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Bridge Over Norfolk Southern Project
City of Lebanon
As many residents of Lebanon are aware, trains frequently pass through the City of Lebanon creating long lines of traffic on either side of the Norfolk Southern tracks. In addition, emergency service vehicles are often delayed while waiting for the trains when transporting patients to the hospitals which are located on the southern side of the tracks or responding to fire and police calls. This is a problem that faces the residents within the City of Lebanon on a daily basis. The City of Lebanon in conjunction with PennDOT has been working with the community to determine the best solution to these problems. Keep up to date on the latest with the project by visiting this website. Below is a map of the initial project area.
Click on this link for a detailed map of the bridge area - Detailed Bridge Area Map (PDF)
As studies on the project progressed, it was determined that the only alternatives that satisfactorily addressed the needs of the project would involve the construction of two bridges, one on 9th Street and one on 10th Street. As a result, the project area was reduced in size to encompass the area surrounding the 9th and 10th Street rail crossings. Illustrations of the two alternatives under construction can be viewed in the "What's New" section on this page.
A public meeting was held on June 12, 2007 at HACC's Lebanon Campus. The purpose of the meeting was to was to provide an update on the status of the project, which is now in final design and to provide information related to the right-of-way acquisition process.
Proposed Project Schedule
Begin Final Design Activities Spring 2006
Hold Public Meeting Winter 2006/2007
Begin Right-of-Way Acquisitions Spring 2007
Advertise Project for Construction Winter 2009/2010
Begin Construction* Spring 2010
First Bridge Open to Traffic 2011
Second Bridge Open to Traffic 2012
*Schedule subject to achieving necessary clearances and funding availability.
Project Team
City of Lebanon
Trish Ward, Mayor
Gordon Kirkessner, Jr., P.E., P.L.S., Public Works Director
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, District 8-0
Barry Hoffman, P.E., District Executive
Mark Malhenzie, Project Manager
Christie Perry, Environmental Manager
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Design
Dan Stewart, Project Development Engineer
Federal Highway Administration
John E. Bork, Transportation Engineer
Deborah Suciu-Smith, Environmental Specialist
McCormick, Taylor & Associates, Inc.
Joe Hollinger, Principle In Charge
Deb Hoover, Project Manager
Harry Gamble, P.E., Transportation Engineer
Dewberry, Inc.
Bill Brown, P.E., Bridge Engineer
Tom Moore, P.E., Bridge Engineer
John Spencer, P.E., Bridge Engineer
Dawood Engineering, Inc.
Bony Dawood, P.E., Principal Surveyor
GTS Technologies, Inc.
Tom Graupensperger, Project Geologist
Questions or Comments about the project?
Contact:
Gordon Kirkessner, Jr., P.E., P.L.S., Public Works Director
400 South 8th Street, Room 220
Lebanon PA, 17042
(717) 273-6711, ext. 4490
News Release
Aug. 27 1999
City of Lebanon and PennDOT begin studies for new bridge over railroad tracks
LEBANON (August 27) - Lebanon Mayor Jacqueline Parker today announced the start of environmental and preliminary engineering studies to evaluate a potential bridge crossing over the rail line through the City of Lebanon. Initially, the studies will focus on traffic and safety issues, and are aimed at documenting the need for improvements.
"We're pleased to be finally underway on the necessary studies for this bridge," said Mayor Parker. "Now is an important time to encourage community participation for the best solution to provide a crossing over the railroad."
The rail line, formerly owned by Conrail and now operated by Norfolk Southern following the acquisition of Conrail's tracks earlier this year, is estimated to carry 57 trains per day through the center of the City of Lebanon. The number of trains through town are projected to increase in the future, further disrupting traffic and delaying emergency service vehicles, such as fire, police, and emergency medical services.
To assist the preliminary engineering and environmental studies which will be completed in approximately two years, the City of Lebanon in cooperation with PennDOT, will be undertaking an extensive public involvement program. The goal is to reach as many of those who live and work in the project area as possible. The proposed study area extends from 12th Street to Lincoln Avenue. An initial public meeting will be held in the fall to introduce the project study team to the public and to solicit the public's input on the traffic, safety and environmental issues.
Also, as part of the public involvement program,a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) representing a broad range of interests within the study area will be formed to act as a liaison between the community and the study team. The CAC is expected to be convened sometime in the fall.
Links
PennDOT
Pennsylvania Museum Commission
Federal Register
Environmental Protection Agency
Federal Highway Administration
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Lebanon Bureau of Fire
Federal Railroad Administration
Operation Lifesaver
Community Advisory Committee
The Community Advisory Committee (CAC) is comprised of 18 members, nine full members and nine alternates. The CAC represents a balance of the interest in the study area. CAC charter members were invited to join the committee based on recommendations by local community leaders and their interest in the project as a stakeholder.
The purpose of the CAC is to provide a comprehensive and orderly means of involving the local community in the Bridge Over Norfolk Southern project. The CAC will serve as an advisory group to the project team. The primary goal of the CAC is to enhance the exchange of information and opinions between the community and the project team.
List of CAC Members:
Lebanon County Planning Department
Lee Meyer 400 South 8th Street
Downtown Business Area
Jody Kasperowicz Lebanon Unfinished Furniture 834 Cumberland Street
Robert Phillips (alt.) State Farm Insurance 832 Chestnut Street
Emergency Services
Annette Smith 400 South 8th Street
Clyde Miller (alt.) 400 South 8th Street
Lincoln Avenue to 4th Street
Ken Gingrich G.S. Hospital 4th & Walnut Streets
No Alternate At This Time
5th Street to 8th Street
John Braun 315 North 5th Street
John Horn (alt.) 521 Weidman Street
9th Street to 10th Street
Mel Lipensky Lebanon Building Supply 225 North 10th Street
Barry Fisher (alt.) Municipal Building, Room 214
11th Street to 12th Streets
Lydia Flores (alt.) 1230 Brandywine Street
No Alternate At This Time
Lebanon School District
Robert Okonak Lebanon Middle School 350 North 8th Street
Edward Merkey (alt.) Lebanon Middle School 350 North 8th Street
Lebanon County Historical Society
James Schucker 1515 Elm Street
Earl Leiby (alt.) 610 North 7th Street
City Planning Commission
Jerome Kalinoski, Jr. 412 Weidman Street
No Alternate At This Time
Covenant United Methodist Church
Richard Leisey, Sr. 929 Church Street
No Alternate At This Time
Community Design Task Force (CDTF)
A 12 member Community Design Task Force has been formed for the City of Lebanon Bridge Over Norfolk Southern Project. The community membership includes an architect, engineers, planners, several local residents, a landscape architect, business owners, historian, local church member, and volunteer fireman. Specific experts such as fabrication vendors or emergency service providers participate when requested to provide additional perspectives. The purpose of the Design Task Force is to investigate, review, and recommend design and aesthetic options to enhance the City of Lebanon bridge project. The focus of the group will be the integration of the entire project into the social and historic environment of the surrounding community. Project factors that were considered include constructability, maintenance, safety, and costs. At this time, the Project Team has determined that a bridge on 9th Street and a bridge on 10th Street would best meet the needs of the project. However, an alternative has not been officially selected and the design features under consideration could apply to bridges at any location.
The design and aesthetic treatments of the bridges involves two different types of basic views. The first view is from the perspective of the motorist and pedestrians that would utilize the roadway and sidewalk to cross the railroad. The artist's rendering depicts an approach to the top of one of the bridges, including wall and sidewalk treatments, fencing, and lighting.
View of bridge from roadway
The second view of the bridges would be from the residents and business owner perspectives, recommending the supporting foundation of the bridge and roadway and its color, type, texture, and architectural styling.
Artist's rendering of a bridge on 10th Street
Artist's rendering of a bridge on 9th Street
Since March 2002, the Design Task Force has met seven times and will continue to meet after the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) is circulated. After the DEIS is circulated, a public hearing will be held. This is scheduled for July 22, 2003. At that time, the conceptual design results from the Community Design Task Force will be presented. The artist's renderings presented on this web page will be displayed as full-size versions. The public will have an opportunity to comment on the ideas of the Community Design Task Force.
What's New
A major project milestone has been achieved for the City of Lebanon Bridge Over Norfolk Southern Project. On December 6, 2004, the Federal Highway issued a Record of Decision. The Record of Decision officially designated Option B: Dual 9th and 10th Street Shifted Alternative as the Selected Alternative for the bridge project. With this action, environmental clearance is concluded and final design on the Selected Alternative can begin.
Option B would consist of two, two-lane bridges extending over the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks. Shoulders and sidewalks would be constructed on one side of each of the bridges. The bridge on 9th Street would be shifted slightly west in relation to the existing roadway and would extend from a point near Church Street to the bridge over the Quittapahilla Creek. The bridge on 10th Street would be shifted slightly east in relation to the existing roadway and would extend from a point between Church and Lehman Streets to the bridge over the Quittapahilla Creek. Minor deck reconstruction work would be required on both Quittapahilla bridges. Route 72 would be signed as is currently is, with 9th Street carrying two lanes northbound and 10th Street carrying two lanes southbound.
The Selected Alternative also includes improvements to adjacent streets. To provide access for the remaining homes on 10th Street, Scull Street would be extended to a connection with 12th Street. Gannon Street will be widened near the intersection with C&L Street. A one-way connection from 9th Street to Gannon Street will be construction to allow access for the remaining properties on 9th Street.
The final design process, which includes the construction plans for the bridges, finalizing right-of-way plans for the properties that will be acquired, and initiating the mitigation measures that were set forth in the environmental clearance document should begin this spring after final design and right-of-way services are under contract.
Property owners whose home or business is going to be impacted by the project will be contacted by a right-of-way consultant between spring 2006 and spring 2007. Those properties that will be impacted are shown in green in the project map. Some partial right-of-way areas are anticipated from other properties; however, specific areas are not know at this time and will be defined as final design plans are developed.
The project team will continue coordination with the Community Design Task Force and will be soliciting additional membership to represent those in the immediate affected project area this spring. In addition, special purpose meetings and one public meeting are anticipated to be held during final design. The dates of those meetings are not known at this time but they will be advertised in the local paper.
Once the design and right-of-way processes are completed, the project will be advertised by PennDOT for bids, a contract will be awarded with City approval, and construction will begin on one bridge at a time. It is not known at this time which bridge will be constructed first.
Visit the News Release Page and click on Newsletter No. 5 for more information.
Please check back, we will continue to provide project updates during final design. Highway-Rail Facts
- In 1999, at least 399 people were killed and 1,360 seriously injured in 3,420 highway-rail grade crossing collisions (combined for public and private crossings).
-At least 467 people were killed and 433 were injured while trespassing on railroad rights-of- way and property.
- Approximately every two hours, either a vehicle or a pedestrian is struck by a train in the United States. Thats 12 incidents each day!
- A motorist is 40 times more likely to die in a crash involving a train than in a collision involving another motor vehicle.
- There are approximately 260,000 public, private and pedestrian at-grade highway-rail crossings in the United States.
- More people die in highway-rail grade crossing crashes in the United States each year than in all commercial and general aviation crashes combined.
- Nearly 50 percent of vehicle/train collisions occur at crossings with active warning devices (gates, lights, bells).
- Most crashes occur within 25 miles of the motorists home.
- The majority of highway-rail crashes occur when the train is traveling less than 30 mph.
- Trains CANNOT stop quickly.
Average freight train stopping distance:
55 mph = a mile or more or 18 football fields!
8-car passenger train stopping distance:
79 mph = a mile or more or 18 football fields!
Railroad tracks, trestles, yards and equipment are private property. Walking or playing on them is illegal trespassers are subject to arrest and fines. Too often the penalty is death.
(*Preliminary 1999 Federal Railroad Administration statistics)
SOURCES: Federal Highway Administration; Federal Railroad Administration; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; Operation Lifesaver Inc., Uniform Vehicle Code and Model Traffic Ordinance.
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