SB 1354

                                                 PRINTER'S NO.     1751
                THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
                    SENATE BILL
                    No. 1354
                                           Session of
                                             2026
INTRODUCED BY COLEMAN, MAY 28, 2026
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION, MAY 28, 2026
                                AN ACT
1 Designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 53911, carrying
2    U.S. Route 222 over Cedar Creek in Allentown, Lehigh County,
3    as the Mayor William L. Heydt Memorial Bridge.
4    The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1.     Mayor William L. Heydt Memorial Bridge.
7    (a)     Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as
8 follows:
9(1)   William L. Heydt was born June 11, 1938.
10(2)   A graduate of Central Catholic High School, he
11    enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on June 14, 1956.
12    Mr. Heydt attended aviation school in Jacksonville, Florida,
13    in 1957, where he studied to become a 6431 aviation
14    electrician.
15(3)   Upon completion of his training, Mr. Heydt was
16    assigned to the HMX-1 crew at Marine Corps Air Station in
17    Quantico, Virginia. As part of that unit, he was responsible
18    for the maintenance of the presidential aircraft used to
19    transport President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
1(4)    Mr. Heydt was released from active duty on April 12,
2    1958, with an honorable discharge.
3(5)    Mr. Heydt was elected in 1994 as the 39th Mayor of
4    the City of Allentown, where he dedicated his efforts to
5    Allentown's economic development and downtown revitalization.
6(6)    Mr. Heydt took a lead role in the establishment of
7    the Lights in the Parkway and in the redevelopment of the
8    Hess Brothers Building.
9(7)    Mr. Heydt supported and contributed to numerous
10    organizations, including the Lehigh County Drug and Alcohol
11    Commission, Lehigh County Chamber of Commerce, Allentown
12    Planning Commission, Allentown Economic Development
13    Corporation, Allentown Art Museum, Allentown Miller Symphony
14    Hall, Allentown Jaycees, Lehigh Valley Economic Development
15    Corporation, Police Athletic League, Municipal Opera Company,
16    Pennsylvania League of Cities and the South Whitehall
17    Township Authority.
18(8)    Mr. Heydt sought historic preservation of what is
19    now Hamilton Street in Allentown.
20(9)    Mr. Heydt served as Mayor of Allentown through 2002.
21    After leaving office, he continued supporting the Lehigh
22    Valley through philanthropic efforts by establishing the
23    Heydt Family Fund.
24(10)   Mr. Heydt passed away on April 27, 2025, at 86
25    years of age.
26    (b)    Designation.--The bridge, identified as Bridge Key 53911
27 carrying U.S. Route 222 over Cedar Creek in Allentown, Lehigh
28 County, is designated as the Mayor William L. Heydt Memorial
29 Bridge.
30    (c)    Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and
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1 maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the bridge to
2 traffic in both directions on the bridge.
3 Section 2.   Effective date.
4    This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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