The Airport Area Chamber of Commerce recently recognized the leadership of Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald during an annual State of the County address. Fitzgerald was awarded the “Rich Fitzgerald Distinguished Public Service award. The Chamber recognized Fitzgerald’s pre-pandemic progress revitalizing the airport as a regional economic anchor as well as his stewardship throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The 2023 Public Comment Period for the update of the PennDOT 12-Year Program (TYP) is underway and all Pennsylvanians are encouraged to get involved in this important transportation planning effort!

To provide Pennsylvanians with every possible opportunity to get involved and make their voices heard, a Transportation Survey is open for public input.

PennDOT TYP Update Survey

Click here and make your voice heard!

In addition to the Survey, PennDOT will also host an Online Public Forum on Wednesday, April 12, from 6:30 – 8:00 PM, featuring a presentation from PennDOT leadership and members of the STC, followed by a Q&A session.

Online Public Forum

Click here to learn more and receive updates!

Important Dates

• Transportation Survey: Open March 1 – April 30, 2023
• Online Public Forum: Wednesday, April 12, 2023, 6:30 – 8:00 PM

Public participation and support ensures a diverse range of comments from across PA and facilitates valuable data for all Transportation Improvement Programs.

Email comments to RA-PennDOTSTC@pa.gov, or call 717-783-2262 to request a printed copy or to complete the survey by telephone.

Visit TalkPATransportation.com to learn more!

Feedback is essential to helping the Authority plan for the distribution of federal monies to expand broadband in unserved/underserved areas of PA.

Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (Authority) Executive Director Brandon Carson is asking Pennsylvanians to provide input on the stakeholder engagement process for developing two plans: the State Digital Equity Plan and the Commonwealth’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Five-Year Action Plan.

Mayor Ed Gainey met with students on Feb. 23 in an open town hall hosted by CMU Senate and Graduate Student Assembly. Organizers took questions for Mayor Gainey from the students gathered, expressing their comments and concerns for the city.

Your Downtown bus route may be changing!

PRT has prepared two scenarios that reconsider bus routes within Downtown Pittsburgh and we want to know what you think! Join an upcoming online meeting, visit us at our pop-up storefront downtown, or give feedback online.

“The lack of access to high-speed broadband is a genuine problem in many communities throughout our region,” Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission Vice Chairman and Armstrong County Commissioner Pat Fabian during a Regional Broadband & Connectivity Summit Thursday in Butler County.

SPC is a municipal planning organization representing Pittsburgh and the 10 counties surrounding the city, which seeks to work as one on the goals of transportation, planning and development, and information systems in the southwestern corner of the state.

Over 180 representatives from federal, state and local government, as well as service providers and businesses, met Thursday, Feb. 16, to address broadband deployment throughout the region.

“There are so many limitless opportunities that we wanted to be able to walk out of here understanding, especially how we can take the next step forward in working together,” said Butler County Commissioner Leslie Osche. “And I’m clear on it — I think everybody else is.”

The seven-hour summit — hosted by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission at Cranberry Township’s Regional Learning Alliance — was prompted by the commission’s regional study on broadband accessibility. Its series of panel discussions addressed legislation, affordability, funding and, ultimately, statewide implementation for the service.

“I think we came in today just looking to get educated, and looking to educate the attendees,” said Andy Waple, deputy executive director of programs for the commission. “And for collaboration.”

The state of broadband across a 10-county region in southwestern Pennsylvania, including Butler County, will be the topic of an event Thursday in Cranberry Township.

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) is hosting a Regional Broadband Summit from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Regional Learning Alliance Learning and Conference Center, 850 Cranberry Woods Dr.

“The hope would be that we all walk away with better ideas of how to implement the plan within our own counties and municipalities,” said Leslie Osche, Butler County commissioner and chairman for the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission. “And what it’s going to take to get that done.”

This event is intended to educate attendees about the state of the region’s connectivity, community funding opportunities, available resources and more. County and local government officials, nonprofits, school district leaders, local internet service providers, telecommunications companies and members of the public are expected to attend. The event is at capacity.