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2014 Official Road Map

After hearing that there was a new state highway map, I thought I would attempt to find one myself.  Sure enough, I found the sixth official map in a row to be printed. That is something which hasn’t happened in nearly 40 years. I snagged a copy of the 2014 official road map at the Welcome Center on Interstate 70 in Warfordsburg today.

Unlike in previous years, there were no changes of note since the 2013 version.  It is not as if nothing has happened or is currently happening in the state. One blatantly obvious omission is in Somerset County. A major project that has already begun there is construction of the “missing link” of US 219 expressway between Meyersdale and Somerset. Work began on February 15, 2013; however, it is missing on this year’s map. It is odd because this is a project that has been championed for years by local officials. One politician in particular who pushed for the road was the late US Representative John Murtha.

Construction of US 219 between Meyersdale and Somerset is missing on the 2014 official road map

It has the same dimensions as the previous year’s. However, the cover of the 2014 official road map features a picture of a 10-string Harp Guitar made by C. F. Martin & Company, Inc. of Nazareth.

Cover of the 2014 Department of Transportation map
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2013 Official Road Map

I stopped into my local driver’s license center to see if they had the new road maps. Sure enough, they did not disappoint and in fact did have copies of the 2013 official road map.  No idea why they decided to print another in succession, even so, here are the changes since last year.

Bucks County/Montgomery County
US 202 parkway completed from PA 463 to PA 611

US 202 parkway in Montgomery and Bucks counties completed from PA 463 to PA 611 on the 2013 official road map

Chester County
Exit 320/PA 29 E-ZPass-only slip ramp completed on Interstate 76/Pennsylvania Turnpike

PA 29 E-ZPass-only slip ramp shown as open on the 2013 official road map

Fayette County/Washington County
PA Turnpike 43 completed from Exit 22 to Exit 30

PA Turnpike 43 completed between Exit 22 and Exit 30 on the 2013 official road map

The E-ZPass-only slip ramps on the Pennsylvania Turnpike are now white-on-purple circles. Previous editions up to this point used the standard white-on-red circles. Those are the same that denote interchanges on the Turnpike System. Purple is the color in the federal Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices now used to denote electronic toll facilities. These interchanges are strictly all-electronic. In other words, they do not have staffed toll booths like the other ones on the original Turnpike.

Those are all the changes to the 2013 official road map. It has the same dimensions as the previous year’s. However, this year’s cover features a picture of the Gettysburg Battlefield.

Cover of the 2013 Department of Transportation map
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2012 Official Road Map

Today, I stopped by my local DMV to get my driver’s license renewed. It was an uneventful process. That probably had to do with the fact that there had been an icing event that morning and no one was out traveling as they were usually after Christmas. As I waited for the new one to finish laminating, I happen to notice down at the other end of the counter, stacks of state maps.  So, I picked up a copy of the 2012 official road map. I guess better late than never that I was able to secure a copy right under the wire.  No idea why the Department of Transportation and VisitPA decided to print another in succession, since there is only one change.

Montgomery County
US 202 Parkway shown as completed from US 202 to PA 463

US 202 parkway in Montgomery County completed from PA 63 to PA 463 on the 2012 official road map

The parkway is a “consolation prize” for the lack of a full expressway. Planning for, which took place in the 1960s and 1970s as the Piedmont Expressway. Rather than build an expressway, the new roadway is and will be an at-grade facility with separated trails for biking and walking along the route. This was the more favorable plan for the communities along the new US 202 alignment.

That is the only change to the 2012 official road map. It has the same dimensions as the previous year’s map. However, this year’s cover features a picture of a man kayaking on the north branch of the Susquehanna Water Trail.

Cover of the 2012 Department of Transportation map
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2011 Official Road Map

Today I received an order from PennDOT which included a copy of the 2011 official road map.  It is not surprising PennDOT went to the trouble of printing one, since we elected a new Governor last year and therefore have a new Secretary of Transportation.  These are the changes since the 2010 edition:

Fayette County
PA Turnpike 43 completed from West Virginia to Exit 2 and the US 119/PA 51 interchange to Exit 15

PA Turnpike 43 from the West Virginia state line to Exit 2 and the US 119/PA 51 interchange shown as completed on the 2011 official turnpike map

Indiana County
US 22 is now a four-lane, divided highway from just east of Blairsville to Armagh

US 22 in Indiana County now a four-lane divided highway on the 2011 official road map

Lycoming County
US 15 upgraded to an expressway from north of PA 14 to PA 184

US 15 completed as an expressway through Lycoming County on the 2011 official road map

Pittsburgh Inset
Consol Energy Center shown

Consol Energy Center completed on the 2011 official road map

Erie Inset
PA 299 removed from Powell Avenue

PA 299 decommissioned on the 2011 official road map

Philadelphia Inset
Street Road E-ZPass-only slip ramp completed

Street Road E-ZPass slip ramp completed on the 2011 official road map

Those are all the changes to the 2011 official road map. For most of the URLs on the map, there is a likewise corresponding Microsoft Tag to scan with a smartphone. However, the link for VisitPA uses a regular QR Code.

No longer appearing on the map is the yellow shading of “Selected Built Up Areas.” Meanwhile, the dark, shaded areas of urban concentrations remain.  State Game Lands have changed from a peach coloring to a tan one.  The State Park textured color used to indicate the extent of said park has been removed, but it remains in the city insets.

Above all, the US 22/US 322 shield error on the 2010 map on the Penn-Lincoln Parkway at PA 60 is now the correct US 22/US 30 shield.  There is now an inset for the Elk Scenic Drive in the upper left corner over Lake Erie. A yellow highlight instead of an orange one indicates its path on the main map.

It has the same dimensions as the previous year’s map. However, this year’s cover features a picture of Independence Hall.

Cover of the 2011 Department of Transportation map
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2011 Official Turnpike Map

Today, the ribbon-cutting event for the latest section of Mon-Fayette Expressway occurred. Not only did I pick up several free bottles of water compliments of the Turnpike Commission, I picked up something I haven’t seen in years:  a new 2011 official Turnpike map.

The PTC’s “belt-tightening” in recent years led to them not printing a map. It is evident by looking at this one, as it is much smaller than its 2004 ancestor. The reason for this change is in a note below the legend:

To conserve natural and fiscal resources, our Travel Guide and Map is half the size of earlier editions. The new size also responds to a shift in how travelers — in an age of online maps and GPS devices — use printed maps today.

In addition, the map is not a PennDOT official. The Turnpike System is not highlighted in green, with a white-on-green Keystone shield denoting the route number. That was the standard since the 1980s.  It appears with these two changes that the Turnpike map is returning to its ones from the 1960s and 1970s, which were printed by Rand McNally and General Drafting.

The main map of Pennsylvania features images of postcards of the Turnpike at the top of the map. A mention of the 70 years of the Turnpike is in the corner, the milestone celebrated the year before.  One change I like is that the background of the border states are not pink or purple as they were on the 2004 map.

The back side of the map still includes information on E-ZPass and commercial trucking regulations.  There is toll information but just like the first run of tickets this year, there is no fare schedule. There are strip maps for the system. However, the insets of cities which the Turnpike passes through are no longer.  The following are changes since the 2004 edition:

Allegheny County/Washington County
PA Turnpike 576 completed between Interstate 376 and US 22

PA Turnpike 576 shown as completed on the 2011 official turnpike map

Beaver County/Lawrence County
Interstate 376 replaced PA Turnpike 60

Interstate 376 replaces PA Turnpike 60 on the 2011 official turnpike map

Fayette County
PA Turnpike 43 completed from Exit 15 to Exit 22

Fayette County/Washington County
PA Turnpike 43 under construction from US 40 to PA 88

PA Turnpike 43 completed from Exit 15 to Exit 22 and under construction from there to PA 88 on the 2011 official turnpike map

The Turnpike Commission has PDF versions of the strip maps for the mainline, PA Turnpike 376, and PA Turnpike 66; PA Turnpike 43; and PA Turnpike 576 available at their website.

The cover of the 2011 official Turnpike map features three postcards of various sections from the original Turnpike, with the logo of the 70th anniversary in the middle.

Cover of the 2011 Turnpike Travel Guide and Map
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2010 Official Road Map

Today, I stopped at the welcome center on Interstate 70 at the Maryland state line in Warfordsburg and picked up a copy of the 2010 official road map.  I am surprised PennDOT even bothered to print one this late in the year that isn’t a “B” version, especially since there will be a new governor come Tuesday.  These are the changes since the 2009 edition, all of which involve the extension of Interstate 376:

Allegheny County/Pittsburgh Inset
Interstate 376 extended west beyond I-279 to multiplex with US 22/US 30 and replace PA 60
Interstate Business Loop 376 replaced Business PA 60

Interstate 376 extended and Interstate Business Loop 376 signed on the 2009 official road map.

Beaver County/Lawrence County/New Castle Inset
Interstate 376 replaced PA 60 and PA Turnpike 60

Interstate 376 replaces PA 60 and PA Turnpike 60 on the 2009 official road map.

Mercer County
Interstate 376 replaced PA 60
PA 760 replaced PA 60 from I-80 to Sharon

Interstate 376 replaces PA 60 and PA 760 signed in Mercer County.

Those are all the changes to the 2010 official road map. In addition, there are two mentions of the new 511 system:  one on the back cover under the list of welcome centers and another at the top next to the legend.

Rarely do I find an error on the official maps, but this year there is a blatant one near the junction of the Penn-Lincoln Parkway and PA 60 west of Pittsburgh.  A US 22/US 322 shield is located where there should be, and last year was, a US 22/US 30 shield.

It has the same dimensions as the previous year’s. However, this year’s cover features a view of Johnstown from the Inclined Plane station above the city in Westmont.

Cover of the 2010 Department of Transportation map
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2009 Official Road Map

This past weekend, I stopped at the welcome center on Interstate 70 at the Maryland state line in Warfordsburg. In doing so, I picked up a copy of the 2009 official road map. Here are the changes since the 2007 editions:

Berks County/Chester County
PA 82 removed between Elverson and Birdsboro

PA 82 shown truncated on the 2009 official road map.

Blair County/Centre County/State College Inset
Interstate 99 completed from Bald Eagle to State College in addition to being signed from there to Interstate 80

Interstate 99 is completed between Bald Eagle and State College and signed from there to Interstate 80 on the 2009 official road map.

Fayette County
PA Turnpike 43 completed between Exit 15 and Exit 22 and shown under construction between Exit 22 and PA 88

PA Turnpike 43 open between Uniontown and Brownsville, and under construction around the latter.

Lehigh County/Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton Inset
US 222/Trexlertown Bypass completed from PA 100 to Interstate 78

US 222/Trexlertown Bypass completed between PA 100 and Interstate 78.

Tioga County
US 15 finished from PA 287 to New York and PA 287 extended further along old US 15 to Lawrenceville

US 15 completed in Tioga County on the 2009 official road map.

New Castle Inset
US 224 extended further than US 422/PA 60 eastward on State Street and Falls Street

US 224 extended in Lawrence County on the 2009 official road map.

In conclusion, those are all the changes to the 2009 official road map. It has the same dimensions as the previous year’s; however, this year’s cover is of an Amish buggy driving on one of the newly designated Civil War Trails. You can view the map at PennDOT’s GIS page.

If the Departments of Transportation and Tourism would have waited, they could have given a shout-out to our three professional sports teams that won championships in the past year. The North Carolina Department of Transportation did that for the Carolina Hurricanes on the cover of their 2007 map.

Cover of the 2009 official road map.
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2007 Official Road Map

Last month, I received a copy of the 2007 official road map from the Department of Transportation’s Map Sales office. I was fortunate to be able to receive it just before the state shut down due to not being able to pass a budget.  Here are the changes since the 2006 edition:

Allegheny County/Washington County/Pittsburgh inset:
PA Turnpike 576 completed and open to traffic between US 22 and PA 60

PA Turnpike 576 completed on the 2007 official road map.

Berks County:
US 222 completed and now indicated with the red “expressway stripe” between PA 272 and Shillington

US 222 completed on the 2007 official road map.

Fayette County:
PA Turnpike 43 shown as under construction north of US 40 from US 119 to Brier Hill

PA Turnpike 43 under construction on the 2007 official road map.

Tioga County:
US 15 shown as under construction from PA 49 to the New York state line

US 15 under construction on the 2007 official road map.

Altoona inset:
Osgood Drive completed on the eastern side of I-99/US 220 between Exit 32 and Exit 33

Osgood Drive completed in Altoona on the 2007 official road map.

New Castle inset:
PA 65 extended from Business US 422 to end at PA 108/PA 168

PA 65 extended in New Castle on the 2007 official road map.

The map has the same dimensions as the previous year’s. However, this year’s cover is from America’s Most Livable City, Pittsburgh, with a man creating a mural in chalk on the West End overlook. You can view the 2007 official road map at Department of Transportation’s Graphical Information System page.

Cover of first version of the 2007 official road map.
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2006 Official Road Map

It’s that time of the year when I receive in the mail a copy of the new 2006 official road map.  The following are the changes since the 2005 edition:

Erie County/Erie Inset
PA 290 now signed on the Bayfront Connector and East 12th Street between Interstate 90 and Interstate 79.

PA 290 signed through Erie on the 2006 official road map.

Jefferson County
PA 949 extended from its previous terminus in Corsica south to Summerville

PA 949 extended southward on the 2006 official road map.

Lehigh County/Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton Inset
PA 100 removed from Trexlertown Road through Trexlertown and signed on its bypass

PA 100 now bypasses Trexlertown on the 2006 official road map.

Mifflin County
Northern Lewistown Bypass completed with US 22 rerouted off of William Penn Highway, Fourth Street, and Juniata Street through the borough and Business US 22 signed to take its place

US 22 now bypasses Lewistown and Business US 22 now signed through the borough on the 2006 official road map.

Tioga County
US 15 (I-99) under construction from PA 287 to PA 49

US 15 under construction between PA 287 and PA 49 on the 2006 official road map.

Those are all the changes to the 2006 official road map. It seems that practically every state agency has some advertisement on the back of the map now.  I am surprised that one of those advertisements was not for our new Gaming Control Board in order to get people ready to drop some money at one of our casinos. Whenever we get them.  I guess we just have to wait for that to come in a future edition.

Cover of 2006 official road map.
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