Road plan may be delayed

By ANGELA J. GATES
Collegian Staff Writer

Plans for the Eastern Inner Loop, a major road system which would lessen traffic congestion on Atherton Street, could be delayed according to a recent review of proposed costs for the project.

The Centre Region Council of Governments Transportation Committee reported its initial proposal of $1.2 million to the State College Borough Council at a work session last night. The proposal was more than twice the amount borough council budgeted for the project.

The initial estimate of $500,000 was to fund studies of the environmental impact and engineering of the Loop, a proposed road system to connect University Drive with Clinton Avenue, Vairo Boulevard and the Mount Nittany Expressway.

Council member Elizabeth Goreham said plans for the Loop have been delayed because of questions concerning funding for the studies.

The major discrepancy between the two figures was attributed to several tasks that were not considered when the council established the budget.

Unconsidered tasks included costly issues such as a technical review of the project by the Centre Region Council of Governments. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation normally completes these reviews but cannot because the Loop is sponsored locally, a Centre Regional Planning Agency representative said.

The representative said, however, he thinks the cost estimate was realistic for the kind of study the project requires.

The Transportation Committee proposed borough council members discuss two issues that would help plans for development of the project and reduce delays.

First, it proposed the council agree to provide $36,000 in additional funding needed for the planning phase of the Loop project.

That sum would be divided among the six funding partners of the Eastern Inner Loop, including Penn State, Centre County commissioners, College Township Council, Ferguson and Patton townships' Board of Supervisors and the borough council.

The second proposal asked for the borough council to indicate whether it is willing to commit to paying additional funds needed to complete the construction phase of the project.