Pennsylvania Act 2014-98 — GLENN BOWERS MEMORIAL BRIDGE, BLAIR COUNTY VETERANS MEMORIAL BRIDGE, ALVIN E. MORRISON MEMORIAL BRIDGE, ROBERTO CLEMENTE WAY, CHARLES CHRIN INTERCHANGE, FRED L. LEBDER INTERCHANGE AND OFFICER ROBB MCCRAY MEMORIAL BRIDGE - DESIGNATIONS

Act text

An Act

Designating a bridge on that portion of State Route 15 over the Yellow Breeches Creek, Carroll Township, York County, as the Glenn Bowers Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge on that portion of 17th Street over the 10th Avenue Expressway, City of Altoona, Blair County, as the Blair County Veterans Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge on that portion of State Route 764 over 31st Street, City of Altoona, Blair County, as the Alvin E. Morrison Memorial Bridge; designating West Erie Avenue from its intersection with North Second Street in Philadelphia City, Philadelphia County, to the point where it meets North Front Street in Philadelphia City, Philadelphia County, as Roberto Clemente Way; designating the interchange at the crossing of State Route 33 and Main Street (State Route 1022) in Palmer Township, Northampton County, as the Charles Chrin Interchange; designating the interchange between the portion of State Route 3009 and State Route 119 in South Union Township, Fayette County, as the Fred L. Lebder Interchange; and designating a bridge on that portion of State Route 711 over the Youghiogheny River in the City of Connellsville, Fayette County, as the Officer McCray Robb Memorial Bridge. (Title amended May 13, 2015, P.L.18, No.4)

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Glenn Bowers Memorial Bridge.

(a) Findings.--

(1) Glenn Bowers was a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University, where he was a member of the Blue Band, symphony and Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity.

(2) After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Mr. Bowers enlisted in the Navy as an aviation cadet with a unit of 27 other Penn Staters.

(3) Mr. Bowers flew over 100 combat missions during his 13-month tour of duty in the South Pacific and was awarded 11 air medals and three Distinguished Flying Crosses. During this period he served as a member of the famous "Black Sheep" squadron under Col. Pappy Boyington.

(4) After the war, Mr. Bowers returned to Penn State to complete his B.S. degree in Zoology and M.S. degree in Wildlife Management.

(5) In 1948, Mr. Bowers began his career with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, where he advanced to executive director, a post he held for 17 years.

(6) During his tenure at the Pennsylvania Game Commission, numerous innovations were put in place, including the spring turkey season and the establishment of the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area and the Scotia Range.

(7) Over his lifetime, Mr. Bowers was recognized with awards by many professional and community organizations, including the top honors from the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

(b) Designation.--The bridge located on State Route 15 in Carroll Township, York County, over the Yellow Breeches Creek is hereby designated the Glenn Bowers Memorial Bridge.

(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the bridge to traffic in both directions on the bridge.

Section 2. Blair County Veterans Memorial Bridge.

(a) Findings.--The 17th Street Bridge over the 10th Avenue Expressway, City of Altoona, Blair County, is the point of assembly for and is crossed every year in the Altoona Veterans Day Parade.

(b) Designation.--The bridge located on 17th Street in the City of Altoona, Blair County, over the 10th Avenue Expressway is hereby designated the Blair County Veterans Memorial Bridge.

(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the bridge to traffic in both directions on the bridge.

Section 3. Alvin E. Morrison Memorial Bridge.

(a) Findings.--

(1) S. Sgt. Alvin E. Morrison attended Greenwood School, Roosevelt Junior High School and Altoona High School.

(2) S. Sgt. Morrison was a radio operator and ball turret gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress with the U.S. Air Force 560th squadron in World War II.

(3) On one of the many Flying Fortress raids over France, German planes shot down S. Sgt. Morrison's B-17 bomber, and the airplane's entire crew was forced to bail out, killing S. Sgt. Morrison along with several other crew members.

(4) S. Sgt. Morrison was awarded the Air Medal, Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal and Honorable Service in World War II Lapel Button.

(b) Designation.--The bridge located on State Route 764 in the City of Altoona, Blair County, over 31st Street is hereby designated the Alvin E. Morrison Memorial Bridge.

(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the bridge to traffic in both directions on the bridge.

Section 4. Roberto Clemente Way.

(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:

(1) Roberto Walker Clemente was born in Barrio San Anton in Carolina, Puerto Rico, on August 18, 1934.

(2) Roberto Clemente is remembered today as one of baseball's best all-round right fielders, with one of the best arms in baseball. Often referred to as "The Great One," Clemente was the first Latin American player elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

(3) Roberto Clemente's life ended on December 31, 1972, in a plane crash while en route to Nicaragua with relief supplies for earthquake victims.

(4) In his thirty-eight years, Roberto Clemente became a baseball legend in the United States, but in his homeland and throughout Latin America he became a national and cultural icon. For his "outstanding athletic, civic, charitable, and humanitarian contributions," Roberto Clemente was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by the United States Congress in 1973.

(b) Designation.--West Erie Avenue from its intersection with North Second Street in Philadelphia City, Philadelphia County, to the point where it meets North Front Street in Philadelphia City, Philadelphia County, is designated as Roberto Clemente Way.

(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the highway to traffic in both directions.

Section 5. Charles Chrin Interchange.

(a) Findings and declarations.--The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:

(1) Charles Chrin was born May 9, 1924, in Ormrod, Pennsylvania.

(2) Mr. Chrin has been a successful businessman with diverse interests for over 65 years.

(3) In 1955, Mr. Chrin cofounded the Charles Chrin Companies, with offices in Palmer Township and Williams Township, Northampton County. He currently serves as president of the Charles Chrin Companies, which include solid waste hauling, quarry, recycling and disposal businesses, as well as a full line of site contracting services and real estate development. The Charles Chrin Companies employ over 100 individuals in the Lehigh Valley.

(4) Among the Charles Chrin Companies' projects in the Lehigh Valley are the Chrin Commerce Center, the Charles Chrin Commons, the Woodlands Professional Building, the Parkview Estates and the Chipman Court. In addition, the Charles Chrin Companies partnered with PPL Renewable Energy and in 2011 dedicated a landfill gas-to-energy power project in Williams Township.

(5) In 2004, Mr. Chrin Partnered with Palmer Township on the design and construction of the Charles Chrin Community Center, which has become a well-recognized venue for civic and community activities and special events.

(6) Mr. Chrin is a member of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Parish in Northampton and many community and professional organizations.

(7) Charles Chrin and the Charles Chrin Companies were instrumental in the development of the public-private partnership that obtained all the public approvals, financing and design and engineering for a new interchange at the crossing of State Route 33 and Main Street (State Route 1022) in Palmer Township, Northampton County.

(8) Groundbreaking for the interchange occurred on January 31, 2013, and construction commenced in September 2013, with an anticipated opening in late 2014.

(9) Mr. Chrin has volunteered extensively in church and civic activities over the years, has invested heavily in the development of the Lehigh Valley and is a highly respected member of his community.

(b) Designation.--The interchange at the crossing of State Route 33 and Main Street (State Route 1022) in Palmer Township, Northampton County, is hereby designated and shall be known as the Charles Chrin Interchange.

(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs to traffic in both directions to indicate the designation under subsection (b).

Section 6. Fred L. Lebder Interchange.

(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds as follows:

(1) Fred L. Lebder was born on August 1, 1920, in Collier, Fayette County, as the ninth of ten children.

(2) Mr. Lebder was an athlete at Georges Township High School who graduated from the California State Teachers College and taught at Point Marion and Georges High Schools. He served in the Air Force for 41 months during World War II.

(3) Mr. Lebder married the former Norma Jean Cole in 1943.

(4) Mr. Lebder has been actively involved in public affairs in Fayette County for 34 years. He served as a Fayette County commissioner for 28 years and as chairman of the Fayette County Board of Commissioners for 20 years.

(5) Mr. Lebder has earned the respect and admiration of the citizens of Fayette County through both his commitment to numerous volunteer organizations and dedicated public service career.

(b) Designation.--The intersection between the portion of State Route 3009 and State Route 119 in South Union Township, Fayette County, is hereby designated the Fred L. Lebder Interchange.

(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the interchange to traffic in both directions on the interchange.

Section 7. Officer McCray Robb Memorial Bridge.

(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds as follows:

(1) Officer McCray Robb served honorably as a member of the City of Connellsville Police Department, and was a veteran of the Civil War and served with the 110th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

(2) While bravely performing his duties, Officer Robb was killed on May 25, 1892, when he was shot while assisting another officer arrest two brothers at a circus that was visiting Connellsville.

(b) Designation.--The bridge located on State Route 711, known as Crawford Avenue, in the City of Connellsville, Fayette County, over the Youghiogheny River is hereby designated the Officer McCray Robb Memorial Bridge.

(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the bridge to traffic in both directions on the bridge.

(7 amended May 13, 2015, P.L.18, No.4)

Section 8. Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 60 days.