Transportation in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania

Transportation in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania has a long and varied history. The area was settled in the mid 1700s. Transportation was mostly using the Susquehanna River and railroad as Williamsport was a travel hub or center for Central Pennsylvania.

A Delta Air Lines Boeing 757 at Williamsport Regional Airport, the airport is the areas main travel hub

Modern transportation includes aviation, infrastructure such as roadways, bridges and highways.

Transportation demographics

Transportation to work as of 2011

  Drive (73%)
  Public Transportation (13%)
  Walk or bike (9%)
  Other (5%)

In an online poll done by the Williamsport Sun Gazette a majority (approx. 73%) of residents in Lycoming County 25 years of age and up get to work in a vehicle. 13% uses public transportation, 9% walk or bike to work and 5% other modes of transportation.

79% of 500 Lycoming county residents interviewed said that they have used public transportation at least once, and 73% of riders say they are happy with service. "Service" includes, fair prices, time and bus interior condition (trash on floor, broken seats etc.)

Transportation infrastructure

Bridges

Roadways

Over 3,500 miles of roadways throughout the county.

Railroads

History
Map of the Lycoming Valley Railroad (red) and Norfolk Southern Railway (blue) lines in Lycoming County.

Vast stands of timber and nearby coal deposits brought three early railroads to the Williamsport and Lycoming County area. After drifting logs down the West Branch Susquehanna River became impractical. Transporting logs and other goods by rail was faster and more business-friendly. After the logging boom from 1880 to 1930 the area railroads were used for passenger lines connecting Williamsport to Philadelphia, State College, Pittsburgh, Allentown and the Wilkes Barre-Scranton area.

The areas rail lines schedule has decreased in the past 25 years. As of 2011 <10 daily train movements in Lycoming County (excl. inter-county rail operations accounts for <5 daily rail movement).

Highways

Current highways
See also: List of quadrant routes in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania

Highways in Lycoming County include Pennsylvania State Routes: 14, 42, 44, 87, 184, 284, 287, 405, 442, 554, 654, 864, 880, 973. U.S. Routes: 15 and 220. Also Interstate I-180.

Major roadways

The following are major roadways in Lycoming County:

Airports
See also: List of airports in Pennsylvania and Williamsport Regional Airport

There is one airport in Lycoming. Williamsport Regional Airport is a fully operational public airport with daily commercial flights. The airport serves Williamsport, Pennsylvania and the surrounding Lycoming County area and serves about 25,000 annual passengers. The airport is located five miles east of Williamsport, in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. It is owned by the Williamsport Municipal Airport Authority.[1]

Passenger numbers
Year Passengers Change Airline
2009 19,753 N/A US Airways Express
2010 22,457 13.7%
2011 24,401 8.7%
2012 25,949 6.3%
2013 23,194 10.6%
2014 24,645 6.3%
2015 21,886 11.2% American Eagle
2016 N/A -

Growth and continued expansion

Airport
Existing terminal (1954-2018) that will be torn down in 2018 when replaced with new, modern terminal building.

Williamsport Regional Airport received a $19 million expansion budget paid for by the Williamsport Municipal Airport Authority, local, state and federal governments to replace the old terminal and air-side improvements.

Other improvements other that the terminal include. Upgrades to the instrument landing system and runway safety area. Construction of a parallel taxiway, re-marking of the airfield to adhere to FAA directives. Construction of new taxiway “C” to the terminal ramp and upgrades to the airfield taxiways lighting system.

Roadways

Williamsport and county authorities along with PennDOT created a master plan through the year 2025. Which includes up-keep, construction and re-construction of area, highways and roadways.

Public transit

In 2015 the River Valley Transit Corp. introduce the new Trade and Transit II and upgrades to its bus terminal in downtown Williamsport. Also additions to bus routes and new natural gas busses with a cleaner burn. Which then produces reduced prices for riders.[2]

References
  1. "Enplanements for CY 2008" (PDF, 1.0 MB). CY 2008 Passenger Boarding and All-Cargo Data. Federal Aviation Administration. December 18, 2009. External link in |work= (help)
  2. "Region gets boost in bus and air transport menu". Sun Gazette. 11 September 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
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