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District 10 - Frequently Asked Questions

To report potholes, damaged and missing signs, or other highway and bridge maintenance concerns, please call 1-800-FIX-ROAD.



The following are different types of employment:

How do I find out about vacancies when they occur?

When vacancies occur, they are posted in PennDOT and other state agencies' offices, depending upon the distribution. Vacancies may be viewed by accessing the Government Jobs Website at

Who can I contact for more information on employment opportunities with District 10?

Contact Bonnie Chiappini, District 10's Human Resources Officer, at (724) 357-3208 or by e-mail.

Personal Property Issues

Whom do I contact if I live along a state route and wish to have my driveway paved?

Contact the Highway Occupancy Permit Inspector assigned to the PennDOT maintenance office for your county of residence. In many cases, paving of a driveway is considered "maintenance only" and it would be only necessary to have the proper traffic control to do the work. It is always necessary to contact the PennDOT permit inspector first to determine if this is your situation.


Sam Pytel (cell phone: (724) 422-1109)
Armstrong County: Ph. (724) 543-1811
Indiana County: Ph. (724) 357-2817
Wesley Palmer (cell phone: (724) 422-1110)
Butler County: Ph. (724) 284-8800
Clarion County: Ph. (814) 226-8200
Jefferson County: Ph. (814) 938-6300
Permit Supervisor: Ph. (724) 357-2898

When is a permit required and how long is the process?



What is the status of this permit application?


Why does PennDOT not replace curbs and sidewalks?


My driveway has potholes. When can you fix them?

How do I get traffic line paint off of my car?

Again DO NOT SCRUB. Just apply with a very wet rag or sponge.

What do I do if my vehicle was damaged by roadwork?





Who is responsible for drainage?




Planning and Programming

How does PennDOT prioritize its major projects?

What is the Twelve Year Program?


How do I get copies of the Twelve Year Program?

No Cost - Municipalities
Cost per page for Private concerns


Contact the Community Relations Coordinator at 724-357-2829 to discuss possible speakers for your organization's meeting.

Where can I find information about the statewide bicycle and pedestrian plan?



What is Right-of-Way and how do I know how wide it is?

Right-of-Way is the term used to describe "right of passage" over another's land. When the Commonwealth acquires land for Highway Right-of-Way purposes, it is actually obtaining "right of passage" over land on which a public road ultimately will be built. It is a Constitutional right of the Commonwealth to acquire land for public purposes. The term used to describe this right is "Eminent Domain". Eminent Domain states that it is the inherent right of the State to acquire land when it is needed for public use. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will execute this right only when it will benefit the public. Right-of-Way includes the easement or land purchased by PennDOT on which a highway is built, as well as shoulder or berm, plus any additional area needed for highway purposes. While it is often 33 feet wide, it may be much wider (120 feet or more in some cases), since it extends beyond the paved road and shoulders. Contact the PennDOT District office at to find out what the Right-of-Way is for a specific location.

What is an encroachment?

An encroachment is any object placed without permission within the legal limits of a highway Right-of-Way. Some examples include signs, fences, walls, and lights. Objects generally are not permitted in the Right-of-Way unless the objects serve an official highway purpose (utility poles and properly placed mailboxes are exceptions).

What is PennDOT's responsibility in regard to Right-of-Way encroachments?


How is highway location determined?

It is PennDOT's goal to establish the most direct and useable highway facility at the least possible cost to the public. To accomplish this, PennDOT undertakes intensive studies on several possible routes in order to find the route that will result in the least possible inconvenience or injury to the public and the private landowner. Statistical data concerning the economy, population needs and traffic volume trends are analyzed for the area under study. Aerial and ground surveys are taken, and consideration is also given to such factors as safety, drainage and soil types. In addition, public meetings are held to discuss the proposed alternate locations.

How will my rights be protected during the property acquisition?

According to Amendment Article V of the Constitution, no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law, nor shall private property be taken for public use without Just Compensation. In this situation, it is your right to receive Just Compensation in exchange for your property. A Fair Market Value will be determined for your property, and you will receive this along with several other benefits as Just Compensation Pennsylvania's Eminent Domain Legislation is considered the most liberal of its kind in the U.S. Your rights as a property owner are given primary consideration.

If my property is to be acquired by the Commonwealth, who will contact me?

You will be contacted several times throughout the acquisition process, and your cooperation is necessary to aid the success of the process. Your first contact will usually be a letter informing you that your property will be affected by a highway project. You may also be personally visited by various Right-of-Way representatives. All appointments will be made at your convenience, within reason, of course. It is our desire to make this process run as smoothly as possible.

Who determines property value?

The value of your property will be determined by a qualified, licensed, real estate appraiser. This may be a PennDOT staff appraiser and/or an independent, licensed, real estate appraiser. Local real estate trends and the value of comparable properties will be taken into consideration when determining the Fair Market Value of your property. All appraisals are reviewed by qualified Reviewing Appraisers to assure that you will receive just compensation for your property. For your personal satisfaction, you may obtain an independent appraisal, for which you will be reimbursed. PennDOT will reimburse you up to $4,000.00 for any reasonable expense incurred for an appraiser, engineer, or attorney to evaluate your claim.

What will I be paid for my property?

Local real estate trends and the value of comparable properties will be taken into consideration when determining the Market Value of your property which you will be offered. PennDOT cannot, by law or by our policy, offer you less than Market Value for your property.

In addition to the Market Value for your property, you are also entitled to the following benefits:

  1. All fees incidental to the transfer of your property to the Department.
  2. Any mortgage prepayment penalty you would be required to pay as a result of the acquisition.
  3. Reimbursement for up to a total of $4,000 for reasonable expenses you paid for an appraiser, engineer, or attorney to evaluate PennDOT’s offer. 
  4. In addition, if PennDOT acquires a residence or business that you occupy, you will be entitled to Relocation Benefits. These benefits are explained in Bulletin #47.

When will I receive the offer?

A Right-of-Way Representative will personally present you with a written offer for your property. PennDOT operates under a written one-offer policy in order to achieve uniformity throughout the project. Each owner is treated on the same basis, and each claim is settled on its merits rather than the negotiating ability of the parties. You will be offered the amount determined by the appraisal process. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation cannot, by law or by our policy, offer you less than Estimated Just Compensation for your property.

If you do not believe that the appraisal offers "Just Compensation", and if you can provide factual information pertaining to the value or damage of your property, which was not available to the appraisers, PennDOT officials will gladly review the appraisal.

Must I accept PennDOT's offer?

The vast majority of property acquisitions are settled on an amicable basis. Keep in mind, a careful procedure is used to arrive at a Fair Market Value for your property, and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation cannot, by law or by our policy, offer you less than Just Compensation for your property.

If, however, an agreement cannot be reached through negotiations, PennDOT in order to proceed with the project, will be forced to file a "condemnation Proceeding" (Declaration of Taking) in the Court of Common Pleas. At the point of condemnation, you will be offered the full amount of the appraised Fair Market Value as Estimated Just Compensation. You may elect to accept the Estimated Just Compensation without jeopardizing your right to contest the amount in court, or you can refuse the payment and it will deposited in your name with the Prothonotary of the county in which the property is located.

Once a Declaration of Taking has been filed, either you or PennDOT may petition, within six years, for a Board of Viewers, or the amount paid will be considered payment in full, in accordance with the Statute of Limitations. At a Board of View, the Viewers will consider your testimony, as well as those of the Department of Transportation. An award will be made by the Board of Viewers based on the available information. If either party is still dissatisfied, an appeal may be made to the Court of Common Pleas. Under most circumstances, however, this procedure is not necessary.

When will I be paid for my property?

For your convenience payments will be processed as quickly as possible. Before you receive payment, however, you are responsible for providing the Commonwealth with a clear and marketable title. Any liens, mortgages, judgements, taxes or other obligations with regard to your property must be satisfied either prior to or at the time of settlement with the Department.

Once an agreement has been reached, payment can be expected within 4 to 6 weeks. No property owner will be required to move until he or she has received payment of Just Compensation or until it has been made available to him. PennDOT will forward the payments as quickly as possible to aid you with your relocation process.

How can I get more information about Right-of-Way encroachments and control of outdoor advertising signs?

Contact PennDOT District 10-0 Engineering Office (Armstrong, Butler, Clarion, Indiana and Jefferson Counties) (724) 357 - 2838

Outdoor Advertising Control

Why does PennDOT control outdoor advertising signs?

Where can I place my sign?




Do I need a permit to erect a sign?




Who is responsible for an illegal sign?


What is PennDOT's responsibility for an illegal sign?


Can I erect a sign with flashing lights or arrows?


What are the Constraints for erecting an electronic message board?

1. The sign shall be a conforming sign located in a zoned or unzoned commercial or industrial area.
2. All messages/displays shall remain unchanged for a minimum of five (5) seconds.
3. The time interval used to change from one complete message/display to the next complete message/display shall be a maximum of one (1) second.
4. There shall be no appearance of a visual dissolve or fading, in which any part of one electronic message/display appears simultaneously with any part of a second electronic message/display.
5. There shall be no appearance of flashing or sudden bursts of light, and no appearance of animation, movement, or flow of the message/display.
6. Any illumination intensity or contrast of light level shall remain constant. 





Were can I get Chapter 445 OAD Control, Chapter 451 Junkyard Control, Chapter 495 Lessing of Real Property, and RW - 745 Application For Advertising Device Permit?

Click on the links Below. 




RW-745 Application For Advertising Device Permit


Road Maintenance / Construction

Why isn't the grass mowed more frequently?






Why do road projects take so long sometimes?


Traffic Issues

Who is responsible for speed limits?
Local municipalities and PennDOT are responsible for setting speed limits.

How do I get the speed limit changed?




Why were traffic lines painted this way?




How can I get a student-walking route declared hazardous?




How does someone request a traffic signal?


Who is responsible for the traffic signal maintenance?


How do I get the timing of a traffic signal changed?

Why is PennDOT involved with traffic signals on a municipal highway?

Winter Services

How does PennDOT prepare for a major snowstorm?




What does PennDOT put on slippery roads in the winter?










Why do bridges freeze before road surfaces?


What is "black ice"?


What does it mean to "pump your brakes"?


Why doesn't PennDOT replace mailboxes that it knocks down?

If the mailbox that is knocked down was located clearly beyond the legal right-of-way, PennDOT county offices can supply the Department of General Services claim form to attempt to receive reimbursement.

The property owner may install a cantilever mailbox post to diminish the damage caused by winter road maintenance.  Plans for a cantilever post are available by clicking here.

How can I prepare my vehicle for winter travel?


Are there any "rules" for winter driving?


Why does PennDOT plow snow on my sidewalks?


Why do you have to plow my driveway shut?



Studded snow tires are permissible from November 1 until April 15.





