The Preservationist

There are two groups of people who want the 202 Expressway in Bucks County. The first and largest group want the expressway because they believe that it will solve the traffic congestion along US 202 in Chalfont and New Britain. Their concerns are real and their motivation is understandable. The second group of expressway supporters hides behind the first and is interested in the financial gains that will be realized by opening up the area to new retail, commercial, residential and industrial development. They may sound like the first group when expressing their opinions in public but their motivations are far different and in direct conflict with those whose voices they mimic.

If you belong to the first group, and your interest truly lies in resolving traffic congestion, then you owe it to yourself to read the “Alternative Plan for US 202 Section 700”. It is a large file (52 MB) so it will take a bit of time to download, but the document presents some very interesting information and new ideas. To understand the concepts requires an open mind. To appreciate the possibilities requires intelligence and perception. This report is not for the pigheaded and if you fall into that category, don’t waste your time.

There are a number of items that should be considered as you read the Alternative Plan:

* The Alternative Plan is an exploration stage planning document. It is designed to show people that possibilities that they may not have ever considered are indeed worthy of discussion. It was not intended to be and should not be considered as a fully engineered plan. As more people understand the concepts and their potential we would expect that there will be significant additions and changes that will make it even better.

* The scope of the document was specifically limited to Section 700. The reason for this was to mirror the areas which were included in PennDOT’s Environmental Impact Statement for US 202, Section 700. Some have argued that it is hypocritical for the Alternatives Plan to suggest a solution for Chalfont and New Britain and not apply the same solution to Buckingham and Solebury. Those who have made this suggestion have simply missed the point. The solutions suggested are equally valid for all communities throughout the region. As evidence of that, Buckingham is already working on implementing the suggestions contained in the report including roundabouts at a number of locations and revising the design of turning movements on one of its more heavily traveled roads.

* The Delaware Valley Planning Commission (DVRPC) has now classified the 202 Expressway (yes, they do call it an expressway) as a project that “Fuels Growth”, not as one that relieves congestion.

* The Executive Director of the DVRPC has told the new Secretaries of DEP and Transportation, in front of quite a number of people, that the 202 expressway will not and was never intended to relieve congestion in Chalfont and New Britain and asked how anybody ever got that idea. If that comment alone doesn’t scare you then nothing will.

* PennDOT District Six Administrator, Andy Warren, has publicly stated that “you can not build your way out of congestion.” Think about this for a moment, then consider the comments from DVRPC. One does not have to be particularly cynical to see where this is going.

* Traffic volumes for US 202 in Chalfont and New Britain are actually falling. They are down 12% from 1991 in real terms and are 25% lower than PennDOT predicted that they would be in their studies of the 202 corridor. This reduction is in spite of the sizable residential growth in Buckingham and Plumstead hat has occurred over the same period. The reason for this decline is almost assuredly the enormous commercial growth along the PA 611 corridor and the change in shopping and entertainment patterns that has resulted.

* Despite the decline in traffic volumes, congestion on the 202 corridor has arguably gotten worse. This clearly illustrates that the problem is not with the capacity of the road but rather lies with the inability of the intersections to function efficiently. PennDOT had projected that the expressway would result in a 19% decline in volume from 1991 levels. 12% of that decline has already been realized as a result of factors other than the construction of the expressway, leaving the maximum projected impact of the new road at a scant 7%.

This is an important concept to recognize because no government agency is going to spend $300 – $400 million when they find out that the maximum theoretical benefit is down to such a minuscule level and that heavy congestion will continue after the road is constructed. If, or more likely, when the government (state or federal) pulls the plug on the project, the residents along the 202 corridor may find themselves without any options if they totally refuse to consider the Alternative Plan or other ideas that may be available.

Nobody that we have ever met is against traffic relief for the 202 corridor. The opponents to the expressway recognize that there is a problem that needs to be resolved. Their interest is in finding a way that provides relief for the affected areas without causing damage to their communities. We don’t think that anybody can argue (at least intelligently) that this is an unreasonable position.

Here is the crux of the situation: we have a problem that needs a solution. Let’s look at the problem with intelligence, not misleading rhetoric and consider all of the options to produce the best outcome possible.