Numbers in the news

93

If past trends held true this year, some 93 percent of children age 11 and under went trick-or-treating. Eighty percent of adults planned to give out candy this year.

1

Just one state prohibits local police from using radar to catch speeders: Pennsylvania.

There's a bill being considered by the state legislature to change that. Opponents say they are concerned that local police would set up too many "speed traps" to generate revenue for cities, boroughs and townships. To discourage that, one version of the bill would allow the municipalities to keep only those fines necessary to pay for equipment and training. The remainder would go to the Pa. State Police for public safety.

788

The number of people using the DuBois Regional Airport is down compared to last year. Passenger numbers for January through September have dropped by 788 from the same period in 2006.

Denise Trunzo, airport marketing director, said all eight small airports in the state have seen a decrease in passengers.

A new air service provider, Gulfstream International of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., will soon take over at DuBois.

74

A regional government agency in Ridgway sees some local benefits to placing tolls on Interstate 80.

Amy Kessler, director of transportation planning at Northcentral Pa. Regional Planning and Development, said bridge and highway projects would get $10.6 million in fiscal year 2007-08, and about $49 million between 2009-2012.

PennDOT says 74 locally owned bridges in Potter, Cameron, McKean and Elk counties are structurally deficient.

Although revenue from tolls would support bridge and highway work, the toll system could also drive traffic off the interstate and onto other east/ west highways, critics warn. Under the current plan, cars would pay $25 to cover the entire length of Interstate 80. Tractor-trailers would pay $93. Tolls would increase at a rate of three percent per year.

Northcentral is working on plans for 2009 transportation improvement projects for the region. Bulk of the available funds have been designated for U.S. Route 219 bypass projects in Bradford and Johnsonburg, Kessler said.

250,000

Organizers of the visitors center to be built on Winslow Hill, near Benezette in Elk County, are trying to get the Appalachian Regional Commission to kick in $250,000 in public funds.

Another $1.45 million is already lined up from other sources. The center is expected to be open by late 2009. It's one of three visitors centers included in the state's plans. The others are at Sinnemahoning State Park in Cameron and Potter counties, and at the Penfield exit of Interstate 80.

1.31M

A new "parallel taxiway" opened last week at the Bradford Regional Airport.

The $1.31 million runway connects to the airport's terminal building. Airport officials were required to build the runway to comply with Federal Aviation Authority regulations.

90

Thinking of having turkey this Thanksgiving? You're in good company. Some 90 percent of U.S. households eat turkey on Thanksgiving.

Most Americans will eat Thanksgiving dinner at home, but an increasing number -- some 31 percent last year -- will drive to their Thanksgiving destination. About 11 percent will have Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant.