PA Turnpike plans changes after winter storm that stranded hundreds

In the aftermath of January’s winter storm in which hundreds of people were left stranded on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, a list of recommendations have been released in hopes of preventing similar incidents in the future.

The list of 22 recommendations was put out by the Turnpike Commission in its after-action report.

"We don't want to spend millions on this project. However, we want to be better prepared so there's a balance there that has to take place,” Carl DeFebo, with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, said.%

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Recommendations include maintaining emergency supply rations when drivers are stopped for long periods of time, working closer with local responders and the National Guard and improving its social media presence to keep drivers better informed.

“We really want to think strategically about this. We identified those areas where something like this would be more likely to happen, like Somerset or Bedford, and make sure we stockpile at those locations,” DeFebo said.

The report also recommends evaluating access ramps, gates and median barriers to better manage backlogged traffic.

Turnpike chief executive officer Mark Compton said tractor-trailers blocked both lanes of traffic during the January storm, and passenger cars became trapped behind tractor-trailers. Officials are looking for ways to increase truck parking along the entire turnpike.

More than 500 vehicles were stranded on a 16-mile turnpike stretch 80 miles southeast of Pittsburgh as the storm brought two feet of snow to some areas.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Cox Media Group