A DAT is composed of ten to fifteen community stakeholders and 5-7 technical team members working together to develop design solutions that are sensitive to both transportation and community needs. The DATs will focus on elements of the project that impact the community, thus ensuring compatibility with each community's goals and plans. Some examples of these elements include:

• Aesthetic treatments
• Community access (both during and after construction)
• Expressway elements that will visually impact communities
• Amenities (trails, landscaping, lighting, etc.)

DATs are an effective strategy for an in-depth solution-focused effort to finalize solutions to the issues identified during the environmental study phase of the project. There is widespread interest and support by project stakeholders, most particularly the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC), who wish to work with communities to ensure the expressway is compatible with their goals and plans.

DAT members accept the fact that final design of the expressway is now underway and that their work involves optimizing the design of the expressway at the selected location rather than reconsidering any new or previously studied location alternatives. They represent their communities at large by coming to meetings and sharing community concerns and information, and by helping to educate the public between meetings about project plans and proposals.

During the final design phase of the project, the PTC will continue the project's public outreach efforts. The PTC is committed to acceptance and consideration of input from all communities within the project corridor regardless of whether or not there is a DAT established in the community.