The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has completed a field review of Center Avenue in Jim Thorpe Borough and has begun preliminary design work toward a future improvement project.

The agency, however, has rejected the borough’s request to redirect funding already earmarked for a nearby state route.

PennDOT District 5 Press Officer Ronald J. Young Jr. confirmed the agency is actively looking for a path forward on a road the borough has described as a safety hazard and an economic liability, but said money committed to Route 903 will stay there.

“The Route 903 work is already programmed with design work underway,” Young said. “The funding has been programmed for Route 903 and at this time will not be reallocated for Center Avenue.”

The comments came after Council President Connor Rodgers sent a formal letter April 29 to PennDOT Engineering District 5-0, addressed to district engineer Christopher Kufro and copied to PennDOT Assistant Executives Michael Guidon and Scott Vottero, as well as state Sen. David Argall and state Rep. Doyle Heffley.

In it, Rodgers described Center Avenue, also known as The Liberties and designated as State Route 3014, as having deteriorated to a point where patchwork repairs are no longer an option.

“The roadway has significantly declined in recent years, presenting numerous hazards including widespread potholes, uneven surfaces, and the reemergence of underlying brick layers through the pavement,” Rodgers wrote. “These conditions pose a risk of vehicle damage and create safety concerns for residents, emergency responders, and the many visitors traveling through our community.”

The borough cited its own review of PennDOT’s 4-year and 12-year transportation plans, noting that Center Avenue does not appear in either document. At the same time, Rodgers pointed out that Route 903, which was last paved in 2022, is scheduled for repaving again this year, and asked the agency to consider shifting those funds to the more deteriorated route instead.

Route 903 first

PennDOT’s response offered a data-driven explanation for why Route 903 takes precedence. Young noted that Center Avenue carries an average daily traffic volume of 1,023 vehicles, compared to 4,698 on Route 903. The agency also cited a difference in road classification, Center Avenue is designated a collector road, a lower tier than Route 903’s arterial classification.

The condition gap between the two roads is measurable. Young provided International Roughness Index ratings for Center Avenue, a standardized measure of road smoothness where lower numbers indicate a better ride. The ratings on Center Avenue range from 148 between Coal Street and White Lane to 342 between Maple and Spruce avenues. By PennDOT’s own scale, anything above 220 indicates a rougher riding surface.

Despite the funding denial, Young said the agency has not turned its back on the road entirely.

“PennDOT completed a field view of Center Avenue and is actively working on preliminary design solutions for a future improvement project,” Young said. “The challenge is identifying and securing the necessary funding to advance the project into construction.”

In the meantime, maintenance crews will continue making spot repairs.

“PennDOT’s Carbon County maintenance forces will continue to monitor this road and will perform necessary maintenance and repairs to address safety concerns until a full construction project can be advanced,” Young said.

The borough’s letter noted the road had not been resurfaced since the late 1980s or early 1990s, and argued that the stakes go beyond resident inconvenience. Jim Thorpe draws tens of thousands of visitors annually for its historic attractions, outdoor recreation and seasonal events, and Center Avenue is a primary entry corridor during peak tourism periods including fall foliage weekends and summer recreation months.

“The deteriorated condition of (Center Avenue) not only impacts quality of life for residents, but also directly affects the visitor experience and local economy,” Rodgers wrote. “Poor roadway conditions contribute to vehicle damage, traffic delays, and negative perceptions of accessibility, all of which can discourage repeat visitation and impact local businesses that rely heavily on tourism.”

The origin of the formal letter dates to a constituent complaint that reached Argall’s office. Borough officials said the senator contacted the borough and suggested the formal request.

Rodgers, in his letter, left the door open for a direct conversation with state officials. “We would welcome the opportunity to meet with PennDOT representatives to further discuss this request and explore potential solutions,” he wrote.