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PennDOT announced that two park and ride lots along I-99 opened this past Monday, November 12 to commuters. The first of the two lots is in Antis Township near the Bellwood Exit of northbound I-99 and will be accessed from Route 1008 (Skelp Mountain Road). This lot houses 27 parking spaces, and includes two handicap accessible spaces. The second lot has been built in Tyrone Borough near the Tyrone Exit of I-99. It is located between Route 1012 (10th Street) and Route 453. The lot is under the I-99 overpass and houses 52 parking spaces including three handicap accessible spaces. A left turning lane has been added to Route 1012 (10th Street) to facilitate access to the lot. Both lots were designed to accommodate bus movements. Douglas R. Bagley, PennDOT Project Manager stated, “Vehicles were parking at unsafe locations along SR 1008 in Antis Township and along SR 0453 in Tyrone Borough. Antis Township and Tyrone Borough supervisors made a request to the Altoona Metropolitan Planning Organization to build two park and ride facilities within the existing PennDOT legal right-of-way.” He added, “Because of the success of the first park and ride that was built at the Pinecroft interchange in 2000, PennDOT agreed to construct the project and entered into an agreement that all future maintenance of the facilities will be done by the respective municipalities.” Tyrone Borough Manager Sharon Dannaway said that the borough’s maintenance responsibility once the project is officially completed will consist mainly of snowplowing when needed and replacing light bulbs in the street lights, the same as other municipalities are responsible for at other park and ride lots. According to PennDOT, some physical work will be continuing at these lots, including the lighting of both lots and some dam work at the Tyrone lot. This work is expected to be complete by mid-February 2008. Glen O. Hawbaker, Inc., of State College is the contractor for the $916,802 project. |
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