have been updated and improved.
“There were a lot of questions at the last meeting about traffic and where traffic’s actually coming from and going to. So, we broke it down into a bunch of different maps to make it easier to understand how it is,” Murnyack said.
PennDOT is considering nine different options for a final solution. To make a decision, it will analyze impacts to the environment, agriculture, housing, historical resources and more. Murnyack said public feedback will also be considered, but so far opinion varies depending on where people live.
“Nobody wants it in their backyard, but everybody wants a new road. Part of the problem is figuring out what’s the best corridor to put this road on,” Murnyack said.
Murnyack said the choices will be narrowed down during the next phase of the project. The nine options for the Route 322 connector will be discussed at two public meetings next week. The first is next Tuesday at Calvary Church in Boalsburg. The second is next Wednesday at the Centre Hall Fire Station. Both meetings will run from 3-8 p.m.