In an unrelated search for information, I just came across the following news article in the June 6, 2007, Trib that I found interesting:

"N. Huntingdon braces for more traffic woes"

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/search/s_511259.html

Here are some of my favorite parts of the article:

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Blenko said approval was given for Wal-Mart without roadway improvements first being made.

"Unfortunately, the cart was put before the horse with that project," he said.
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Gee, no kidding!?! I wonder how many college degrees it took to figure that one out. NOTE: I'm not insulting Mr. Blenko (I'm grateful for his intellectual and realistic report); I'm referring to the people who planned and approved this project who didn't seem to think there would be a traffic problem with this Mills Pointe Plaza plan.

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A study was done in 1977 by township police of the nearly eight miles of Route 30 running through the municipality, Blenko said.

"Thirty years later, Route 30 remains essentially unchanged, yet far more dangerous due to increased traffic volume," he said. "Although some improvements have been made, primarily due to recent development, the improvements lag far behind the needs of the corridor that acts as a major throughway between Westmoreland County and Allegheny County."
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Thank you, Mr. Blenko, I'm glad you have reported on this and that your words have made it to the newspapers. With the application of a little common sense, I remember thinking the very same things. I remember hearing the same thoughts and concerns voiced repeatedly at the numerous North Huntingdon Township public hearings on Mills Pointe.

Funny how we little ol' residents don't seem to know very much about such high-tech matters like traffic congestion.

And just wait until construction on Route 30 does begin. Pennsylvania Avenue is going to be come a bumper-to-bumper parking lot as people try to find alternate routes around the congested construction area. Already I've seen rush-hour traffic backed up on Pennsylvania Ave. from the three-way stop at Brush Hill Road all the way past the light at Barnes Lake Road extension to the Turnpike overpass! And there was no traffic being diverted off of Route 30 because of an accident or anything.

Oh, but what am I thinking? That can't be right -- I'm just a little ol' resident.

~smr