Road Will Increase Traffic

Proposal and Savings
Deny funds for the proposed U.S. Route 202 Expressway. The estimated project cost is $230 million — 80 percent federally funded.

Background
Located in the northern Philadelphia suburbs of Bucks and Montgomery Counties, Section 700 is a proposed nine-mile bypass of U.S. Route 202. The project is intended to relieve traffic congestion, improve safety, and provide a link between regional expressway systems. Thirty years ago, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) planned to build a 60-mile outer ring expressway to bypass Route 202. Responding to opposition, PennDOT divided the corridor into eight sections (100-800) and widened the road one section at a time. Only sections 600, 700 and 800 remain as two-lane highways.

Status
Both the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and the Federal Highway Administration’s Record of Decision (ROD) have been issued.

Problems with the project

Taxpayer Concerns
Taxpayers should not pay such excessive costs for a questionable road project, especially when more cost-effective alternatives exists, such as upgrading current roadways, implementing computerized signals, and improving intersections and public transportation. Specifically, Bristol Road, an intersecting roadway, can be extended through its intersection with U.S. Route 202 and turn lanes can be created on nearby Route 152.

Moreover, construction of the expressway will force the construction of Section 800. The land acquisition costs alone in that 11-mile section could exceed the cost of the entire Section 700 expressway.

Local Community Concerns
According to studies done by Sensible Highway Alternatives to Protect the Environment (SHAPE), the expressway would actually increase traffic and negatively impact neighboring communities. Furthermore, SHAPE, a coalition comprised of several civic, environmental and conservation groups, opposes the increased noise, urban sprawl, and destruction of farmland that would result from the project, as well as the damage to Central and Dark Hollow Parks.

Environmental Concerns
Fifteen acres of wetlands would be paved to construct the expressway and a total of 200 acres would be directly affected by the road’s construction, according to the Delaware Riverkeeper Network. These wetlands are inhabited by bog turtles, which are candidates for the endangered species list. In addition, 100 million gallons of stormwater runoff would increase the potential for the Neshaminy Creek to flood.

Contacts
Nancy Albence, Workable Alternatives to Community Highways (WATCH), (215) 340-2291, nan202@juno.com ; Larry Shaeffer, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, (215) 340-1429, shaeffer@comcat.com ; Lori Rosolowsky, Buckingham Township Civic Association, (215) 348-7367.