The project to widen parts of Park Avenue could be advanced in rank on a Centre County planning organization's list of priorities from No. 72 to No. 6 of more than 140 items.

Last night, the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) formed a committee that will consider elevating the rankings of certain projects, including the widening of Park Avenue from two lanes to four from Bigler Road to Mount Nittany Expressway, past Beaver Stadium, Dan Klees, chairman of the MPO coordinating committee, said.

Elizabeth Goreham, vice chairwoman of MPO and State College Borough Council member, said Centre Region Council of Governments (COG) recommended that the project be moved to rank No. 6.

"There were several projects that we decided need to be raised in rank," Goreham said. "That committee will consider various projects and consider re-ranking them."

Klees said there was no action taken tonight that will place the project that high on the list, but the committee that was formed will consider the request that was made by COG.

"We chose an extensive list of projects that different municipalities requested be considered," Klees said. "We don't know yet what tools we will use to do an evaluation."

The committee, which comprises five elected members who also serve on the MPO, will consider 10 to 12 projects that are in the running for consideration of re-ranking, Klees said. Klees, who will chair the committee, said other projects on the list also have timely importance to people.

He said the committee's purpose is to review the items and decide their priorities, which could end up being exactly where they currently stand.

"Theoretically, the committee could decide that the list in front of us is still the best list," Klees said.

Goreham, who will also sit on the newly formed committee, said she anticipates the recommendation of re-ranking will be made in the next couple of weeks.

Ronald Buckalew, Centre Regional Planning Commission representative to the MPO, said that to his recollection, the "voice vote" to support the motion to boost Park Avenue's rank had no opposition.

"There was support for raising it in the ranking because there is very limited amount of transportation money available," Buckalew said. "Sometimes we are talking about 20 years out."

Jack Shannon, John Elnitski and Bob Corman will sit on the committee as well as a representative from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, who Klees said is not yet known.