Section 11. Dr. Betty Hayes Memorial Highway.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) Betty Hayes was born May 7, 1912.
(2) Dr. Hayes completed her secondary education at Villa Maria Academy in Erie.
(3) After graduating Villa Maria Academy, Dr. Hayes went on to attend The Pennsylvania State University as a premedical student.
(4) Three years later, Dr. Hayes was admitted to Temple University's School of Medicine, where she graduated with honors in 1936.
(5) After the United States entered World War II, Dr. Hayes began working for the State tuberculosis clinic in Wilkes-Barre.
(6) While many local male physicians were enlisted in the United States Armed Forces, Dr. Hayes was the only physician available to her community, making her responsible for 4,000 lives.
(7) Seven years later, Dr. Hayes resigned from her position as a physician when her employer refused to improve hazardous conditions in the community, including contaminated water that made residents ill.
(8) Three hundred fifty miners went on strike in support of Dr. Hayes' concerns about the hazardous conditions in the community and later went on to pay her directly for her medical services.
(9) The strike received national attention and resulted in housing improvements for the community.
(10) Dr. Hayes passed away in Pine Knolls Shores, North Carolina, at 72 years of age.
(b) Designation.--The portion of Pennsylvania Route 255 from near the western intersection of Hemlock Avenue, Segment 0030/Offset 1077, to near the intersection of Gardner Hill Road, Segment 0040/Offset 2935, in Jay Township, Elk County, is designated the Dr. Betty Hayes Memorial Highway.
(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the highway to traffic in both directions on the highway.