During the final design phase of the project, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) has formed Design Advisory Teams (DATs) in five communities within the Mon/Fayette Expressway PA Route 51 to I-376 project area:

The formation of the DATs is in response to widespread interest by a number of project stakeholders and PTC's desire to work with stakeholders to address community cohesion and other impacts.

The purpose of each DAT is to achieve the following goals:

• To be the voice of the community during discussion of the special design issues relevant to the community.
• To work together with design team professionals to develop design solutions that are sensitive to both transportation and community needs.
• To create a genuine opportunity for exchange that results in mutual understanding and agreement among the communities and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC).

PTC has established the following goals for the DATs:

• Design and implement a process and a final project that the project sponsors and the communities can be proud of, a process that can set a new standard for community involvement in the highway design process in an urban area
• Develop good relationships with communities and neighbors for the long term
• Design a project that meets the transportation needs, while being sensitive to the issues and concerns of the communities through which it passes
• Design amenities (trails, landscaping, lighting, etc.) that are compatible with the community goals, plans, and design concepts
• Be certain that all stakeholders are heard on important design issues, and help stakeholders, communities, and others understand and visualize how the project and its amenities will look and feel

Each DAT will draft and enact its own Charter that sets forth a plan for working together and achieving its goals. The primary role of each DAT member is to enhance the exchange of information and opinions between the community and the project team by providing input throughout the process that reflects the general sense of the group they represent and by relaying appropriate information back to their communities. In large part, the manners by which DAT members are called to participate and communicate with one another will be determined autonomously by each DAT in its Charter.

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