OS-2C (12-15)

April 16, 2021

The Honorable Fred Keller

U.S. House of Representatives
1020 Commerce Park Drive
Williamsport PA 17701
ann.kaufman@mail.house.gov

Re: Member Designated Projects (MDP) Grant Submission

Dear Representative Keller:

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) in cooperation with the

Centre County Metropolitan Planning Organization is pleased to submit the project listed below
for consideration for the Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure in the U.S. House of
Representatives Member Designated Projects (MDP) grants.

Atherton Street Safety, Drainage, Paving Project U.S. Business Route 322 Centre County

This project is a vital link to the transportation network in Centre County and is very
critical for the flow of commerce and commuting traffic in the region.

Atherton Street Safety, Drainage, Paving Project is the third of four sections of
Atherton Street to be completed. Deteriorated drainage facilities have resulted in flooding and
roadway collapses, causing serious hazards for vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists in one of the
most heavily traveled and congested corridors in Centre County.

The project involves water, sewer and communications lines; stormwater pipes, inlets and
curbing; signal, sidewalk, crosswalk, streetscape improvements, and resurfacing of the roadway.

Benefits include greater safety for vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists by eliminating
roadway collapses, improving surface drainage to minimize water ponding on the roadway,
integrating safer pedestrian and bicycle crossings, and upgrading traffic signal systems.
Repaving the corridor will help Centre County and PennDOT meet federal pavement
performance measure targets, as this is the last section of National Highway System roadway in
Centre County with substandard pavement.

This project is scheduled to be bid in February 2022

This project is significant for the Department and has been progressing through the
design process and is on the Centre County Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation
Improvement Plan (TIP). The Department is committed to advancing this project to the

Engineering District 2-0

70 PennDOT Drive | Clearfield, PA 16830 | 814.765.0400 | www.penndot.gov
MDP Grant Submission Centre County U.S. Route 322 Page 2
April 16, 2021

construction phase in the next two years which will create many impactful jobs and infuse vital
funding into the economy of Centre County.

PennDOT and Centre County Metropolitan Planning Organization are committing a

significant portion of the region’s TIP to this project, which includes a 20% match requirement.
Please accept this letter as a commitment of Pennsylvania’s state match for each of this project
and dedication to ensure they will be in construction for the FFY 2022.

Should you have any further questions about this matter or require additional
information, please contact Dean D. Ball, P.E., our Assistant District Executive of Design, at
(814) 765-0426 or deball@pa.gov.

Sincerely,

Thomas J. Zurat, Jr., P.E.

District Executive
Engineering District 2-0

020/MAS-TJZ/jls

cc: The Honorable Glenn W. Thompson

U.S. House of Representatives
3555 Benner Pike Suite 101
Bellefonte PA 16823
cindy.kunes@mail.house.gov

Thomas P. Zilla, Principal Transportation Planner

Centre County Metropolitan Planning Organization
c-tomzilla@pa.gov

bcc: Larry Shifflet, PennDOT Deputy Secretary for Planning

Sarah L. Clark, PennDOT Director for Legislative Affairs
Dean D. Ball, P.E, District 2, ADE-Design
Mark A. Schultz, District 2, Acting Transportation Planning Manager