SPC Announces Vincent Valdes as New Executive Director & President/CEO

Pittsburgh, PA—The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) Board has selected Vincent Valdes, an engineer and planner, as the new President & CEO of the organization.

“We are very excited for Vince to begin leading our regional planning and transportation organization,” said County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Chair of the SPC Board. “His experience, enthusiasm, knowledge and background are exactly what we need as we enter into a new era of transportation and economic growth for the region.”

The search committee, chaired by Commissioner Larry Maggi, former SPC Chair and Washington County Commissioner, led this process with the help of search firm Krauthamer & Associates. The committee sought a dynamic and innovative leader who could manage a complex planning organization and who would be willing to roll up his or her sleeves to build, inspire and develop a regional plan to support this region’s growth.

SPC Completes 3rd Cycle of Regional Traffic Signal Program

Nearly $4 Million in Upgrades to 148 Intersections

Pittsburgh, PA- The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission’s (SPC) award-winning Regional Traffic Signal Program is committed to implementing projects with their federal, state, and local planning partners that demonstrate innovation, coordination, and measurable results. Since 2008, this program and its projects embody the implementation of safe and efficient traffic operations, providing outstanding cost-savings, environmental, and quality-of-life benefits to the communities and residents throughout the 10-county Southwestern Pennsylvania region. SPC, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), its planning partners, and local municipalities across the region, has completed its third cycle of projects under the Regional Traffic Signal Program.

Nationwide, these types of signal projects, on average, have yielded $20 to $40 of public benefit for every $1 invested—in part by making the most efficient use of the transportation infrastructure already in place.

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) is announcing the launch of a new project website and online mapping survey aimed at providing project information and gathering the public’s input related to the Route 28 corridor from Kittanning to Interstate 80 (I-80). 

SPC, in partnership with the Northwest Pennsylvania Commission; North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission; Armstrong, Clarion and Jefferson Counties; and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Engineering District 10-0, initiated the study in December to identify potential improvements along the approximately 40 mile stretch of Route 28 located in Armstrong, Clarion and Jefferson Counties.

Rich Fitzgerald, Tony Amadio and Leslie Osche
Elected Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary-Treasurer

Pittsburgh—The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) Board has elected Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald as its new Chairman, Beaver County Commissioner Tony Amadio as Vice Chairman, and Butler County Commissioner Leslie Osche as Secretary-Treasurer. The team will play integral roles in coordinating economic development and transportation infrastructure investment decisions in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

“County Executive Fitzgerald, Commissioner Amadio and Commissioner Osche will be a strong team for the challenges ahead. SPC is the place to make real progress and this team knows the value of coming together at the regional table,” said Jim Hassinger, SPC Executive Director.