State College Area Connector begins next phase, environmental studies

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (WTAJ) – The State College Area Connector is moving into the next phase of project development, which includes environmental studies.

With this project, PennDOT aims to make transportation improvements throughout southern Centre County. In 2023, a Planning and Environmental Linkage Study was conducted to identify the transportation needs in the area.

Following the publishing of the Planning and Environmental Linkages Study, PennDOT announced in a press release on Friday that it has requested the Federal Highway Administration publish a notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement. Once the notice is issued, project development will move into the National Environmental Policy Act Phase of the project. During that phase, PennDOT will conduct field investigations, analyze traffic and refine engineering alternatives.

The design team on the project and experts from various related fields are currently conducting field investigations, agricultural operation interviews, wetlands delineations, plant and wildlife species surveys and traffic counts.

PennDOT plans to hold a public meeting this summer to present the refinement alternatives, or methods to minimize potential environmental impact, from the study.