PennDOT Announces Public Hearing for Interstate 81 Section 316 Ashley to Arena Project

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), in coordination with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), will host a Public Hearing and receive public comments in-person, online, and by mail on an Environmental Assessment (EA) prepared for the Interstate 81 (I-81) Section 316 Ashley to Arena project (formerly known as the Partnership 81 project).

The in-person Public Hearing will take place on March 19 from 4:00 – 8:00 PM at the Luzerne County Community College Educational Conference Center, Building 10 – 521 Trailblazer Drive, Nanticoke, PA 18634 (snow date March 26). Registration and an open house display will begin at 4:00 PM and remain open until the end of the hearing. Formal public testimony opportunities will be from 5:00 – 8:00 PM.

Those providing testimony are asked to register in advance by calling (570) 235-2964 or emailing c-ssartori@pa.gov. Registration for testimony will also be available at the hearing. Oral testimony will be limited to five minutes per participant and the number of slots will depend on available time. Individuals may provide testimony privately in a separate hearing room with a stenographer.

In lieu of oral testimony, written comments may be submitted by mail or email to the contact below. All written comments must be received/postmarked by April 12, 2024. Written comments may also be brought to the in-person hearing and deposited in the comment box. The public can access the comment form online at https://bit.ly/I81ashleytoarenaproject.

The project documents can be made available in alternative languages or formats if requested. If you need translation/interpretation services or have special needs or have special concerns that require individual attention, contact Stephen Sartori, PE, Consultant Project Manager, at c-ssartori@pa.gov or (570) 235-2964.

PennDOT and FHWA encourage the public to review and comment on the EA during the 30-day public comment period from March 11 to April 12. The EA is available for review at these locations:

·       PennDOT District 4-0: 55 Keystone Industrial Park, Dunmore, PA 18512

·       Ashley Municipal Bldg.: 49 Cemetery Street, Ashley, PA 18706 

·       Wilkes-Barre Township Municipal Bldg.: 150 Watson Street, Wilkes-Barre Township, PA 18702

·       Hanover Township Municipal Bldg.: 1267 Sans Souci Parkway, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18706

·       Sugar Notch Borough Office: 892 Main Street, Sugar Notch, PA 18706

The EA is also available for review on PennDOT’s website under the Resources section at https://bit.ly/I81ashleytoarenaproject.

All comments will receive equal consideration regardless of the method of submission, whether they are provided verbally in person, in writing, via email, through U.S. mail, or by way of an online comment form.

The public hearing location is accessible to persons with disabilities. Any persons having special needs or requiring special aids are requested to contact Stephen Sartori at (570) 235-2964 or c-ssartori@pa.gov prior to the meeting event in order that special disability needs may be accommodated.

The project is a 7.5-mile reconstruction of I-81 from Hanover Township to Wilkes-Barre Township in Luzerne County between milepost 161.2 north of Nuangola exit and exit 168, Highland Park Boulevard.

The EA, prepared under the National Environmental Policy Act, examines the potential impacts to natural, social, economic, and cultural resources from this project and the alternatives under consideration. It will determine whether an Environmental Impact Statement would be prepared, or a Finding of No Significant Impact would be issued.

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