The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) has approved the 2027–2030 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), effective Oct. 1. This document, which was approved unanimously by commission members at a June 22 meeting, will direct $4.7 billion in infrastructure investment across the 10-county region.
Several projects will affect motorists in the West Hills, assuming they will be undertaken as planned.
Among the more expensive projects included in the TIP are the third phase of the McKees Rocks Bridge preservation project ($22.5 million) and the diverging diamond interchange at Route 22-30/Route 60/Interstate 376 ($16.5 million). Also in the TIP list is the Campbells Run Road reconstruction project ($23.1 million), which is already underway.
Other projects listed in the program are Stowe Tunnel reconstruction project ($6.296 million), the Coraopolis Bridge reconstruction project ($12 million), a state Route 50 flood mitigation project in Scott Township and Carnegie ($7.6 million) and a Neville Township traffic improvement project ($5 million).
The 2027-2030 TIP continues the implementation of the vision, goals and strategies identified in SPC’s Long Range Plan. The plan invests $2 billion in highways and bridges and $2.7 billion in public transit between 2027 and 2030, addressing infrastructure condition, safety and congestion across the region. This plan continues SPC’s proactive asset preservation, prioritizing investment in infrastructure rather than waiting for deterioration to demand costlier intervention.
On the transit side, funding will support bus and rail maintenance, station upgrades, and the purchase of more than 450 new buses and shared-ride vehicles. On the highway and bridge side, nearly half of the budget is directed toward replacing or repairing poor-condition bridges, an effort projected to reduce the region’s poor-bridge count by more than 13%.
The plan also allocates more than $750 million to projects near regional freight facilities, acknowledging the critical role that logistics and goods movement play in sustaining the Southwestern Pennsylvania economy. Additional investment will fund signal upgrades and Intelligent Transportation System communications to improve day-to-day traffic flow, as well as landslide remediation and flood mitigation to protect infrastructure from severe weather.
The 2027-2030 TIP reflects regional data, community feedback and public input gathered during the comment period — including open houses held in every county SPC serves. It is available for online viewing at: https://www.spcregion.org/programs-services/transportation/smartmoves-long-range-plan-transportation-improvement-program/
In a related story, PennDOT is encouraging Pennsylvanians to review and comment on the draft 2027 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The 2027 STIP is a list of projects identified for federal, state, local and private funding over a four-year period. The comment period will remain open until 5 p.m. June 30.
Three of the projects on the list will affect motorists in the West Hills – the third phase of the McKees Rocks Bridge rehabilitation, some work on the West End Bridge and a Stowe Tunnel rehabilitation project.
According to the draft STIP, the third phase of the McKees Rocks Bridge project will be done over three years starting in 2030 and ending in 2032 at a cost of $34 million. The West End Bridge work is slated to be done over seven years at a cost of over $100 million, with a target completion date of 2033.
The $9.5 million Stowe Tunnel rehabilitation project is scheduled to begin in 2030 and take two years to complete, according to the draft STIP.
The 2027 STIP is comprised of 24 regional Transportation Improvement Programs (TIPs), and a variety of additional programs. The STIP is updated every two years after the regional TIPs are submitted and approved and is scheduled to be adopted as part of the 12-Year Program update by the State Transportation Commission (STC) during the Aug. 5 STC Business meeting.
The projects included in the STIP are expected to receive funding, but being included in the plan does not guarantee a project will be built according to the original schedule or in its original form.
The draft STIP, including an infographic providing an overview of the STIP process, can be viewed online. Comments can be submitted by filling out the online comment form at TalkPATransportation.com or emailing comments and questions to RA-PennDOTSTC@pa.gov. The public may also call PennDOT to share their comments at 717-783-2262.
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