​​PennDOT Connects

​

Upcoming Drop-Ins:

​TBD

Past Drop-Ins:

Planning for Trucks 

Is your community worried about increasing truck traffic on local roads? This session will explore opportunities to improve land use planning for development to mitigate the impact of trucks on your roads, as well as discuss ongoing truck traffic issues and potential solutions. Learn how to coordinate and work with your planning partners and neighboring communities to tackle tough truck issues.

Instructors: 

• Patrick Wright, pwright@pennoni.com
• Brian Hite, bhite@lvpc.org
  

View a Recording of the Planning for Trucks in Your Community Drop-In

Broadband Ready Community Program 

Is your community ready for broadband? Attend this drop-in and learn about the free resources available through the Broadband Ready Community Program (BBRC) for Pennsylvania municipalities. The BBRC program will provide participating communities with technical assistance and a “Broadband Ready Community" designation that will allow municipalities to showcase their willingness to work with public and private internet service providers.

Instructor: Theodore J. Ritsick, thritsick@pa.gov

View a Recording of the Broadband Ready Community Program Drop-In​

PA Infrastructure Bank: Enhancing Infrastructure Development

​View a Recording of the PIB Drop-In. ​

Utility Coordination 

Revitalizing Spaces: Exploring Adaptive Reuse

January 11, 2024
From Noon to 1 p.m.

This session will discuss the transformative world of adaptive reuse in building and land development, providing an overview of the opportunities and challenges associated with repurposing existing structures and spaces. The instructors will explore the economic, environmental, and community benefits of adaptive reuse, emphasizing sustainability and the preservation of cultural heritage. Additionally, the drop-in will examine how thoughtful transportation planning can enhance the overall impact and viability of repurposed spaces, including discussion on transportation considerations that address the pivotal role of connectivity and accessibility.

Instructors:

• Jerry Jameson, Project Manager, Cedarville Engineering Group, jjameson@cedarvilleeng.com
• Robert Loughery, President, Nehemiah Development Company, Former Bucks County Commissioner rgloughery@nehemiahdevco.com

 View a Recording of Revitalizing Spaces: Exploring Adaptive Reuse

Highway Occupancy Permit Basics for Municipalities

November 09, 2023
from Noon to 1 p.m.

Do you know what "HOP" is?  Do you know when one is required from PennDOT?  Do you get questions at your municipality about them?  If so, join PennDOT Connects for a drop-in session that will cover Highway Occupancy Basics and common questions municipalities may have regarding them. The discussion will cover when HOPs are required, the process of obtaining them for the different scenarios that may arise and provide guidance that can be passed along to property owners and/or others working within your municipality.       

View a Recording of Highway Occupancy Permit Basics for Municipalities​​

Pursuing Transportation Grant Funding 

In 2021, the Lehigh Valley was awarded a $21.2 million RAISE grant - one of the few successful grant applications outside of major metros in Pennsylvania. Hear from the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission staff on how they navigated the Federal Grant Application and the funding process. They will share their experience applying to the USDOT, advocating for their project, and working through project delivery challenges that came after their application was awarded. 

Instructor: Tracy Oscavich, Lehigh Valley Planning Commission 

View a Recording of Pursuing Transportation Grant Funding 
 

PennDOT Connects School Transportation Management

September 14, 2023
Noon to 1 p.m.

Do you have safety issues around your schools? Are there conflicts between pedestrians, buses, bikes, and vehicles? This PennDOT Connects drop-in will discuss some of the issues around school pick-up and drop-off times, as well as some of the approaches to school transportation management and safety. The drop-in will discuss application of traffic control devices, transportation management techniques, assessment of school crosswalks, and school speed zones. Also, you can be a part of the discussion with questions about your situation and share your experiences with others. 

View a Recording of School Transportation Management

PennDOT Connects Developer Negotiations

August 10, 2023
Noon to 1 p.m.

Many municipalities find that negotiating with developers over the cost of off-site improvement—whose need is generated, at least in part, by their proposed development—can be a very effective means of implementing improvements to the transportation system and other infrastructure. These negotiations are acceptable if conducted in accordance with the MPC and current case law. This PennDOT Connects webinar will discuss developer negotiations from different perspectives, and provide a forum for you to ask your questions.

Instructor: Patrick Wright, Pennoni Associates Inc.

View a recording of Developer Negotiations. 

PennDOT Connects Safe Routes to School Q&A Drop-In

June 15, 2023
Noon to 1 p.m.

The current round for Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TASA) applications is underway, with draft applications due July 17th, 2023.  This round we would like to encourage new and existing qualified candidates to submit applications for Safe Routes to School (SRTS) projects.  We will offer a brief overview of the TASA program and SRTS eligibilities, then demonstrate the SRTS related resources available to municipalities and applicants. The bulk of the time will be for an open Q&A discussion with attendees to address any concerns they may have over developing a SRTS project or applying for funding.

View a recording of SRTS Q&A

Historic Metal Truss Bridge Capital Rehabilitation Program

May 11, 2023
Noon to 1 p.m.

Metal truss bridges are symbols of Pennsylvania's industrial heritage, and according to many experts, the Commonwealth has one of the earliest, most diverse, and most significant population of metal truss bridges in the United States. However, these irreplaceable resources are quickly fading from our landscape. Metal truss bridges were not designed to carry modern traffic loads and they do not conform to modern safety standards, which often leads to them being replaced in favor of new bridges. Pennsylvania has lost nearly 50% of their metal truss bridges within the last twenty years alone. To address the accelerating loss of metal truss bridges, and to preserve Pennsylvania's transportation heritage for the future, PennDOT developed the Truss Management Plan. This laid the foundation for the Historic Metal Truss Bridge Capital Rehabilitation Program. 

This Program, created as part of the 2021 Twelve Year Plan (TYP) update, includes $18 million spread over a ten-year period to promote the rehabilitation of historic metal truss bridges. The Program is primarily focused on county and municipally owned bridges where owners desire to work collaboratively with PennDOT, MPOs/RPSs, and other interested groups to rehabilitate their historic resource for continuous vehicular use. To learn more about the Historic Metal Truss Bridge Capital Rehabilitation Program join us for the upcoming Drop-In. The session will provide a short background about the development of the Truss

Instructor: Kara Russell, Cultural Resources Section Manager

View a recording of the Historic Metal Truss Bridge Capital Rehabilitation Program

Resources: 

• PennDOT Connects Capital Rehab Program (PDF)
• Historic Truss Bridge Capital Rehab Program FAQ (PDF)
• Historic Truss Bridge Capital Rehab Program Overview (PDF)

Transportation Impact Study Process

April 13, 2023
Noon to 1 p.m.

Attend this virtual drop-in session with other communities from around Pennsylvania to learn more about the Transportation Impact Study (TIS) Process. A PennDOT representative will provide an overview of the PennDOT TIS process for developments that involve state highways. Then a traffic consultant will provide an overview of the process for developments that impact your local roads. After these initial presentations, the session will open for questions from the audience. Learn more about the TIS process, when your community should be involved, what are the key steps in the process, what to look out for in the TIS, and what rights/responsibilities you have per our state laws/regulations.

View a recording of the Transportation Impact Study Process

Electric Vehicles Incentives for Municipalities

 February 9, 2023
 Noon to 1 p.m.

Electric vehicles offer many benefits, including no tailpipe emissions, lower lifecycle greenhouse emissions, lower cost of operations, and decreased reliance on foreign energy. Learn how your community can support the increased adoption of electric vehicles. PennDOT and DEP will present an introduction to electric vehicles, a summary of electric vehicle initiatives in Pennsylvania, and details regarding electric vehicle incentives available in Pennsylvania, with a focus on incentives available for municipalities.

 Instructors:

• Colton Brown, Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Coordinator - PennDOT
• Dave Zatezalo, Energy Program Specialist - DEP

 View a recording of the Electric Vehicle Incentives for Municipalities

Public Engagement with Equity and Inclusion

October 13, 2022
Noon to 1 p.m.

Successful transportation projects start with effective public engagement. The purpose for involving the public early on is to ensure their perspectives are considered and help shape the project in ways that align with a community's priorities. Are you reaching everyone in the community? Is equity and inclusion part of your public engagement plan? Learn about equity and inclusion and strategies for involving municipal officials and the public in local transportation projects and effective decision-making

Instructors: 

• Keith M. Chase,  Planning and Management Consultant - Gannett Fleming, Inc.
• Erica T. Kagle,  Senior Planner - Gannett Fleming, Inc.

Resources: 

• PennDOT Connects Public Engagement for Transportation Project Tech Sheet
• PennDOT Connects Public Engagement with Equity and Inclusion PowerPoint Slides
• View recording of the Public Engagement with Equity and Inclusion

Aligning Your Ordinances, Policies, and Codes with your Active Transportation Plan

September 8, 2022
Noon to 1 p.m.

In addition to developing your Active Transportation Plan (ATP), your community will also need to review the ordinances and policies that will support active transportation goals. Changes may need to be made to your roadway design standards in your SALDO, sidewalk design and maintenance ordinances, or other items. Having ATP design, maintenance, and other factors built into ordinances will facilitate implementation and achievement of your ATP goals.

 Instructors:

• Patrick Wright
• Marvin Ta

View a recording of the Aligning Your Ordinances, Policies, and Codes with Your Active Transportation Plan

Leveraging Trails for Local Benefits

June 9, 2022
Noon to 1 p.m.

As more people seek out outdoor places to safely unwind and connect with family and friends, trail use and related spending are rising. Learn more about why the "trail towns" concept is growing across the nation and how your community can leverage nearby trails as an asset for economic development, community revitalization, transportation choices, and other priorities. Resources from PennDOT Connects will be shared to assist you in reaching your goals. 

Instructors:

• Michelle Brummer, Gannett Fleming
• Carrie Long, Gannett Fleming

View a recording of the Leveraging Trails for Local Benefits Drop-In.

Data Sources Relevant to Active Transportation

May 12, 2022
Noon to 1 p.m.

This Drop-in will present various kinds of publicly available information to help your community plan for or improve active transportation. Materials such as the Community Needs Health Assessment (CNHA), the PA Department of Human Services' Health Equity Analysis Tool (HEAT), the Pennsylvania Crash Information Tool (PCIT) and PennDOT One Map will be discussed. Additionally, data available from state agencies, counties, universities, public health systems and local sources will be examined as well.  

Target Audience:  Anyone from the general public, municipal staff, elected officials, advocates and other planners and grant writers would benefit from this Drop-In.

View a recording of the Data Sources Relevant to Active Transportation Drop-In.

PennDOT One Map: A Free GIS Tool

April 14, 2022

Noon to 1 p.m.

PennDOT One Map provides a free mapping platform with readily available spatial information for both state and municipal transportation assets as well as PennDOT planned projects. At this Drop-In, you will learn about some of the features of One Map, what it can be used for, how to navigate it, and examples of final products that municipalities can create with One Map.

Target Audience: Anyone can use One Map. Within municipal governments, this tool would be most useful to municipal managers, planners, and public works directors.

View a recording of the PennDOT One Map: A Free GIS Tool Drop-In.

Introduction to Active Transportation

March 10, 2022
Noon to 1 p.m.

This drop-in will introduce you to the important concepts for active transportation. To have success with active transportation planning, we need to first understand what it is and which nonmotorized transportation modes should we plan for. The drop-in will also emphasize the various benefits of active transportation such as health, equity, and safety as well as the vulnerable users that could benefit the most from active transportation.

Instructors:

• Patrick Wright, Pennoni
• Marvin Ta, Pennoni

View a recording of the Introduction to Active Transportation Drop-In.

Long Range Transportation Plan / Freight Movement Plan

February 10, 2022
Noon to 1 p.m.

Local officials will learn about PennDOT's new long range transportation plan and freight movement plan and the importance of each for communities. This session will cover topics such as:

• Freight growth and its implications for land use planning;
• Joint state-local initiatives identified with local government associations;
• New sources of planning data for municipalities; and
• The role of PennDOT Connects in implementing plans.

The session also will briefly cover the plan’s goals for including mobility, equity and safety. Additionally, the implementation approach for the plans will be highlighted.

Resources:

• LRTP and FMP Drop-In Slides (PDF)
  

View a recording of the the Long Range Transportation Plan/Freight Movement Plan Drop-In.

Building Better Bus Stops

January 13, 2022
Noon to 1 p.m.

All trips on transit buses begin and end at bus stops; making bus stops a vital connection between transit service and the communities served. Ensuring bus stops meet the needs of all riders, transit agencies, and the community is essential in providing quality, efficient transit service.  This session will include an overview presentation of the Building Better Bus Stops Resource Guide developed by PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association (PPTA). Participants attending this session will leave with an understanding of key components of bus stop planning and design. 

View a recording of the Building Better Bus Stops drop-in.

Resources:

• Building Better Bus Stops Presentation (PDF)
• Building Better Bus Stops Quick Reference (PDF)
  
  

Planning for Traffic Calming

Date Recorded: December 9, 2021

Traffic calming is a useful tool for controlling and reducing the speed of traffic on local roadways.  This webinar will discuss the methods your community can implement to properly plan for traffic calming, reduce speeds on local streets, and enhance the walkability of your community. Key methods include developing a traffic calming policy, collecting data/conducting studies, addressing roadway design standards, and following PennDOT/national guidelines for traffic calming devices.

View a recording of the Planning for Traffic Calming drop-in.

Resources:

• Planning and Traffic Calming Presentation (PDF)
  
• PennDOT Pub 383 – Traffic Calming Handbook (PDF)
  
  
  
  
  
  

Active Transportation Plans

The Active Transportation workshop will discuss the latest research and guidelines for nonmotorized transportation modes. Many communities in Pennsylvania are encouraging more active transportation (walking, cycling, etc.) to enhance their community and foster healthy lifestyles. Corresponding to this encouragement of active transportation, communities are looking to develop active transportation plans to help create more facilities such as bicycle paths, sidewalks, trails, greenways, etc. This course will examine the safety and standards for these facilities, as well as how to develop an active transportation plan. The course will also highlight successful examples of local plans, practices, and policies in Pennsylvania. Intended Audience: This course is intended for local officials responsible for the planning, design, and implementation of bicycle, greenways, trails and related facilities. This includes municipal managers, elected officials, public works directors, roadmasters, and code enforcement officers.

Registration Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8259460313909889886

Bikeway Selection Guide

During this 2-hour virtual and interactive event technical experts, including Pa. PennDOT Connects experts will lead participants through the most important elements of the guide and facilitate group discussions. Topics will include policy and planning, bikeway types, facility selection tools, assessing and evaluating feasibility, and bikeway selection process examples. The course is based on PennDOT's Contextual Roadway Design Manual, Chapter 14, Bicycle Facilities, as well as the FHWA's Bicycle Facilities Selection Guide. 

Registration Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7797039808149678166

• August 2023 Newsletter (PDF)
  
• July 2023 Newsletter (PDF)
  
• June 2023 Newsletter (PDF)
  
• May 2023 Newsletter (PDF)
  
• April 2023 Newsletter (PDF)
  
• March 2023 Newsletter (PDF)
  
• February 2023 Newsletter (PDF)
  
• January 2023 Newsletter (PDF)
  
• December 2022 Newsletter (PDF)
  
• November 2022 Newsletter (PDF)
  
• October 2022 Newsletter (PDF)
  
• September 2022 Newsletter 
  
• August 2022 Newsletter
  
• July 2022 Newsletter 
  
• June 2022 Newsletter
  
• May 2022 Newsletter
  
• April 2022 Newsletter
  
• March 2022 Newsletter
  
• February 2022 Newsletter
  
• January 2022 Newsletter
  
• December 2021 Newsletter
  
• November 2021 Newsletter
  
• Spring 2020 Newsletter (PDF)
  
• Fall 2019 Newsletter(PDF)
• Summer 2019 Newsletter (PDF)
• Spring 2019 Newsletter( PDF)
• Winter 2019 Newsletter (PDF)
  
• Fall 2018 Newsletter (PDF)
• Summer 2018 Newsletter (PDF)
• Spring 2018 Newsletter (PDF)
• Winter 2018 Newsletter (PDF)
  

• Access Management and Highway Occupancy Permitting
  
• Adaptive Reuse of Land and Buildings
  
• • Adaptive Reuse Online Training Manual (PDF)
    
• Capital Improvement Programming
  
• Developer Negotiation Training
  
• Integrating Transportation and Land Use
  
• Loan and Funding
  
• Multi-Municipal Zoning and Intergovernmental Implementation Agreements
  
• Official Map
  
• Parking Considerations
• PennDOT Connects Overview
  
• Site Design and Roadway Standards
  
• Traditional ​Neighborhood Development​
  
• Traffic Operations
  
• Transportation Impact Fees
  
• Transportation Partnerships
  
• Transit Revitalization Investment District (TRID)
  
• Urban Growth and Rural Preservation 
  
• Zoning for Mixed Uses and to Accommodate Higher Densities
  
  

• Accommodating Growth (PDF)
  
• Building Transportation Asset Inventory in GIS (PDF)
  
• ​Community Character (PDF)
  
• Encouraging Multimodal Transportation (PDF)
  
• Funding (PDF)
• Highway Occupancy Permits (PDF)  ​
  
• Improving Mobility and Efficiency (PDF)
• Improving Safety (PDF)
• Maximizing Adaptive Reuse (PDF)​​
  
• PennDOT One Map (PDF)
  
• Planning for Active Transportation (PDF)
  
• Public Engagement for Transportation Projects (PDF)
  
• Strengthen Transportation Funding Opportunities (PDF)
  
• Traffic Calming Plan (PDF)
  
• Transportation Impact Study (PDF)
• Utility Coordination (PDF) ​
  
• Working With Developers (PDF)
  

• 2015 Lancaster County — East Lampeter Township, U.S. 30 Streetscape Plan (PDF)
• 2015 Lancaster County — Upper Leacock Township, Official Map (PDF)
• 2016 Lancaster County — Upper Leacock Township, Sidewalk Master Plan (PDF)
• 2017 City of Lancaster — Complete Streets Green Infrastructure (PDF)
• 2017 Lancaster County Planning — Complete Streets Resources (PDF)
• 2017 Lancaster Planning Complete Streets Workshop Report (PDF)
• 2015 CH Streetscape Plan Part I (PDF) and Part II (PDF)
  
  

• Module 1 Presentation (PDF)
  
• Module 2 Presentation (PDF)
• Module 3 Presentation (PDF)
  

• Secretary Richards (PDF)
• APA-PA Southeast (PDF)
• Planning Partners (PDF)
• FHWA Rural Livability (PDF)
• Highway Admin (PDF)
• MSR Business Meeting (PDF)
  

• PAEP Conference (PDF)
  

• How Pennsylvania's Transportation Secretary Is Shifting the Infrastructure Conversation in Her State and Across the Country
• PennDOT Wins Two Awards for Innovation in the America's Transportation Awards Competition
• PennDOT Connects Takes the National Stage at SXSW
• PennDOT Meets With Three Chambers of Commerce To Talk Construction Timing