COLLEGE TOWNSHIP — Because officials await the finalization of a traffic impact study for the vicinity of the new Pegula Ice Arena, the Planning Commission discussed it briefly Tuesday, then tabled it until August.
Commission members will discuss again during their Aug. 16 meeting the land development plan for the 224,000-square-foot, two-rink arena, which will aid in developing NCAA Division I men’s and women’s hockey programs at Penn State.
The arena will stand near the intersection of University Drive and Curtin Road, across from the Bryce Jordan Center. The site sits partially in State College borough.
The draft study, conducted by McCormick Taylor Inc., of State College, states that turning lanes don’t exist, but are needed, at nine locations in the area of the arena, among other notes.
Commission Vice Chairman Al Barbour pointed to, in a study review document, the fact that the arena plan eliminates 227 faculty and staff parking spaces and asked if those spaces will be located elsewhere.
Mark Saville, of Sweetland Engineering and Associates, said no, though the plan adds 63 spaces at the south side of the building, near the entrance to the community ice sheet. Other parking will take place — as with other Penn State events — across campus lots.
Barbour also asked if the U.S. Route 322 and Interstate 99 ramps will be studied at Park Avenue, which the review said may be necessary to address traffic volumes.
“There seems to be quite a few questions and things brought up,” Barbour said.
Saville said Sweetland will work with the state Department of Transportation on the ramp issue and that the ice arena will generate less traffic than a Jordan Center event.
Commission member Eric Bernier said he’s comfortable with the plan.
“But it’s clear in the traffic impact study there are a few discrepancies, so I could see us being uncomfortable with making a recommendation tonight,” he said.
Others agreed their questions were sufficiently answered.
The main event arena will seat about 6,000 people, while the second, considered the community rink, will seat about 300.
Construction is scheduled to begin in January, to be completed for opening in September 2013.
Jessica VanderKolk can be reached at 235-3910.
