422plus PROJECT REPORT RELEASED

Posted on | October 4, 2011 |

The US 422 corridor has experienced tremendous growth—from 1990 to 2000, the population of many communities within the corridor increased at double and even triple-digit rates. Without significant improvements, traffic in the area will only get worse. But while the population of drivers is growing, and construction costs are going up, money for improving roads like US 422 has been shrinking. Although gas taxes helped pay for building US 422 in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, current revenue from gas taxes is not enough to pay for the full cost of maintaining and improving the road.

With no other funding source in sight, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) – in partnership with PennDOT, SEPTA, and Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties – sponsored the 422plus Project to answer the question:

• Could tolling 25 miles of 422 pay for improving the 422 corridor, improving impacted local roads, and re-establishing passenger rail from Norristown to Reading/Wyomissing?

The answer is yes – a modest toll managed by a local authority could pay for these improvements, and have them in place far faster than waiting for available funds from Harrisburg or Washington.

However, public and political sentiment told us that people would rather see a comprehensive statewide solution than a local toll. Governor Corbett’s Transportation Funding and Advisory Commission (see www.tfac.pa.gov) has proposed a comprehensive package to increase funding for transportation infrastructure across Pennsylvania. Support and passage of this package will enable critical transportation improvements to proceed, without a toll.

We encourage you to review the findings of the 422plus Project report, as well as the TFAC recommendations, and let us know your thoughts on how best to proceed in the 422 corridor.  Please email us your ideas about the critical needs along 422 and alternate funding ideas at team@422corridor.com.

Click here to download the 422plus Report introductory letter by Barry Seymour, DVRPC Executive Director (PDF)

Click here to download 422plus – Synopsis and Findings (PDF)

Click here to download 422plus – Appendix A: Tolling US 422: Traffic and Revenue Forecasts (PDF)

Click here to download 422plus – Appendix B: Addressing US 422 User Needs: The Highway Component Report (PDF)

Click here to download 422plus – Appendix C: Transit Component Report (PDF)

Click here to download 422plus – Appendix D: Using Toll Revenue to Finance Highway and Transit Capital Improvements (PDF)

Click here to download 422plus – Appendix E: The 422plus Public Outreach Program (PDF)

Click here to download 422plus – Appendix F: Summary of Previous Transportation Studies (PDF)

Click here to download 422plus – Appendix G: Supplemental Exhibits 01 – 13 (PDF)

Click here to download 422plus – Appendix G: Supplemental Exhibits 14 – 22 (PDF)

Click here to download 422plus – Appendix G: Supplemental Exhibits 23 – 25 (PDF)

Click here to download 422plus – Appendix G: Supplemental Exhibits 26 – 34 (PDF)

Transportation Funding Advisory Commission (TFAC) Final Report

Posted on | September 19, 2011 |

On April 21, 2011, Pennsylvania’s Governor Tom Corbett signed an Executive Order to create the Transportation Funding Advisory Commission (TFAC).  The purpose of TFAC is to develop a comprehensive, strategic proposal for addressing the transportation funding needs of Pennsylvania.  Per the Executive Order, the Advisory Commission released its final report of recommendations on August 1, 2011.

The report notes that “in 2010, the Pennsylvania State Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) produced a report that quantified the state’s unfunded transportation needs at approximately $3.5 billion.  The gap is growing and will reach an estimated $7.2 billion in 10 years if we do not take action to address the transportation need.  The gap is growing because of continued decline in fuel tax revenue due to vehicle efficiency, reduced buying power due to inflation, and increasing costs of the PA State Police consuming a bigger slice of the Motor License Fund.”

Please read more about the state of PA’s transportation infrastructure and the Advisory Commission’s recommended funding package.  

Click here to download TFAC’s Final Report (PDF)
Click here to go to TFAC’s webpage: http://www.tfac.pa.gov/

June 22 Pottstown Presentation

Posted on | June 24, 2011 |

The Pottstown Metropolitan Regional Planning Commission represents six municipalities in Montgomery County and two in Chester County. These communities work together to develop and implement a plan for effective growth management, while retaining the unique historical, cultural and natural amenities of the area. On June 22, 2011 the Commission heard a presentation and sponsored a discussion about the 422plus Project, with a focus on the capital plan developed for the corridor and the transportation funding options that might be available.

Click here to download a copy of the Presentation from June 22, 2011 (PDF)

Click here to view a video of a portion of the presentation (posted on Pottstown Mercury website).

June 6 TFAC Presentation

Posted on | June 6, 2011 |

On April 21, 2011, Pennsylvania’s Governor Tom Corbett signed an Executive Order to create the Transportation Funding Advisory Commission (TFAC).  The purpose of TFAC is to develop a comprehensive, strategic proposal for addressing the transportation funding needs of Pennsylvania.  Per the Executive Order, a final report of recommendations is due to Governor Corbett by Monday, August 1, 2011.

During TFAC’s meeting on Monday, June 6, 2011, Barry Seymour, Executive Director of DVRPC, provided an update about the 422plus Project to the members of the Commission, illustrating a potential local option available to improve the state’s transportation infrastructure.

Click here to download the DRAFT 422plus Project TFAC Presentation (PDF)
Click here to download a summary brochure about the 422plus Project (PDF)

How Tolls Would Work

Posted on | November 29, 2010 |

Many different people are working on the 422plus Project. We asked a few of them to talk about some of the questions we are hearing around the corridor. This video describes tolling technology.

QUESTION: If there is a toll, how will I pay it? Will there be tollbooths? Will I have to have EZPass or is there another method that I haven’t heard about yet?

[Video answer - 0:48 seconds]