Butler, PA (October 23) - PENNDOT Engineering District 10 is pleased to announce that the number of alternatives for the Route 228 Improvement Project in Butler County has been reduced to five with most of the remaining proposed alternatives online along the existing Route 228.

After extensive environmental studies and meetings with State and Federal environmental agencies, PENNDOT has determined that the off-line purple, blue and brown-red alternatives (shown on the project map) will not be carried forward into further study. Study on these alternatives will not continue because of environmental impacts and failure to meet the project need of reducing congestion (when compared to the alternatives that will be studied further) on the heavily used Route 228 corridor.

A public meeting will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 5, 2003, at the Mars Area Middle School to present more information on the alternatives that will be carried forward into detailed study. The remaining alternatives include the yellow, dark blue, black and turquoise online alternatives and the green off-line alternative.

In the interest of keeping the public informed, PENNDOT is offering all of the information that will be presented at the public meeting in advance on the project's website, www.Route228.com. All displays, maps and the remaining alternatives that will be carried forward into detailed study will be available for public viewing on the website beginning on Wednesday, October 29, 2003. Public comments can also be provided through the website. PENNDOT decided to present the information before the November 5 public meeting as a result of feedback from the public meeting last year and suggestions from the project's Community Advisory Committee (CAC). "We understand that in today's society, not everyone will be able to take the time to attend the public meeting, but they still want information about the project." said Richard H. Hogg, P.E., District Executive. "This project has generated a lot of interest and public comment, which we appreciate. We also know that given that interest, many people won't want to wait for the public meeting to learn about the alternatives that are not being carried forward and those we will carry forward."

The range of alternatives was developed by the project team, the Route 228 CAC, and input from previous public meetings. The project team has begun the process to fully analyze all of the remaining alternatives. "Community input, conveyed through the CAC and pubic meetings, has been crucial in helping us to develop these alternatives," Hogg said.

PENNDOT will continue to meet with the CAC and community groups as the project progresses. It is important to note the project is in the early stages of preliminary design and, at this point, is still considered to be a study. As the process continues, the project team will gather more information to ultimately decide what the best solution is for Route 228 and the communities it travels through.

The following are anticipated project milestones:

• Fall 2003 - Detailed alternatives analysis

• Summer 2004 - Distribute Environmental Impact Statement

• Spring 2005 - Obtain environmental clearance from the Federal Highway Administration on a preferred alternative

• Summer 2005 - Begin Final Design and Right-of-Way Acquisitions

• Spring 2008 - Begin construction

To obtain a copy of the project map, newsletter or for more information on the Route 228 Improvement Project, visit www.Route228.com or contact the District 10 Community Relations Office at 724-357-2800.