Pushed by WHP CBS 21 News, by Donna Kirker Morgan

January 30, 2014

Ten million dollars generated from a transportation bill will be used to repave Harrisburg roads over the next five years. That announcement came from local and state officials today.

They picked 17th Street near Sumner Street to make that announcement -- for good reason. It represents what a lot of drivers in Harrisburg experienced a lot: bumpy road conditions.

Dauphin County Rep. Patty Kim, D-103, said “City residents have been crying for this help, desperate for this, and finally get to deliver something.”

Kim announced $10 million dollars for repaving projects over the next 5 years, to be divided into $2 million dollars each year. The City of Harrisburg handed over a list of 13 roads to the Secretary of Transportation. They say they were selected based on email complaints and phone calls made to the city’s Public Works Department.

The list includes: Bellview Park Area, Berryhill Street, Hale Street, Marion Street, Mayflower Street, Maclay Street, South 2nd Street, North 3rd Street, North 7th Street, North and South 13th Street, North 15th Street, and South 15th Street.

The list will be reviewed by the state to determine if the roads fit within the proper parameters under state and federal rules.

Jeremiah Brooks of Harrisburg describes 13th Street as very bumpy and he would be happy to see it repaved. Earlina Garner was happy that the project on 13th will stretch from Berryhill to State Streets, if approved.

This money comes from new revenues generated from the transportation bill approved by the legislature last year. The $10 million will be over and above the many road projects PennDOT already has in the works for Dauphin County.

“This is little bit unique because we are committed because of distressed situation here in Harrisburg," Secretary Barry Schoch said. "They looked at how we can be a better partner and its 2 million over and beyond, for the next five years,” he added

Of course, the extra revenue comes from gas taxes and extra fees on traffic violations, but the folks here say there's also a price for not fixing the roads.

“There have been thousands of dollars spent on repairing cars because of people going over pot holes,” Kim said.

“You know we all, you and me, everyone in the Commonwealth owns these roads and we have to take care them, or if not, there is – as the representative just said – a cost to that too,” Schoch said.

(Donna Kirker Morgan, "$10m from transportation bill means improved roads in Harrisburg," 1/30/14)