TRANSPORTATION

Lehigh Valley Transportation Study

 

The Lehigh Valley Transportation Study (LVTS) is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for Lehigh and Northampton counties. The role of the MPO is to promote transportation projects, plans, programs, and policies that are consistent with the locally adopted Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and Lehigh Valley Transportation Plan (LVTP). LVTS was created in 1964 through a legal agreement between the Cities of Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton; the Counties of Lehigh and Northampton; and the Department of Highways of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (now the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation). The LVTS was founded in response to the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1962, which stated, in part, that any urban area with a population of more than 50,000 must maintain a continuing, comprehensive and cooperative transportation planning process in order to be eligible to receive Federal funds for transportation projects.

 

LVTS is made up of two committees — the Technical Committee and Coordinating Committee. The Technical Committee reviews projects brought before the group and recommends actions to the Coordinating Committee. The Coordinating Committee is the policy body which formally adopts items reviewed by the Technical Committee. LVTS Technical Committee membership consists of representatives from PennDOT Central Office, PennDOT District 5-0, Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (LVPC), Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANTA) and the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority (LNAA). The Coordinating Committee membership consists of representatives from PennDOT Central Office, PennDOT District 5-0, Lehigh County, Northampton County, Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, LVPC, LANTA and LNAA.

 

The transportation planning staff of the LVPC, in cooperation with PennDOT and LANTA, serves as technical staff for the LVTS. LVPC receives Federal and State funding for work under contract with PennDOT.

 

April 2018 Guidebook for Pennsylvania's Metropolitan Planning Organizations and Rural Planning Organizations

2016 Federal Certification Review Findings Report

 

 

Active Transportation

INFORMATION

 

ACT 89 TRANSPORTATION PLAN

On November 25, 2013, House Bill 1060 was signed into law, creating Pennsylvania's most comprehensive piece of state transportation legislation in decades. This legislation invests an additional $2.3 billion to $2.4 billion into transportation by the fifth year of the plan. Partial funding for the new transportation package is being derived from the elimination of the flat 12-cent gas tax and modernizing an outdated transportation financing structure through the uncapping of the wholesale, Oil Company Franchise Tax. The act also increased resources for transit and created a dedicated Multimodal Fund (PDF) for non-highway modes' capital needs.

 

Learn more about the plan in the Transportation Funding Plan Summary (PDF) created when the law was passed. To see projects made possible or in development because of the plan, visit the department's Projects website.

 

The plan was based on many recommendations from the then Transportation Funding Advisory Commission (PDF). The commission's recommendations are outlined in a Final Report (PDF) and the department has implemented many of the recommendations.

 

In 2017, the department kicked off its Road Maintenance and Preservation (Road MaP) program (PDF), which will invest $2.1 billion in maintenance and highway and bridge capital projects over the next 10 years. Of the investments, $1 billion will go to roadway maintenance and $1.1 billion will go to highway and bridge capital projects. Of the capital projects, $500 million will be allocated to an Interstate preservation and reconstruction program, bringing that total program, begun in 2016, to $1 billion over the next 10 years. Another $600 million will go toward rehabilitation and reconstruction needs identified through the department's district and regional planning efforts.

 

The program is possible due to legislative action in 2016 that caps the expenditures from the Motor License Fund going toward the State Police budget beginning with the 2018-19 budget and concluding with the 2027-28 budget.

 

BRIDGES WITH NEW WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS (AS OF 2013)

These maps show state and local bridges that recently have been or will be posted with new weight restrictions in Lehigh County and Northampton County. These bridge restrictions are intended to slow down the deterioration process and preserve safety while funding for their repairs remains uncertain.

 

   Lehigh County Bridges with New Weight Restrictions

    Northampton County Bridges with New Weight Restrictions

TITLE VI PUBLIC NOTICE

The LEHIGH VALLEY TRANSPORTATION STUDY (MPO) is committed to compliance with nondiscrimination requirements of

civil rights statutes, executive orders, regulations and policies applicable to the programs and activities it administers.

Accordingly, the MPO is dedicated to ensuring that program beneficiaries receive public participation opportunities without

regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability or economic status. Meeting facilities are accessible to persons with

disabilities and the location is reachable by public transit. The MPO will provide auxiliary services for individuals with

language, speech, sight or hearing impediments provided the request for assistance is made 14 days prior to the meeting.

The MPO will attempt to satisfy other requests, as it is able. Please make your request for auxiliary services to

planning@lvpc.org 610-264-4544. If you believe you have been denied participation opportunities, or otherwise discriminated against in relation to the programs or activities administered by the MPO, you may file a complaint using the procedures provided in our complaint process document or by contacting planning@lvpc.org or 610-264-4544.

 

AVISO PUBLICO DEL TITULO VI

El ESTUDIO DE TRANSPORTE DE LEHIGH VALLEY (Organización Metropolitana de Planificación [MPO, Metropolitan

Planning Organization]) está comprometido con el cumplimiento de los requisitos de no discriminación de las leyes de

derechos civiles, los decretos ejecutivos, los reglamentos y las políticas correspondientes a los programas y las actividades

que administra. Por ende, la MPO se dedica a garantizar que los beneficiarios de un programa reciban oportunidades de

participación pública sin tener en cuenta su raza, color, país de origen, sexo, edad, discapacidad o situación económica. Las

instalaciones para reuniones son accesibles para las personas con discapacidades y se puede llegar a su ubicación usando

el transporte público. La MPO brindará servicios auxiliares para personas con impedimentos lingüísticos o problemas de

habla, vista o audición, siempre y cuando la solicitud de asistencia se haga 14 días antes de la reunión. La MPO intentará

responder a otras solicitudes, según sus posibilidades. Solicite servicios auxiliares llamando a planning@lvpc.org o al

610-264-4544. Si cree que le negaron oportunidades de participación o que lo discriminaron de otra manera en relación con

los programas o las actividades que administra la MPO, puede presentar una queja siguiendo los procedimientos que figuran en nuestro documento de proceso de queja o comunicándose con planning@lvpc.org or 610-264-4544.

Lehigh Valley Planning Commission

961 Marcon Boulevard - Suite 310

Allentown, PA 18109

Phone: (610) 264-4544

Toll Free: (888) 627-8808