Skip to agency navigation
Skip to main content

Official Website

of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    The .gov means its official.

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Success on I-99 Litter Pick-up Fueled by Partnership between PennDOT, Department of Corrections, and Pennsylvania State Police

    May 15, 2023

    PennDOT Centre County Maintenance has enjoyed a partnering relationship with SCI Rockview regarding litter clean-up along major roadways in the county. Crews for this activity are comprised of Rockview inmates enrolled in its Community Work Program (CWP).  


    The Covid pandemic seriously sidelined the CWP—bringing it to a halt in 2020. With health-related restrictions lifting, SCI Rockview staff knew they wanted to get the program back into the community and worked hard to mobilize and restart the CWP in May of 2022. Centre County Maintenance got in touch with them last year to work on re-igniting the program with PennDOT in 2023.  

    With State Routes 26/I-99 and 150 traversing through SCI Rockview property, the CWP always addressed litter clean-up along those routes. But starting the week of March 27, PennDOT was able to add sections of I-99 outside of Rockview property, with CWP crews cleaning a 1 ½ mile stretch of I-99 in the State College area.  

    I-99 typically sees commuter traffic, passenger vehicle traffic, and significant commercial truck traffic. On the first day, crews collected 99 bags of garbage. Day 2 brought in more than 1,000 pounds of trash.  

    As spring progressed and Earth Day approached, work was scheduled for daylight hours April 17-21, along the I-99 corridor. Crew locations varied so District 2 issued a press release reminding motorists to drive with caution as they approach and pass litter crews working near the road.  

    To enhance safety for the litter crews, PennDOT provided a crash truck, as well as advance notice on permanent message boards and portable message boards. Additionally, Pennsylvania State Police had an increased presence along these roadways to alert motorists to the activity and the need to slow their speeds.  

    Beyond litter pick-up, the CWP works with a variety of municipalities and organizations in Centre and other adjacent counties, covering everything from non-profit groups to volunteer organizations to other state agencies.  

    Wade Renninger, Corrections Forest and Nursery Manager at Rockview noted that an effort like the CWP doesn’t just “fall together”.  To qualify as a CWP member, inmates at Rockview are vetted through a set of requirements including their conduct and offense record. As Wade shared, “These crew members are representing SCI Rockview out in the community. We’re very proud of the program and the success we’ve seen. And we believe the CWP spotlights what we can do when state agencies and community groups work together to do positive things.” 

     For crew members, taking part in the CWP is a chance to be productive, work outside, give back to the community, and accomplish something. “Inmates in the program will return to their homes and families”, said Renninger. “Being a part of the CWP gives them a sense of purpose and responsibility and helps them better understand the expectations that employers will have on the job.” 

    The spring litter pick-up proved to be the latest part of the CWP success story. During the week of April 17, CWP litter crews worked a stretch of I-99 from Shiloh Road near the Nittany Mall to the Tofttrees area. This is about a 4-mile stretch of I-99. During the week of pick-up, there were no accidents and no close calls. Traffic control, provided by PennDOT and PSP, worked well. The litter pick-up effort netted approximately 4,000 pounds of trash.     


    ABOUT THIS BLOG

    Did you know PennDOT is directly responsible for nearly 40,000 miles of highway and roughly 25,000 bridges? We oversee programs and policies affecting highways, urban and rural public transportation, airports, railroads, ports and waterways, in addition to administering the state's more than 11 million vehicle registrations and 8.8 million driver's licenses.

    So, how do we do what we do? And how can we help you travel in Pennsylvania — whether it be for business or leisure — in safe and enjoyable manner? Read PennDOT Way to learn more about the department, what we do, and how and why we do it.​

    TAGS

    50-Year Anniversary, 511PA, Aggressive Driving, Airports, Autonomous Vehicles, Bicycles, Bridges, Child Safety, Community Relations, Construction, COVID-19, Distracted Driving, District 1, District 10, District 11, District 12, District 2, District 3, District 4, District 5, District 6, District 8, District 9, DOTcom, Driver and Vehicle Services, Emergency Responders, Employment, Equity, FAQ Friday, Human Trafficking, Impaired Driving, Innovations, Live Free Ride Alive, Maintenance Monday, Motorcycles, Older Drivers, PA Motorcycle Safety Program, Pedestrians, PennDOT Connects, Ports, Public Transit, Railroads, REAL ID, Road MaP, Roadside Beautification, Rural Roads, Safety, School Buses, Seat Belts, State Transportation Innovation Council (STIC), Sustainability, Teen Drivers, Throwback Thursday, Transportation Funding, Travel in PA, Welcome Centers, Winter, Work Smart, Work Zone, Yellow Dot

     

    LATEST POSTS

    PennDOT Continues Sharing, Updating Resources for Local Governments to Pursue Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding Opportunities
    Norwin High School Wins 2024 ‘Innovations Challenge’
    Demo Complete: I-95 CAP Project in Center City Philadelphia
    PennDOT Archeologist Connects Past, Present, and Future
    Lehigh Valley DUI, Highway Safety Task Force Hosts Law Enforcement Seminar

     

    ARCHIVES

    2024

    2023

    2022

    2021

    2020

    2019

    2018

    2017