More apartments headed for downtown Harrisburg, as developer plans project blitz

September 22, 2020 | by M. Diane McCormick

These long-time office buildings at 122-124 State St. are slated to become apartments.

Developer Derek Dilks stands to significantly expand his Harrisburg footprint, as the city Zoning Hearing Board has approved his plans to convert historic properties on State Street and Front Street into apartments.

During a virtual meeting on Monday night, the board approved special exceptions to transform two State Street buildings into “multifamily dwellings”:

122-124 State St. into three apartment units.
130 State St. into five apartment units, including a first-floor live-work unit. Dilks agreed to designate an accompanying lot for tenant parking.

130 State St. in Harrisburg.

Before the Zoom meeting, Dilks withdrew from the agenda yet another office-to-residential proposal for six apartment units up the block at 223 State St. Dilks later said that he is discussing the project with the neighboring Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association and expects to resubmit to the zoning board in October.

Zoning board members split on two other projects, proposed for Front Street, that Dilks brought before them on Monday:

25 N. Front St. The board approved eight apartment units, including first-floor office space, along historic Governor’s Row.
321 N. Front St. Dilks received a continuance until the board’s Oct. 19 meeting after two members objected to the inclusion of only four parking spaces for the nine units proposed.

The city Planning Commission has already approved all the projects, citing the revitalization of historically and architecturally significant buildings, plus the injection of residents to enliven downtown on nights and weekends.

25 N. Front St. in Harrisburg

Dilks expects State Street construction to begin this fall, with completion in spring 2021. The more extensive Front Street projects require City Council approval, and he projects their completion in summer or fall 2021.

Dilks owns several other buildings in Harrisburg, including the Lofts at 909, an apartment building in the former Boas Street School at Green and Forster streets.

At the virtual meeting on Monday, several State Street neighbors, mostly attorneys, balked at what they claimed could be parking constraints and traffic congestion along their storied avenue.

“Those of us who have invested here, who have worked very, very hard to create a street that has become the heart of the legal, lobbying, government affairs community of this city want to maintain that,” said Charlie Gerow, CEO of Quantum Communications. “We’ve all invested significant money, significant time, significant effort into that. We’re here every day. We work here every day. Our money is at play here every single day. Granting relief downgrades all of our properties, and by extension, the city itself.”

Dilks conceded that a first-floor professional office at 122 State St. would be acceptable, but he told the board that he and Harrisburg-based architect Chris Dawson were “simply seeking to utilize these buildings to the highest and best use.”

“It’s going to be the same staircase, the same restoring to its original historic character,” he said. “The new use, whether it’s two people there, watching TV, having dinner, or whether it’s two people there practicing law or having a meeting—we’re not increasing the density.”

321 N. Front St. in Harrisburg

At 321 N. Front St., the former Clark Resources building, Dilks promised to address the parking shortage for that office-to-residential conversion by encouraging tenants to use parking garages, but board Chairman Thomas Leonard and member Aaron Holt were not persuaded. On the other hand, board member Shannon Gority saw a fit with contemporary lifestyles.

“I understand your concern with parking,” she told Leonard. “But I also am aware of a shift in the way people are living nowadays with respect to modes of transportation or the lack thereof.”

Dilks later said that he would return in October with an acceptable parking plan. At that meeting, he also expects to submit a plan for conversion of the former First United Methodist Church at 260 Boas St. in Midtown into six apartment units, possibly including a bakery. Dilks bought that property, one of the many Harrisburg-area UMC churches put up for sale last year, in late July for $99,000.

The former First United Methodist Church on Boas Street

With Mowery Construction owner and President David Cross, Dilks also is co-developer and equity partner for Schoolhouse Flats, the conversion of the former Lemoyne Middle School into 46 apartments.

State Street will see yet more change, as the Zoning Hearing Board on Monday night also approved WCI Partners’ proposal to create a takeout café adjoining the Little Amps coffee shop at State and N. 2nd streets.

Little Amps plans a takeout cafe in this building next to their location at N. 2nd and State streets.

Customers would use a separate entrance to buy from an expanded menu of food items prepared in a new kitchen shared by the two spaces. On the two floors above the takeout café, WCI Partners would create two new apartments and renovate a third.

Disclosure: Alex Hartzler, co-publisher of TheBurg, is a principal with WCI Partners.

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Harrisburg School District adjusts online class schedule, considers voluntary workouts for athletes

September 22, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

File photo of Harrisburg School District Superintendent Chris Celmer.

A few weeks into the new academic year, the Harrisburg School District is looking to make changes to its current virtual learning format.

The district is in the process of reducing the amount of time that students spend receiving live online instruction, Acting Superintendent Chris Celmer announced at Monday night’s school board meeting.

“What we are learning is that, from the families’ perspective and from our students’ perspective, is that being online all day can be very draining,” Chief Academic Officer Susan Sneath said.

The district announced its plan for a 100% virtual start to the year in August. Students could choose between a path that aims to eventually transition back to in-person classes or a completely cyber option, the school’s new Harrisburg Virtual Learning Academy (HVLA).

On Monday, Sneath proposed some changes to the current amount of time that students spend online.

She said that kindergarten through fourth-grade students will complete their live classes in the morning and finish the day by 2 p.m., rather than the current time of 3:30 p.m. For fifth to 12^th graders, Sneath said they may change Wednesdays to independent work, maintaining the live lessons the rest of the four days of the week.

“Doing all-day online instruction for multiple consecutive days was becoming very challenging,” Sneath said of the fifth to 12^th graders. “We believe it would be hard to sustain over time.”

Celmer said that the district is discussing these changes to the schedule with the Harrisburg Education Association and hopes to make the updates later in the week.

The district monitors the COVID-19 crisis closely and plans to move to a hybrid in-person and online instruction model only when the state meets certain benchmarks, Celmer said.

These include a three-week period of sustained testing positivity rates from 3 to 4% and incidence rates per 100,000 people below a rate of 50 in Dauphin County.

Celmer said the county is now at a 3.3% positivity rate.

“That’s the first time in months that we’ve seen something drastically below 5% in Dauphin County,” he said. “The clock starts now on that three-week period of reporting.

Another benchmark is that there is a decrease in community spread of the virus, which he said is down as well.

“We are really encouraged that we are seeing that data,” he said. “We will just have to see over the next couple weeks–is this sustained or was this just a dip?”

Also on Monday, many community members submitted comments about the school district’s decision to cancel fall sports despite the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association’s (PIAA) allowance of sports.

“I’ve accepted the fact that football will probably be my son’s means to a free education after high school,” one district parent said. “Please let these boys get back to what they love and need.”

Last week, Celmer responded to concerned student-athletes and parents with a letter sympathizing with students, while upholding his decision.

“Covid-19 has caused tremendous upheaval in all of our lives, and as long as a student-athlete, coach, band-performer and/or cheerleader is wearing the Cougar uniform, I am responsible for the health and safety of each one of them,” he said in the letter. “As Superintendent, I do not take this responsibility lightly.”

Celmer said that the district is considering beginning outdoor voluntary non-contact workouts for athletes.

“We will see where the data and where the virus takes us over the next couple of weeks,” he said.

To watch past Harrisburg School District Board Meetings, visit their YouTube channel. For more information, visit www.hbgsd.k12.pa.us.

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Mobile COVID testing unit to stop this week in Harrisburg

September 21, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

The CATE mobile COVID-19 testing unit.

When George Fernandez was young, his family had trouble getting access to healthcare.

Now, during the pandemic, he wants to make sure this isn’t the case for other families like his. Therefore, his organization, Latino Connection, created the Community-Accessible Testing & Education (CATE) mobile COVID-19 testing unit. On Wednesday, the unit is coming to Allison Hill in partnership with Harrisburg’s Latino Hispanic American Community Center (LHACC).

“For us, it’s about creating access,” said Fernandez, founder of the marketing agency focused on the rapidly growing Latino community in Pennsylvania. “We are really happy Latino Connection came up with this idea.”

CATE was the first mobile unit in the state aimed at providing testing at no cost to underserved communities.

The unit is on a 32-stop tour around the state and is about halfway through. On Wednesday, they will park at 1421 Derry St. in Allison Hill.

Nurses from Penn State Health’s Community Health team are doing the nasal swabbing for the two Harrisburg stops, which started last week at the Harrisburg Housing Authority.

Community members who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or have been exposed to someone with the virus can come for free testing.

“We know there are so many barriers for people to access health care,” Penn State Health’s Community Health Director Ashley Visco said. “This is a way to remove those barriers.”

Once results come back, nurses call those who tested negative and a health care provider will call anyone who tested positive for the virus. They will discuss quarantining and any other assistance they may need, Visco said.

Community members who come to the event will also receive educational packets and reusable face masks.

Fernandez explained that, once he heard how the virus is disproportionately affecting people of color, he wanted to do something. He said the community he serves already had a lot weighing on them, such as food insecurity, the upcoming election and other health disparities.

Latino Connection had mobile units already. So, Fernandez knew this method of testing would be best for reaching those who lack adequate access to healthcare.

“We are meeting them in their neighborhood where they are most comfortable,” Fernandez said.

Last week’s event at the housing authority drew around 60 people, but Visco expects even more people this upcoming Wednesday.

“I am very excited about this location,” she said. “I know Gloria Merrick, the director of LHACC, has a really strong connection in her community.”

Latino Connection partnered with the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Highmark for the CATE initiative.

Fernandez said that the tour will not be ending in September, as he plans to reach more parts of the state in October and November.

Latino Connection, along with Gateway Health, will launch another mobile unit on Sept. 23 in western PA, Fernandez said. This one will focus on addressing social determinants of health and providing care to seniors.

Although already very busy, Fernandez is grateful to be part of initiatives seeking to reach the underserved.

“It’s truly life changing to be part of this,” he said. “Can you imagine the feeling that we are possibly saving lives?”

The CATE Mobile Testing Unit will be at 1421 Derry St., Harrisburg, on Sept. 23. For more information, visit CATE’s website or Latino Connection’s.

UPDATED on 9/22/20 to reflect change of location.

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Comprehensive plan OK’d by Harrisburg Planning Commission, heads to City Council

September 21, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

This area of N. 4th Street may become part of a “Market Mews” neighborhood under Harrisburg’s draft comprehensive plan.

After years of work, the Harrisburg Planning Commission has unanimously approved a new comprehensive plan for the city.

During a virtual meeting late last week, the commission voted to pass the plan, called “HBG2020,” which is intended to set guidelines and goals for the city for the next 10 to 20 years.

“I’m pleased with the current draft as it was passed and the fact that we finally have a guiding document, as there is so much development already happening in the city,” planning commissioner Anne Marek said today.

Harrisburg’s current comprehensive plan dates back to 1974 and is largely regarded as outdated. The effort to draft a new plan began in 2013, but has been hobbled by delays, as well as a dispute between the city and the architect hired to draft it.

Now that the commission has approved the 246-page document, the plan moves to City Council. Once introduced, it will undergo a 45-day public comment period, as well as a public hearing, before a final vote.

“We have several steps to go to reach the finish line, but we’re hopeful this will get approved,” Marek said.

The draft plan contains many ideas, concepts and goals for Harrisburg over the next decade or two.

For instance, it suggests the development of “Market Mews” near the Broad Street Market, which would promote development of a “pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use core” of residential and commercial uses. Other ideas include refreshment kiosks in Riverfront Park, a “City Square” mixed-use development along Market Street east of the train station, a downtown gateway and a new “Meander Park” on Allison Hill.

The draft, though, emphasizes that these are proposals, not mandates, and should serve mostly as guidance for future planning and zoning efforts.

“I’m excited for the document to be a catalyst for future funding and development ideas to continue our progress in Harrisburg,” Marek said.

Click here to view Harrisburg’s draft comprehensive plan.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

September 18, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Conley

Jordan Dandy stands on the corner Front and Forster Streets with the message “You’re so important.”

It’s Harrisburg Takeout Month! Order in from your favorite restaurant and then catch up on the news you may have missed from this past week, listed and linked below.

“Bike to Work Week” starts on Monday in Harrisburg, and the city is setting up pop-up bike lanes to encourage bicycling. The initiative is part of the city’s “Vision Zero” plan to decrease pedestrian and cyclist fatalities, our online story reports.

Capital region arts organizations will get a share of grant money distributed statewide, it was announced last week. Eight Dauphin County organizations will receive funding, including the Susquehanna Art Museum and the Harrisburg Symphony Association, our online story reports.

CONTACT Helpline is celebrating 50 years of assisting people in need of emotional support and connections to human services. Check out the story of the organization that has provided a listening ear to so many.

COVID-19 cases remained stable in Pennsylvania over the past week, our online story reports. They did, however, spike in counties with large college campuses.

Essential workers in Harrisburg may see some appreciation coming their way. The city proposed a $2,500 pay bonus for those who worked every day without the option to telecommute, our reporting found.

Gamut Theatre is safely bringing back live performances, beginning with “Love Hurts!” Our online story gives you a sneak peek into the plot of this hilarious show.

Harrisburg City Council proposed amendments to a bill that would establish a police advisory board. Changes came following public demands that the board have more power, our online story reports.

Harrisburg restaurants have found ways to adapt in the ever-changing times of COVID-19. Our magazine story explains how some local favorites have changed and survived.

Harrisburg University’s e-sports team is the subject of a new locally produced documentary. The film showcases HU’s efforts to become a major player in the e-sports industry, our online story reports.

I-81 is the topic of discussion for regional transportation planners who are seeking public input on how to improve the highway. Our online story has more on the initiative that looks to update 12 focus areas along the road.

Jordan Dandy has been standing on the corner of Front and Forster streets for two weeks with the message, “I value you,” written on poster board. For many, he has become a bright spot in their morning commute. Check out his story in our online article.

House of Vegans is one of only a few vegan restaurants in the Harrisburg area. Our magazine story gives you a taste of the owners’ passion for healthy eating and the reason they opened their new shop.

Residential real estate is looking good as home sales and prices were up in August. Our online story has the numbers for Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties.

Sara Bozich is getting ready for fall by watching football, cooking a pot roast and heading to the Broad Street Market. Check out her list of fun things to do this weekend, including pick-your-own-apples and a Pumpkin Palooza.

State Street is slated for major changes to improve safety and make the road more pedestrian-friendly. Harrisburg city engineers spoke with the community on Tuesday about their plans to reduce traffic lanes and increase crosswalks, our online story reports.

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Harrisburg announces pop-up bike lanes on 6th Street for “Bike to Work Week”

September 18, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

Mayor Eric Papenfuse brings awareness to Harrisburg’s “Bike to Work Week” by riding to City Hall.

Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse strapped on his helmet and mounted his bike this morning to kick off “Bike to Work Week” in the city.

The week designated to cycling begins Monday, but a pop-up bike lane is already being set up along N. 6^th Street.

“We recognize more people will ride bikes if roadways are more accessible,” said Jim Buckheit of Bike Harrisburg at a press conference Friday morning. “This effectively demonstrates how we can improve options to allow people to use multiple modes of transportation getting to and from work.”

The popup lane is made of traffic cones and features “sharrows” painted on the street, which indicate that motorists share the road with bikers. The temporary pathway stretches from Linglestown Road to Reily Street to provide a corridor from Susquehanna Township to downtown Harrisburg.

“It’s very important we share the road and do it responsibly,” said Frank Lynch, president of Susquehanna Township’s board of commissioners.

The temporary lanes connect to the new dedicated bike lanes that Harrisburg added on N. 6^th Street, just past Reily Street. Cyclists can ride through the state Capitol Complex and onto Chestnut Street if they are looking to go downtown.

The Capital Area Greenbelt can be accessed from these lanes, as well.

“We’ve essentially bisected the city and provided a safe street [for bicycling],” Papenfuse said during his “Community Conversations” livestream last week.

“Bike to Work Week” is nationally recognized by the nonprofit, the League of American Bicyclists.

Harrisburg, Susquehanna Township and Bike Harrisburg collaborated to provide the pop-up lanes for the week.

At Friday’s press conference, Papenfuse told the story of Donald Welsh Jr., a former employee of his at Midtown Scholar Bookstore. Welsh biked to and from work each day, until one day in 2017, when he was hit by a car and killed on State Street.

“When I went to the funeral and spoke to his parents, I promised them that we are going to do everything in our power to make that street safer,” he said.

Harrisburg is in the midst of a project to reduce traffic lanes and add bike lanes on State Street, part of the city’s “Vision Zero” initiative to eliminate pedestrian and cyclist fatalities.

The temporary bike lanes for “Bike to Work Week” and the new lanes being added on streets like N. 6^th and Chestnut are part of “Vision Zero,” as well.

“I’m really excited; I ride almost every day,” said Harrisburg resident Lou Searles. “To get places safely is really important. I thought I’d never see this day.”

Buckheit said that bicycling has increased greatly in the city during the COVID-19 pandemic. He believes it will remain popular for recreation and transportation.

“We hope this model will be expanded to the other municipalities that surround Harrisburg, to have this ongoing network that allows for people who wish to bicycle in and out of our capital city to do so in a comfortable and safe manner,” Buckheit said.

Harrisburg’s “Bike to Work Week” runs from Sept. 21 to 27. For more information on Harrisburg’s “Vision Zero” initiative, visit https://visionzerohbg.com/.

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New COVID-19 cases relatively stable in PA, despite surges around colleges

September 18, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

COVID-19 cases and tests, over time. Source: PA Department of Health

New COVID-19 cases remained relatively stable in PA over the past week, despite a spike in cases in counties hosting major college campuses.

Since last Friday, Pennsylvania recorded an average of 828 newly diagnosed cases per day, according to the state Department of Health.

This compares to an average of 746 new daily cases last week, and 810 and 622 new daily cases per day for the prior two weeks, respectively. The department also reports that testing has generally increased over this time (see chart).

Centre County has experienced a surge of cases since Penn State opened for the semester, recording 1,109 new diagnoses just since Sept. 1. Columbia County, home to Bloomsburg University, also has seen a significant case increase recently, according to the state. In response, the health department today stated that it plans to add testing sites in both counties starting Sept. 25.

“These testing sites will be open to anyone who feels they need a test,” health Secretary Rachel Levine said. “It is important that even people with no symptoms who test positive isolate and quarantine to stop the spread of COVID-19.”

Locally, diagnosed cases over the past week are as follows:

Adams County: 766 cases (prior Friday, 723)
Cumberland County: 1,739 cases (prior Friday, 1,649)
Dauphin County: 3,662 cases (prior Friday, 3,543)
Franklin County: 1,701 cases (prior Friday, 1,633)
Lancaster County: 7,478 cases (prior Friday, 7,238)
Lebanon County: 1,909 cases (prior Friday, 1,807)
Perry County: 201 cases (prior Friday, 184)
York County: 4,391 cases (prior Friday, 3,995)

Today, the health department confirmed 760 newly positive cases throughout Pennsylvania for the past 24 hours ending at midnight.

With today’s update, 148,683 Pennsylvanians have now been diagnosed with the coronavirus, an increase of 5,798 over the past week, according to the health department.

The department also reported an additional 97 deaths since last Friday, meaning that 7,934 Pennsylvanians have died from the disease since March.

Around central PA, COVID-19 fatalities now stand as follows:

Adams County: 25 deaths (prior Friday, 24)
Cumberland County: 75 deaths (prior Friday, 73)
Dauphin County: 171 deaths (prior Friday, 169)
Franklin County: 49 deaths (prior Friday, 49)
Lancaster County: 451 deaths (prior Friday, 445)
Lebanon County: 58 deaths (prior Friday, 57)
Perry County: 6 deaths (prior Friday, 6)
York County: 138 deaths (prior Friday, 132)

Statewide, Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 30,783 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 11,855 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths statewide from the disease: 1,803 and 869, respectively.

“We know that congregation, especially over holidays and in college and university settings, yields increased case counts,” Levine said. “The mitigation efforts in place now are essential to flattening the curve and saving lives.”

PA nursing homes and personal care facilities have been particularly hard hit by the virus. Of total deaths, 5,343, or 67.3 percent, have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities, the health department stated.

In nursing and personal care homes, there are 22,162 resident cases of COVID-19, and 4,839 cases among employees, for a total of 27,001 at 957 distinct facilities in 61 counties, according to the health department.

In addition, about 10,281 of total cases in PA are in health care workers.

Statewide, 1,881,488 individuals have had coronavirus tests, with 1,732,805 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Last Friday, the state reported that 1,794,913 people had been tested for the virus.

The state reports a total of 2,680,238 PCR tests, which includes many people, such as health care workers, who have been tested more than once.

Of the patients who have tested positive to date, the age breakdown is as follows, according to the health department:

About 1 percent are aged 0-4
Nearly 2 percent are aged 5-12
About 4 percent are aged 13-18
About 12 percent are aged 19-24
About 36 percent are aged 25-49
Nearly 22 percent are aged 50-64
About 22 percent are aged 65 or older.

Most of the patients hospitalized are 65 or older, as are most of the reported deaths, according to the state. However, the health department has emphasized that, increasingly, more younger people are being diagnosed with COVID-19.

Levine continued to emphasize that Pennsylvanians should do the following:

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
Clean surfaces frequently.
Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.
Wear a mask whenever out of your house.

“Wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, and following the requirements set forth in the orders for bars and restaurants, gatherings, and telework will help keep our case counts low,” Levine said. “Together, as Pennsylvanians, all of our efforts are designed to support our communities to ensure that cases of COVID-19 remain low.”

For more information, visit the PA Department of Health’s COVID-19 website.

Currently, we are providing a COVID-19 update weekly, each Friday, or as breaking news warrants.

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Jordan Dandy has a message for Harrisburg: “I value you”

September 18, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

Jordan Dandy stands at Front and Forster streets.

It’s been two weeks since Jordan Dandy began standing on the corner of Front and Forster streets with a message of positivity.

Now, his appearance has become a regular sight, helping to cheer up hazy-eyed commuters during their routine morning drives.

Each morning, he stands at the side of the busy road and holds a sign reading “I value you” on one side and “You’re so important” on the other.

“I care about people a lot,” Dandy said. “I feel like my purpose on earth is to love in a way that is tangible and people can feel valued. I want people to have some sort of light in the midst of literally parts of our country on fire.”

A little over two weeks ago, Dandy was in the hospital with a serious infection. During that time, he found out his hero, actor Chadwick Boseman, died.

This, combined with everything else going on in the country, had Dandy feeling down.

After listening to a speech by Boseman on finding your purpose, Dandy came up with the idea to make the sign.

“I want to give people hope,” he said. “I’m not just going to give up on this year. I’m going to make this year good.”

When Dandy first started going out each morning, people were confused, he said. Some tried to give him money. One man asked if he was hitchhiking, and others stopped to ask why he was there.

Eventually, he started recognizing people. He waved to kids on the school bus and shouted, “Have a nice day!” to commuters. Dandy said that one woman even wrote him a card saying how she had just moved to the city and seeing him every day made the move easier.

“That’s what it’s about,” he said.

He said that he chose the words for his sign very carefully. He didn’t want his message to be political.

“I think it’s good to have your opinions and to have a strong belief, but, if at the end of the day that leaves you hating your neighbor, I don’t think that’s good,” he said. “I want the best for someone else, no matter what their stance is politically.”

Dandy and his brother Cory Dandy make up the indie-pop band Dandy. They performed virtually at Harrisburg’s July Fourth and Kipona Festivals.

Even as the band is hard at work making music, Dandy said that he plans to continue going out with his sign through the end of September, at least.

Occasionally his friend Bobby Bohr joins him with a sign saying “I care about you” and “You’re worthy of love.”

While Dandy’s message is for the people driving by, he said the experience has given him hope, as well.

Although not everyone has the guts to stand on the street with a sign, Dandy said it’s the simple things that make a difference. He encouraged people to say thank you to their mail carrier and trash collector or be intentional about showing kindness to a stranger.

“People want to feel appreciated and valued,” he said. “Just be sincere in simple acts of kindness.”

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Planning group seeks public input for future improvements to I-81

September 17, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Cars travel on the I-81 bridge over the Susquehanna River near Harrisburg.

Regional transportation planners have launched a two-week virtual meeting to get public input on future improvements to a major highway that runs through central Pennsylvania.

The initiative, called the I-81 Improvement Strategy in South Central Pennsylvania, aims to identify needs and project priorities for 12 “focus areas” that stretch along the interstate from the Pennsylvania/Maryland border in Franklin County to Lebanon County.

Several of the focus areas are in the Harrisburg area, including sections, from south to north, termed “Mechanicsburg/Wertzville Road,” “Harrisburg/Enola/River Routes” and “Greater Harrisburg Area.”

The body undertaking the initiative, Tri-County Regional Planning Commission (TCRPC), is calling it a “playbook to set priorities.”

“We are approaching the end of the needs phase of the analysis and are pleased to share details on the 12 focus areas that include one or more identified needs that could be addressed by future transportation projects and initiatives,” said TCRPC Executive Director Steve Deck.

TCRPC is a regional planning body for Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties. For this initiative, it is collaborating with Franklin and Lebanon counties, along with PennDOT and the Federal Highway Administration.

The commission began this effort last fall with initial planning and data collection efforts, which helped identify the focus areas.

The current public input window runs through Sept. 30. After project concepts are developed, TCRPC will hold another public feedback phase, and the entire study should be wrapped up in the spring, according to the current timeline.

“Once we’ve reached some sort of consensus on the project needs, we want to tie them as quickly as we can to the implementation funding necessary to put the improvements into place,” Deck said.

The I-81 Improvement Strategy Online Public Meeting runs through Sept. 30. To participate, visit the website.

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Harrisburg proposes “COVID-19” bonuses for essential workers

September 17, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

Harrisburg fire bureau responds to a recent call.

Harrisburg may show appreciation to its essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic with a proposed pay bonus.

At Tuesday’s City Council work session, Mayor Eric Papenfuse proposed designating about $800,000 in the city’s 2020 budget for “COVID-19” bonuses for frontline workers.

“As a city, we need to recognize the tireless work and commitment of all of our frontline responders throughout this health crisis,” Papenfuse said. “They had to be out there picking up the trash, cleaning the buildings and addressing city services.”

Each eligible worker will receive $2,500. The criteria for receiving the bonus is that the recipient had to come to work each day without an adjusted schedule or the option to telecommute, Papenfuse said.

He said that includes many American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) union members. All Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) union members will receive the bonus, as will a few management-level positions.

“It’s important that we recognize the sacrifice and amazing service that we’ve seen from our employees,” Papenfuse said. “I don’t think residents saw a decline in city services even when that might’ve been possible and was certainly happening in other municipalities.”

Papenfuse said all eligible employees will receive the same bonus.

City council members generally expressed support for the “COVID-19” bonuses. The issue will be voted on at Tuesday’s legislative session.

“I think it is remarkable that our city employees were still able within good health to continue working during the COVID-19 pandemic,” council member Danielle Bowers said.

To watch past Harrisburg City Council meetings, visit the city’s YouTube channel.

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