Staff outlines RTP adoption timetable, active‑transportation summit and new safety/asset tools

Dauphin County planning staff told the commission on Sept. 8 that the region’s long‑range transportation plan (RTP) update is concluding public outreach and will move to a recommendation vote within the next two weeks, followed by a full adoption vote two weeks after that.

Staff said the RTP outreach period ran July 1–Aug. 15 and included Zoom sessions, in‑person meetings and focus groups on freight, mobility, bike/pedestrian facilities and the environment. More than 400 survey responses were received, staff said; they emphasized that the most consequential public input generally occurs early in a plan’s development rather than during the final comment period.

Planners also previewed an Active Transportation Summit scheduled for early November at Fort Hunter Park. The summit will focus on municipal capacity for bike and pedestrian planning and will include presenters from PennDOT and the Department of Conservation and Recreation and a municipal roundtable.

Staff described two web tools being updated: a safety dashboard that enables users to explore crash data and a pavement/bridge asset management web application to view bridge and pavement condition at a community level. Both tools are intended to help municipalities and planners prioritize safety and maintenance investments.

Finally, staff said the coordinated public transit/human service transportation plan kickoff is under way; the update will address paratransit, mobility needs for older adults and people with disabilities, and coordination with SRTA and fixed‑route transit providers, with anticipated adoption next September.

Staff asked commissioners to be prepared for outreach support in coming months as plan adoption and follow‑up public engagement proceed.