PennDOT and FHWA hold a Public Hearing

On June 7, 2007 PennDOT in cooperation with the FHWA held a Public hearing and Open House Plans Display at the Mars Area High School. Over 200 people attended the Public Hearing. The purpose of the hearing was for PennDOT to present project details and collect written and verbal testimony regarding the Route 228 Improvement Project. The Public Hearing gave interested parties an opportunity to participate in the process of determining a specific location and major design features of the proposed improvements. In addition, the hearing provided a forum for presenting concerns about social, economic and environmental impacts of the transportation improvement alternatives. The public could offer comments, publicly, in private or in writing.

Hearing attendees expressed their concerns regarding safety in the Mars school area, noise, and a few urged PennDOT to further investigate the plan for controlled access to Route 228.

Substantive comments received at the hearing or in writing during the project’s 45 day comment period will be addressed and presented to the Federal Highway Administration. Based on the results of the study and input received at the Public Hearing, FHWA will decide on the issuance of a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The FONSI represents environmental clearance for the project, allowing PennDOT to proceed with Final Design, Right-of-Way Acquisition, and Construction.