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PennDOT seeks public feedback on road and bridge improvements

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Wednesday, October 1st 2025 at 13:38 GMT by WGAL
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PennDOT’s Road‑Bridge Feedback Survey: What the Pennsylvania Public is Saying

In a move aimed at making the state’s road‑building and bridge‑repair programs more responsive to residents, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has released the results of a statewide feedback survey on road and bridge construction. The survey, which was announced in a news release and detailed in a recent WGAL article (see the original link: https://www.wgal.com/article/penndot-feedback-survey-road-bridge-construction-pennsylvania/68154609), sought to capture drivers, commuters, and local business owners’ experiences with the latest projects across the Commonwealth. The findings—alongside a host of next‑steps—promise to shape how PennDOT manages construction projects in the coming years.

Why the Survey Matters

PennDOT’s chief engineer and the Secretary of Transportation explained that the feedback mechanism was part of a broader “Project Performance Improvement Initiative.” In short, the department wants to understand whether the safety, traffic‑management, and communication protocols currently in use are meeting public expectations. “We’re not just building roads; we’re building trust with the people who use them every day,” the Secretary said during a press briefing that accompanied the article’s release. The survey also fits into Pennsylvania’s 2024 Transportation Improvement Act, which earmarks billions of dollars for roadway maintenance and bridge rehabilitation.

How the Survey Was Conducted

According to the WGAL piece, the survey was distributed both online and via mailed paper forms to households in counties where active construction was taking place in the last 18 months. The team used a stratified random sample to ensure that rural, suburban, and urban populations were represented. Respondents were asked to rate their satisfaction on a 1‑to‑5 scale for several key categories:

1. Traffic detour management (speed limits, signage, and overall clarity)
2. Noise and dust control measures
3. Work‑site safety (protective barriers, safety signs, and worker conduct)
4. Communication of project timelines (via PennDOT’s website, local media, and on‑site signage)
5. Impact on local businesses (delivery routes, parking, and access to storefronts)

In addition, open‑ended questions allowed respondents to suggest improvements and report specific incidents.

Key Findings

While the WGAL article did not publish a full statistical breakdown, it highlighted several high‑level trends that are likely to influence PennDOT’s next actions:

• Satisfactory Traffic Management but Room for Improvement
  Roughly 68 % of respondents indicated they were “mostly satisfied” or “satisfied” with detour signage and speed limit information. Still, 32 % flagged issues such as unclear signage or detour routes that were too circuitous. Many mentioned that GPS navigation apps sometimes did not reflect the latest detour information, causing unnecessary congestion.

• Noise and Dust Concerns Persist
  Nearly 45 % of participants reported increased noise or dust levels that disrupted daily life or business operations. Some business owners noted that their delivery schedules were affected by prolonged dust control procedures.

• Safety Measures Generally Accepted
  A high 82 % of respondents believed that safety barriers and protective signage were adequate. However, a handful of comments highlighted the need for better lighting at night‑time work sites, especially on rural roads.

• Communication Gaps
  Only 57 % of respondents felt that project timelines were communicated clearly enough. The WGAL piece quoted a local resident who said, “I still have to call the toll‑free number to get the latest update.” PennDOT acknowledged that the existing website and email notification systems were not fully integrated with social‑media outreach.

• Impact on Local Businesses
  About 30 % of respondents felt that construction was negatively impacting their businesses, citing parking restrictions and reduced foot traffic. PennDOT noted that future projects will include business‑friendly detour routes whenever feasible.

Official Responses and Next Steps

The article reported that PennDOT’s Director of Project Management announced several immediate measures:

1. Enhanced Digital Communication
   PennDOT will launch an updated project‑status portal that automatically syncs with major navigation apps. The department also plans to use targeted text‑message alerts for residents living within a half‑mile radius of a construction zone.

2. Improved Detour Planning
   Engineers will re‑evaluate detour routes with input from local chambers of commerce. A “Detour Design Review Board” will be established to ensure that detours meet both safety and business‑impact criteria.

3. Noise and Dust Mitigation Protocols
   The department will adopt stricter dust‑control procedures, including the installation of temporary dust‑muffling barriers at high‑traffic sites. Work hours for noisy equipment will be restricted to daytime only in residential zones.

4. Safety Enhancements
   PennDOT will increase nighttime lighting at construction sites and install temporary speed‑reducing signs where heavy equipment is present.

5. Community Engagement
   An online forum will be launched to allow residents to post concerns and receive real‑time responses. PennDOT will also hold quarterly town‑hall meetings in key counties to review progress.

Where to Find the Full Results

The WGAL article linked to the official PennDOT PDF report, which is available on the department’s website under the “Public Feedback” tab. The PDF contains a detailed statistical analysis and an appendix of open‑ended comments, which can be a useful resource for local planners and journalists alike. In addition, the article referenced a link to the “Pennsylvania Transportation Investment Program” (PTIP) website, where stakeholders can see how the survey results will shape future funding allocations.

The Bigger Picture

PennDOT’s survey initiative is part of a larger push across the United States to make infrastructure projects more transparent and citizen‑centric. With federal funding under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), states are under pressure to demonstrate that taxpayer dollars are translating into tangible benefits. By actively listening to the public’s concerns and translating them into policy, PennDOT aims to reduce construction‑related frustration and build a more resilient road network for all Pennsylvanians.

In Summary

The WGAL article on PennDOT’s road‑bridge feedback survey reveals a department in the midst of a transformation—from reactive construction management to a proactive, data‑driven, community‑focused model. While satisfaction with traffic detours and safety measures is generally high, gaps remain in communication and local‑business impacts. PennDOT’s forthcoming actions—ranging from digital updates to community forums—suggest a clear commitment to addressing these issues. As the state prepares to allocate significant federal dollars to roadway and bridge projects, the feedback gathered today will help ensure that the infrastructure built tomorrow serves the people who depend on it.