Pittsburgh, PA—The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission’s (SPC) Board of Directors has named Rich Fitzgerald as the organization’s new Executive Director. Fitzgerald will officially assume this role on Jan. 2, 2024 once his tenure as Allegheny County Executive concludes. As the federally certified metropolitan planning organization (MPO) and local development district (LDD) serving 10 counties in Southwestern Pennsylvania, SPC plans for the continued growth of the region.
Read more »From May 15-21, Individuals that Track their Commute Can Enter to Win Big Prizes.
Today, the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC), the region’s metropolitan planning organization, kicked off a one-week long Commuter Challenge—an effort to encourage local residents to take sustainable modes of transportation like carpooling, vanpooling, and biking.
The Commuter Challenge is an initiative of Commute Info, a ride sharing program that offers multiple solutions for individuals or businesses looking to travel in a more green, sustainable way.
Read more »The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) hosted the first of its kind, Regional Broadband & Connectivity Summit, bringing together regional stakeholders, industry and non-profit experts, and local, state and federal governments and agencies to address equitable and affordable access to high-speed broadband internet in southwestern Pennsylvania.
“The goal of this summit was to identify the region’s state of broadband access and affordability, discuss challenges and opportunities at the regional, state and federal level, and understand how local government, providers, and community institutions will need to work together to achieve digital equity and maximize broadband investments here in southwestern Pennsylvania,” said Butler County Commissioner Leslie Osche, who also chairs SPC.
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The Southwestern Pennsylvania (SWPA) Connected initiative today announced the launch of the Connectivity Roadmap, a guidance tool, to support the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC), county leadership, and regional stakeholders in the 10-county region and the City of Pittsburgh to develop and prioritize connectivity projects and associated programs to secure funding.
The Connectivity Roadmap was developed in collaboration with representatives of the 10 counties, state and local governments, and industry experts, and through public engagement in the communities most impacted by the lack of reliable or affordable internet. Southwestern Pennsylvania is now positioned to secure federal and state broadband funding through the roadmap’s implementation guide and tools.
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In recognition of his outstanding service to TRB and advancement of innovations in public transportation partnerships, Vincent Valdes is the 2021 recipient of the W.N. Carey, Jr., Distinguished Service Award. Mr. Valdes is the is the Executive Director of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC), the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization for a ten-county region including the City of Pittsburgh, where he leads a team of planners, program managers, transportation specialists and engineers working to create a common regional vision and transportation implementation program for the communities of southwestern Pennsylvania. The Carey Award—named in honor of W.N. Carey, Jr., TRB’s Executive Director from 1967 to 1980—recognizes individuals who have given leadership and distinguished service to TRB.
The award will be presented on Wednesday, January 12, 2022, during the Chair’s Plenary Session portion of the TRB Annual Meeting, January 9-13, 2022, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.
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CommuteInfo is excited to announce that its vanpooling fleet now offers SUVs and minivans for use in the vanpooling program!
Based on pooler input, and a review of pooling opportunities nationally, CommuteInfo, in cooperation with its pooling partner, Commute with Enterprise, is now making both minivans and SUVs available along with the full-size vans for the use of pooling groups. These new additions to the fleet will allow for groups of 5-7 participants to take advantage of pooling and contribute to the positive outcomes vanpooling provides to our region. These include reduced transportation costs, reduced carbon emissions, reduced traffic congestion, reduced wear and tear on our roadways and bridges, and reduced transportation anxieties and frustrations.
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SPC Announces Vincent Valdes as New Executive Director & President/CEO
Pittsburgh, PA—The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) Board has selected Vincent Valdes, an engineer and planner, as the new President & CEO of the organization.
“We are very excited for Vince to begin leading our regional planning and transportation organization,” said County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Chair of the SPC Board. “His experience, enthusiasm, knowledge and background are exactly what we need as we enter into a new era of transportation and economic growth for the region.”
The search committee, chaired by Commissioner Larry Maggi, former SPC Chair and Washington County Commissioner, led this process with the help of search firm Krauthamer & Associates. The committee sought a dynamic and innovative leader who could manage a complex planning organization and who would be willing to roll up his or her sleeves to build, inspire and develop a regional plan to support this region’s growth.
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SPC Completes 3rd Cycle of Regional Traffic Signal Program
Nearly $4 Million in Upgrades to 148 Intersections
Pittsburgh, PA- The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission’s (SPC) award-winning Regional Traffic Signal Program is committed to implementing projects with their federal, state, and local planning partners that demonstrate innovation, coordination, and measurable results. Since 2008, this program and its projects embody the implementation of safe and efficient traffic operations, providing outstanding cost-savings, environmental, and quality-of-life benefits to the communities and residents throughout the 10-county Southwestern Pennsylvania region. SPC, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), its planning partners, and local municipalities across the region, has completed its third cycle of projects under the Regional Traffic Signal Program.
Nationwide, these types of signal projects, on average, have yielded $20 to $40 of public benefit for every $1 invested—in part by making the most efficient use of the transportation infrastructure already in place.
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The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) is announcing the launch of a new project website and online mapping survey aimed at providing project information and gathering the public’s input related to the Route 28 corridor from Kittanning to Interstate 80 (I-80).
SPC, in partnership with the Northwest Pennsylvania Commission; North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission; Armstrong, Clarion and Jefferson Counties; and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Engineering District 10-0, initiated the study in December to identify potential improvements along the approximately 40 mile stretch of Route 28 located in Armstrong, Clarion and Jefferson Counties.
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Rich Fitzgerald, Tony Amadio and Leslie Osche
Elected Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary-Treasurer
Pittsburgh—The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) Board has elected Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald as its new Chairman, Beaver County Commissioner Tony Amadio as Vice Chairman, and Butler County Commissioner Leslie Osche as Secretary-Treasurer. The team will play integral roles in coordinating economic development and transportation infrastructure investment decisions in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
“County Executive Fitzgerald, Commissioner Amadio and Commissioner Osche will be a strong team for the challenges ahead. SPC is the place to make real progress and this team knows the value of coming together at the regional table,” said Jim Hassinger, SPC Executive Director.
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