LVTS is meeting with all 62 local governments. Some local governments lack the resources to put forward projects that they may really need while municipalities with a lot of resources can put in 12 requests and pay third parties to put them together. So Bradley is reaching out to everyone.
Congress funds 80-100% of transportation. It's usually a 80/20 match, with the state picking up 20%.
Bradley indicated that LVTS is he only study in state that asks the community what their priorities are.
She indicated there is also an online survey in which you can make state your own priorities.
Feds mandate that federal dollars be prioritized on interstate highways. That's why you see the widening projects on 78 that only serves to spur new warehouses development and warehouse interchanges that only serves to wipe out farmland. Route 22 widening was full steam ahead when Rendell put the brakes after RenewLV, Easton and others sent letters in opposition to Route 22 in support of commuter rail. Unfortunately, rail does not get valley residents to their jobs safely. Brookings suggested wider roads lead to more traffic, yet choking urban corridors only encourages development of more rural parts of the LV where fertile farmland is the path of least resistance and newer homes can be built instead of redevelopment of old housing stock in our urban corridors.
ReplyDeleteComment lacks direction.
DeleteUS 22 should be I 278 and it should be 6 lanes between 33 and 309. The fact that state and local officials allow 22 to remain an outdated congested central artery is a colossal failure. In fact I would argue that the lack of action on 22 is discriminatory against the citizens that live in our Allentown and Bethlehem urban cores.
Delete22 is state owned and almost all major road projects are largely federally funded. Route 22 expansion alone would consume the entire federal 25 year allotment. Feds put most dollars to interstates.
DeleteI’d advocate for two big projects - an interstate beltway around the valley and a rail connection to the national network.
ReplyDeleteThe beltway isn’t as nutty as it sounds because it’s already there. The designation is a matter of paperwork. If we designate the bit of 309 between 78 and 22 as a part of it, add existing 22 from the 309 junction to 33, and renumber 33 from 22 down to 78, we have one! Suddenly three state expressways become eligible for interstate funding. Pittsburgh did it with their Penn-Lincoln Parkway through their downtown (now I-376). We could too.
While I recognize that the blogger and I disagree about passenger rail, I suggest that it is possible for Norfolk Southern to accommodate a few trains a day to New York without adversely affecting their freight scheduling. If we take a systems approach rather than a parochial line, there are ways to convince our national airlines to joint ticket service from here through Newark Liberty airport (with its own Amtrak station) onward to the world. Our own LVIA can concentrate on what it does well - short hops on budget airlines to popular destinations.
Rather than widening 22 (which I used to think would happen, but today I think it never will), I've always wondered if a limited-access "northern bypass" would have any merit. Basically an east-west divided highway starting at Route 33 at the Belfast exit, running north of Nazareth, Bath, Northampton, etc. and terminating at a new interchange on the Turnpike NE extension around Neffs/Schnecksville.
ReplyDeleteHow about fix the failing bridge system. I believe many are in need up repair redos
ReplyDeleteRedo the MacArthur Road overpass/interchange so that the clover leaf can accommodate widening. The current overpass was a cheap solution in error as a result of a hastened rebuild in preparation for a hockey arena. That overpass was rebuilt without the consideration for widening.
ReplyDeleteThe current plan is to convert acceleration lansles on Route 22 to driving lanes and convert to a reverse diamond interchange which will add more points of conflict to an already congested MacArthur Road and probably is as costly (in the short term and long term) as a properly constructed clover leaf interchange. Especially given the fact that the Jordon Creek bridge will be widened and raised. The MacArthur Road interchange is important to the City and the Township and the redo is justified based on the economic benefit of tax revenue generated from retail alone. If the state can rebuild a new bridge for a golf course in western PA, they can rebuild the busiest intersection in the LV (Route 22 and MacArthur Road).
BAB is not the head of the LVTS, never has been never will be
ReplyDeleteLVPC shares staff with LVTS which is the Federal MPO & has a separate governing board.
ReplyDelete