Location and Access

          State College, PA is the central place for Central Pennsylvania. It currently attracts over 2 million direct visitors annually for PSU academic and administrative conferences, PSU sports events, entertainment events at Bryce Jordan Arena and cultural activities. With considerable distances from the major cities of Pittsburgh (2 ½ hour drive time) and Philadelphia (3 ½ hour drive time) and the weak draw of Harrisburg, State College is the natural center of Central Pennsylvania for retail shopping within a 50-mile radius and beyond (see Trade Area Map).

          By 2009, State College will be the intersection for two major interstate highways – I-99 and I-80. The completion of Central Pennsylvania North-South Corridor (I-99) will connect the two East-West Corridors through Pennsylvania - Interstate-176/70 (Pennsylvania Turnpike) and I-80 (The Shortway). This will increase State College’s accessibility along these corridors beyond its current 50-mile radius. The North-South access on I-99 and the East-West access on I-80 will converge at State College.

          The State College Town Center at Toftrees will benefit greatly by the interaction of these two major interstates. The Town Center will be the only upscale, lifestyle retail center in the entire area between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia that will have sufficient retail critical mass (total 650,000 square feet) to fill the void that now exists for 650,000 people, 42,700 PSU students and over 2 million direct visitors.