Lehigh Valley Transportation Forum looks at Valley's needs, says solutions on the way

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A major concern was assuaged during the Lehigh Valley Transportation Forum on Tuesday morning.

While a series of multi-modal transportation challenges furiously thumped on the region’s front door, its agencies and state legislators are inviting them in to view potential solutions.

The event consisted of a panel discussion about the funding and challenges of road and highway projects, transportation services and safety strategies and the needs of the region's residents.

Upgrades to Route 22, work on Bethlehem's Hill to Hill Bridge, Center Valley Parkway and other projects all are on the list headed toward activity, officials said.

The forum at the Mack Experience Center was sponsored by the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Moderated by Heather Heeter, of Urban Engineers, of Philadelphia, the panel also discussed how local transportation networks drive regional mobility and growth.

Panelists were:

• Owen O’Neil, executive director of the Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority.
• Thomas Stoudt, executive director of the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority.
• Alex Yeros, chief executive officer of Phoenix Rail freight line.
• Scott Vottero, state Transportation Department assistant district engineer for design in the Lehigh Valley.

'Mass transit as a whole needs to be improved'

State Sen. Nick Miller, D-14th District, later was interviewed by Becky A. Bradley, executive director of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission and secretary of the Lehigh Valley Transportation Study, about the funding, needs and infrastructure challenges in the valley.

As chairman of the state transportation committee, Miller in February secured $2.2 million in funding for four transportation-related projects in the Lehigh Valley.

Miller also has secured up to $1 million for a study focused on the proposed Route 22 project that would widen the road to three lanes in either direction.

The Route 22 project is a long-discussed initiative designed to alleviate bumper-to-bumper traffic and other safety issues along the major Lehigh Valley artery.

Asked what his top project would be to fund if he was in total control of the state’s transportation budget, Miller didn’t hesitate.

“I think Route 22,” he said. “It’s long overdue."

But Miller also said, "Mass transit as a whole needs to be improved."

'Hoping to stay on course'

Pennsylvania's 2025-26 budget proposal includes significant investments in transportation, particularly public transit, with a focus on increasing state funding for transit systems across the state.

The budget proposes a $292.5 million increase in state support for mass transit systems, which would benefit transit agencies in all 67 Pennsylvania counties.

That was in response to transit agencies facing funding crises and service cuts, impacting communities reliant on public transportation.

“The budget [vote] is due at the end of the month,” Miller said. “We’re hoping to stay on course.”

Vottero outlined many of the infrastructure projects that will help alleviate traffic congestion and provide motorists a safer ride.

“We’re working on the Hill to Hill Bridge project in Bethlehem that will widen the bridge,” he said. “We expect it to be done in late-2026 or early-2027 and will cost" $70 million to $80 million.

“Another project is the Center Valley Parkway project. It’s a big safety concern there because of the high speeds and a lot of rear-end crashes. We’re doing 3D modeling for the contractor to utilize.”

Other projects Vottero mentioned were Interstate 78 from Route 22 to the Berks County line and the reconfiguring of the Route 100 interchange.

'Keeping up with the demands'

O’Neil noted how reliant Lehigh Valley residents are on LANTA.

“About 50,000 people a day use the buses, including about 75 percent who say that’s how they get to work," he said.

“We have an impact in the valley. We help people access jobs in the region and help employers get the workers they need to maintain their business.”

However, should the transit fund increase in the state budget not get passed, reduced bus service will follow, O’Neil said.

“In Pennsylvania, transit is primarily a state-funded activity,” he said. “We’re just looking to keep pace with development in the Lehigh Valley. We want to make sure we’re providing services and try to create routes with higher frequency.”

Pennsylvania has the fifth-most rail mileage in the country, Yeros said.

"We have even more capacity to grow," he said. "Rail is the safest, most cost-effective mode of transportation.

Stoudt celebrated a planned parking structure at the airport to further accommodate air travelers. That project comes on the heels of a $35 million infrastructure investment and included a new, expanded TSA security checkpoint.

“We’re just keeping up with the demands of the region,” he said.