Harrisburg to seek PennDOT reimbursement for permanent buoys at Dock Street Dam

The Administration Committee on Feb. 25 moved to place a resolution on the council's next legislative agenda that would authorize Harrisburg to negotiate a reimbursement agreement with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to cover up to $2 million for waterway safety improvements at the Dock Street Dam.

Chief Enerlein (Director of Public Safety) told council the proposal builds on an intergovernmental agreement with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and PennDOT approved in late 2024. The current resolution, committee members heard, sets the mechanism for PennDOT to reimburse the city for installation of larger, permanently anchored navigation and safety buoys at locations including the 83 Bridge and Market Street bridge approaches.

The city said it recently installed annual buoys but seeks to anchor larger, more-visible buoys to bedrock so they remain in place and offer clearer refuge and grab points for paddlers and small-craft boaters. “The river here in Harrisburg, it's nearly a mile wide,” chief Enerlein said, explaining that current currents and winds can make the river hazardous for kayakers and small craft; the larger buoys would be more visible and intended to be hand-holds for people in distress.

Council members asked whether installation timing would be linked to other bridge construction and were told the city installed annual buoys this past Saturday and expects the permanent buoys to be larger and permanently anchored. The committee voted to add Resolution 30 of 2025 to the next legislative agenda for a formal vote so the city can finalize a reimbursement arrangement with PennDOT and the Fish and Boat Commission.