Transportation in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Transportation in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania has a long and interesting history. This area was first settled in the mid-1700s. Back then, people mostly traveled using the Susquehanna River and by railroad. Williamsport was a major travel center for Central Pennsylvania.
Today, transportation includes things like aviation (flying), and important structures like roadways, bridges, and highways.
Contents
How People Travel to Work
How people traveled to work in 2011 Drive (73%) Public Transportation (13%) Walk or bike (9%) Other (5%)
An old survey by the Williamsport Sun Gazette newspaper showed how people in Lycoming County traveled to work. About 73% of adults (25 years and older) drove a vehicle. About 13% used public transportation, which means buses or other shared rides. 9% walked or rode a bike, and 5% used other ways to get around.
The survey also found that 79% of 500 Lycoming County residents had used public transportation at least once. Most of these riders (73%) were happy with the service. They liked the fair prices, on-time service, and clean buses.
Important Transportation Structures
Bridges in Lycoming County
Bridges help people and vehicles cross rivers and valleys. Here are some important bridges in Lycoming County:
- Carl E. Stotz Memorial Little League Bridge (used to be called Market Street Bridge)
- Maynard Street Bridge
- Arch Street Bridge
- Broad Street Bridge (also known as The Green Bridge)
- Loyalsock Creek Railroad Bridge
- Many bridges for Interstate 180 and US 15
Roadways
Lycoming County has over 3,500 miles of roads. These roads connect towns and allow people to travel all over the county.
Railroads
History of Trains in the Area
Long ago, Lycoming County had lots of trees and coal nearby. This led to three early railroads being built in the Williamsport area. At first, logs were floated down the West Branch Susquehanna River. But using trains to move logs and other goods was much faster and better for businesses.
After the big logging period from 1880 to 1930, the railroads were used to carry passengers. Trains connected Williamsport to cities like Philadelphia, State College, Pittsburgh, Allentown, and the Wilkes Barre-Scranton area.
Over the last 25 years, the number of passenger trains in the area has gone down. As of 2011, fewer than 10 trains moved through Lycoming County each day.
Highways
Main Highways in Lycoming County
Highways are major roads that help people travel longer distances. Here are some of the main highways in Lycoming County:
- Pennsylvania State Routes: 14, 42, 44, 87, 184, 284, 287, 405, 442, 554, 654, 864, 880, 973.
- U.S. Routes: 15 and 220.
- Interstate: I-180.
Important Local Roads
These are some major local roads in Lycoming County:
- Broad Street in Montoursville
- East Third Street in Williamsport and Loyalsock Township
- Market Street in Williamsport
- South Market Street in South Williamsport
- Haststings Street in South Williamsport
- Four Mile Drive in Loyalsock Township
- Northway Road in Loyalsock Township
- West Southern Avenue in South Williamsport
Airports
Lycoming County has one airport called Williamsport Regional Airport. It is a busy public airport with daily commercial flights. The airport serves Williamsport and the surrounding Lycoming County area. It helps about 25,000 passengers travel each year. The airport is located five miles east of Williamsport and is owned by the Williamsport Municipal Airport Authority.
How Many Passengers Fly?
| 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 | - |
New Developments and Improvements
Airport Upgrades
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Williamsport Regional Airport received a large budget of $19 million for improvements. This money came from the Williamsport Municipal Airport Authority, local, state, and federal governments. The funds were used to replace the old terminal building and make other upgrades to the airport's flying areas.
Other improvements included:
- Better instrument landing systems and safer runway areas.
- Building a new parallel taxiway (a path for planes to move on the ground).
- Re-marking the airfield to follow FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) rules.
- Building a new taxiway "C" to the terminal area.
- Upgrading the lighting system for the airfield taxiways.
Roadway Plans
Williamsport and county leaders, along with PennDOT (Pennsylvania Department of Transportation), created a plan for roads through the year 2025. This plan includes keeping roads in good condition, building new ones, and rebuilding older roads and highways.
Public Transit Improvements
In 2015, the River Valley Transit Corp. opened the new Trade and Transit II center and upgraded its bus terminal in downtown Williamsport. They also added new bus routes and started using new natural gas buses. These cleaner-burning buses helped reduce prices for riders.
