PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

The offices of the Lower Paxton Township Public Works Department are located at the Jack F. Hurley Transportation and Maintenance Center, 5975 Locust Lane.  This 25,000 square foot facility opened in 1988 and was dedicated to a former Township Manager who served our community from 1970 to 1987.  Public Works can be contacted at (717) 657-5615 and faxes can be sent to (717) 657-5616, or you may email your request to mebremah@lowerpaxton-pa.gov.

The annual operating budget for the Public Works Department is nearly $3 million. Funding for Department activities is obtained from the Township's General Fund and from the Pennsylvania Liquid Fuels Tax Act of 1956. Liquid Fuels Funds are distributed to municipalities by the Commonwealth according to a formula based upon population and miles of municipal roads.

To provide for the maintenance and construction of public facilities, the development of municipal properties, and related services, Lower Paxton Township possesses a full service Public Works Department.  This primary responsibility of the Public Works Department is to maintain the estimated 187 miles of Township roadway.  The following list summarizes the major activities undertaken by the Public Works Department:

• Roadway resurfacing.
• Traffic line painting and installation of traffic signs.
• Snow plowing and application of anti-skid materials.
• Pothole patching and pavement repair.
• Maintenance of traffic signals.
• Maintenance of bridges.
• Grading of roadway berms and shoulder areas.
• Installation and maintenance of storm sewer systems.
• Tree trimming and grass cutting along public rights-of-way.
• Collection of leaves during the fall season.
• Leaf waste collection (bi-weekly)
• Street sweeping.
• Park maintenance, including athletic fields and courts.
• Management of the compost facility.
• Municipal vehicle and equipment maintenance.

The transportation network serving Lower Paxton Township is maintained by the Public Works Department.  This network has proven to be an effective and efficient roadway system.  Existing traffic patterns and volumes are accommodated by the current system of state and local roads.  The Board of Supervisors plans for short term traffic impacts in the review and approval of development proposals.  On a more long term basis the Township's transportation network is studied in specific detail as part of the 2003 Comprehensive Plan.

As part of its roadway maintenance activities, the Public Works Department resurfaces approximately eight miles of local roads each year.  The current cost for materials to complete this work is approximately $450,000.  However, as our number of road miles increase and as older pavements age, it is recognized that the Township must pave more road miles on an annual basis in the years to come.

~1 - 2 - 3~