HIGHWAYS & BRIDGES
The Harrisburg region’s centralized location makes it a transportation hub, served by a multi-faceted transportation system including several interstates, intermodal and freight centers, freight and passenger rail, transit and a non-motorized network. Fulfilling the vision of the HATS 2050 RTP requires all these systems and networks to function seamlessly, efficiently, and safely.
The highways and roadways in the HATS region have evolved from old trade routes and trails that contributed to Pennsylvania’s “Keystone State” nickname and the establishment of Harrisburg as the state capital. These highways provide mobility for the region’s residents and visitors and serve as a driver of economic and community development. More information on the condition of the region’s traditional transportation assets is available in the Asset Management Focus Area chapter.
NATIONAL HIGHWAY SYSTEM —
The National Highway System identifies roads important to the nation’s economy, defense and mobility, including interstates, major highways, and important intermodal connectors. In the HATS region, the NHS includes I-81, I-83, I-76 (PA Turnpike) and I-283, US 11, US 15, US 22, US 322 and US 422, PA 283, PA 581, PA 230 and SR 3032 (Airport Connector Road), as well as Route 441/Texaco Road, Industrial Road in the City of Harrisburg, and Grayson Road in Swatara Township. The NHS mileage by county is illustrated in Table 1.
To view the National Highway System in the HATS region, click here for the interactive mapping application.
Table 1 - NHS Mileage by County
Source: PennDOT HIghway Statistics 2023
FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION —
FHWA developed the functional classification system to better define the role and objectives of different types of roadways regarding mobility and access. Generally, the NHS (discussed above) makes up the highest designations of functional classification. Below the NHS, the region’s remaining minor arterials and major collectors comprise the Harrisburg area’s Federal-Aid Highway System. As the name suggests, roads designated as Federal-Aid are eligible to receive federal funding for construction, maintenance, and operation. These Federal-Aid roads are critical to the everyday functioning of the HATS region, providing linkages between the NHS and local communities. Notable Federal-Aid roads in the region include US 209, PA 34, PA 74, PA 147, and PA 225. The remaining roads in the Harrisburg region are comprised of minor collectors and local roads. While these roads provide a great deal of access to neighborhoods and communities, they are not eligible for federal funds. As such, the maintenance and operation costs are largely the responsibility of local municipalities. Table 2 illustrates a complete accounting of the region’s linear miles broken down by county and functional classification.
To view the functional classification in the HATS region, click here for the interactive mapping application.
Table 2 - Mileage by Functional Classification
Source: PennDOT Highway Statistics 2023
Table 3 shows daily vehicle miles traveled (DVMT) by functional classification, illustrating general use of the region’s roadways. It is important to note the disparity between the percentage of the system’s linear miles made up of local roads (approximately 71%) and the percentage of the region’s total DVMT on local roads (approximately 8%). Conversely, the NHS accounts for approximately 6% region’s total linear miles, yet handles approximately 62% of region’s total DVMT.
Table 3 - DVMT by Functional Classification
Source: PennDOT Highway Statistics 2023
BRIDGES —
The region’s geography – mountains, valleys, streams and rivers – leads to bridges being a major feature and focus of our transportation system. As shown on Table 4, there are 1,329 bridges (over 20’ in length) in the HATS region, including 1,088 state-owned and 241 locally-owned. NHS bridges account for approximately 27% of the region’s bridge count, yet 67% of the total deck area. Conversely, locally-owned bridges account for 18% of the region’s bridge count, yet only approximately 8% of the total deck area. This illustrates the difference is typical size of structure between the NHS and locally-owned bridges, consistent with their designation.
To view the bridges in the HATS region, click here for the interactive mapping application.
Table 4 - Bridge Count and Deck Area by County
Source: PennDOT Highway Statistics 2023
LOCALLY-OWNED ASSETS —
Roadways and bridges owned by counties or municipalities but eligible for federal funding are an important part of our transportation network. For roadways, this designation is based on functional classification – major collector and above. Table 5 shows the length of locally-owned, federal aid eligible roadway by county. For bridges, eligibility for federal funding is based on bridge deck length – greater than 20’. Table 6 show the count of locally-owned, federal aid eligible bridges by county. In the past, HATS has taken targeted action to ensure these assets are subjected to the same data analysis and evaluation as state-owned roadways and bridges. This subject is discussed further in the Asset Management Focus Area chapter.
To view the locally-owned, federal aid eligible roadways and bridges in the HATS region, click here for the interactive mapping application.
OTHER TRANSPORTATION MODES
Table 6 - Federal Aid Bridges by County
Source: PennDOT Highway Statistics 2023
Table 5 - Federal Aid Roadway by County
Source: PennDOT Highway Statistics 2023
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES —
The City of Harrisburg is home to the Capital Area Greenbelt, a 20-mile loop trail connecting downtown to the surrounding neighborhoods and communities and extending to Fort Hunter Park. The Jonathon Eshenour Memorial Trail is a 13.5-mile multi-use trail connecting parks, commercial areas and neighborhoods in Derry Township. The Cumberland County Rail Trail currently connects Newville to Shippensburg Borough, with connections to Carlisle currently underway. Other important bicycle and pedestrian trails include the Stony Valley Rail Trail and Lykens Valley Rail Trail in northern Dauphin County and the Appalachian Trail, which runs through the HATS region from southwest Cumberland County to northeast Dauphin County. Additionally, designated routes in the region include PennDOT’s State Bicycle Route J, located along Route 11/15 in Cumberland and Perry counties and splitting into three branches heading to various points south at the Market Street Bridge in Wormleysburg Borough.
More information on the region’s existing bicycle and pedestrian facilities is available in the Active Transportation Focus Area chapter.
TRANSIT —
Fixed-route transit is provided in the HATS region by Susquehanna Regional Transit Authority (SRTA) and rabbittransit through their Capital Region service, with local routes serving locations in Cumberland and Dauphin Counties and commuter service connecting to Gettysburg, York, and Lebanon. SRTA operates more than 30 routes including express routes to Shippensburg, Carlisle and Hershey Park.
These fixed-routes connect to Amtrak stations in Harrisburg and Middletown, as well as Harrisburg International Airport, enabling connections well beyond the HATS region. At the other end of the spectrum, CAT facilitates “last mile” connections by accommodating bikes on all local and commuter buses.
More information on the region’s existing transit service is available in the Transit Focus Area chapter.
PASSENGER RAIL —
Two Amtrak lines are available in the HATS region – the Keystone Service, which provides frequent daily connections between Harrisburg and New York City through Philadelphia, and the Pennsylvanian Service, which provides once daily connections between New York City and Pittsburgh (and points further west). These lines are accessed by Amtrak stations at the Harrisburg Transportation Center in downtown Harrisburg (an NHS designated Intermodal Connector) and the newly reconstructed (opened in 2022) Middletown Station in Middletown Borough.
More information on the region’s existing passenger rail service is available in the Transit Focus Area chapter.
FREIGHT RAIL —
Norfolk Southern, a Class 1 railroad, is the primary provider of rail freight service, with over 198 miles of track in the HATS region as part of their Crescent Corridor. Along with the freight rail lines, Norfolk Southern operates NHS designated Intermodal Connectors at Rutherford Yards and Lucknow Terminals, where freight is transferred from rail to trucks. Other significant rail freight facilities are located throughout the region, including the NS Enola Yards in East Pennsboro Township. Additional short line freight rail service connects Middletown to Hummelstown and Carlisle to Gettysburg through Mt. Holly Springs.
More information on the region’s existing freight rail service is available in the Freight Focus Area chapter.
AVIATION —
The region is served by two primary airports: Harrisburg International Airport (HIA) in Lower Swatara Township, Dauphin County, and Capital City Airport (CCA) in Fairview Township, York County. HIA is south-central Pennsylvania’s primary passenger and air freight facility while CCA provides general aviation services. Since January 2, 1998, both HIA and CCA have been owned and operated by the Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority (SARAA).
HIA is Pennsylvania’s third-largest passenger airport. Most major US airline carriers and their subsidiary regional carriers serve the airport. It also houses an air cargo apron used by UPS, Fedex and American Airlines. Air traffic is controlled by the Federal Aviation Administration. The airport also has a US Customs facility to handle international activity. CCA functions as a reliever airport for HIA, handling excess aviation operations that would overburden or create safety hazards at HIA.
More information on the region’s aviation facilities is available in the Freight Focus Area chapter and the Transit Focus Area chapter.