Related Projects

US422 Corridor Current Projects

422 Construction Updates

Find out about recent road improvements along the corridor (external site)

422 River Crossing Complex

Find out more about the 422 River Crossing Complex Project

422 Pottstown Bypass Project

Find out more about the 422 Pottstown Bypass Project

Schuylkill River Trail

Schuylkill River Trail Association (external site)
Schuylkill River Trail in Chester County (external site)
Proposed Chester County trail alignment, May 2010 (PDF)
Schuylkill River Trail in Montgomery County (external site)

Previous US422 Corridor Projects and Studies

US422 Corridor Master Plan

Completed by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) in 2009, The US422 Corridor Master Plan examines 2030 land use and transportation trends, as well as a 2030 Sustainable Alternative that incorporates elements of Smart Transportation, Smart Growth and the Keystone Principles. As part of this, the plan considers capital improvements such as interchange redesign, operational improvements such as Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), and incident management activities, as well as potential transit opportunities such as developing bus rapid transit (BRT) and reestablishing passenger rail service. The plan proposes a range of implementation strategies for a more sustainable future, including investments in intermodal transportation infrastructure, farmland preservation, riverfront access, and better land use planning. Alternative funding sources such as electronic tolling and public-private partnerships are also considered.

This study is the first to integrate prior studies and ongoing projects in order to provide a long-term vision for the future land use and transportation system of the overall corridor. Information from the recently completed R6 extension feasibility study informed the master plan’s consideration of restoring passenger rail service from Norristown through Pottstown to Wyomissing.

R6 Norristown Line Service Extension Study

The Montgomery County Planning Commission (MCPC) released the results of the R6 Norristown Line Service Extension Study in 2009. The study analyzed various rail options utilizing the present Norfolk Southern line between Norristown and Wyomissing, and the existing R6 Norristown Line to access Center City Philadelphia. The purpose was to identify new alternatives and sources of capital and operating funding for commuter rail service. The study explored innovative financing techniques, such as public-private partnerships, that could support the implementation of rail service. Preliminary analysis suggested that tolling existing highway capacity on US 422 was a feasible strategy for generating the funds necessary to advance the rail project, as well as providing the funding sources needed for the River Crossing Project and additional improvements along US 422, particularly in the Pottstown area.

Schuylkill Valley Metro

The R6 Extension Study was a result of a set of feasibility studies and major investment study conducted by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and the Berks Area Reading Transportation Authority (BARTA). These studies and a draft environmental impact statement were done as part of the Schuylkill Valley Metro (SVM) concept, which was to be a commuter rail linking Reading to Philadelphia largely along the Norfolk Southern line. SEPTA submitted a New Starts application to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in 2002 for this service. Due to the high cost of the proposed service, the FTA did not recommend that the project be eligible for federal funds. Although not realized, the SVM provided the groundwork and initial analysis for future studies and projects that would consider extending commuter rail service along the 422 corridor.