Sep. 20—WILKES-BARRE — Although roads and bridges are important components of infrastructure, many other elements of the region contribute to infrastructure throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Jill Avery-Stoss, president of The Institute, said this week that the use of different types of home heating fuels, energy prices and internet access are also elements that help shape daily life and well-being in the area.
“We report on all the aspects of our region’s infrastructure, including traffic volume, energy usage, and bridge conditions,” Avery-Stoss said. “This information can be used for planning, assessing for safety and security, making investment decisions, identifying future employment needs, and planning and preparing for economic growth.”
Similar to the rest of Pennsylvania, a majority of workers in Lackawanna, Luzerne and Wayne counties who work outside the home commute by driving alone.
Data from 2023 has pointed to growing shares of workers telecommuting. From 2015 to 2023, traffic counts for I-81 in Wilkes-Barre Township and I-80 in Foster Township have increased by 4.7% and 10.3%, respectively. Traffic counts at PA-307 in Newton Township experienced an 8.1% decrease during that period.
Avery-Stoss said tracking bridge conditions is necessary to keep traffic flowing efficiently. Bridge data is also needed to coordinate maintenance efforts and prepare for long-term improvement projects.
As of 2024, Avery-Stoss said there were 363 bridges in Lackawanna County and 457 bridges in Luzerne County. Regionally, the number of bridges in poor condition has increased slightly.
“Northeastern Pennsylvania benefits from having air travel available locally,” added Avery-Stoss. “The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport experienced a 31% increase in the number of passengers from 2023 to 2024. This is still 20.5% lower than pre-pandemic levels in 2019, but numbers are trending in a positive direction.”
Avery-Stoss said energy usage and cost are relevant because communities rely on energy for everyday needs like heating, cooling, transportation and powering homes and businesses. When these costs rise, families face increased economic pressures.
She said it becomes more difficult for them to afford basic needs like childcare or food. This level of scarcity impacts the ability of workers to perform productively, the ability of students to perform academically, and public health in general.
“Energy prices, excluding electricity, have started to level out and decrease after skyrocketing for the last several years,” noted Avery-Stoss, “Natural gas continued to have the lowest cost per million BTU of the energy sources The Institute reviewed, and it has remained the most-used home heating fuel over the past decade. The use of electricity has grown in prominence recently, however.”
Avery-Stoss said broadband access is an essential part of infrastructure as well. In addition to its importance in education, health care, and access to social services, widespread access to the newest and most essential technologies makes any location a more attractive place to establish a business — and a home.
“Most households in the region have access to wireless technology and other broadband services, but it is not always equitable, affordable, or available at speeds that support work, education, or telehealth,” Avery-Stoss said. “Smartphone adoption has been widespread as well, with access to smartphones nearing the same levels as home internet subscriptions.”
Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.