DVRPC News - Summer 1999

VITAL PROJECTS RECEIVE FUNDS
Delaware Valley's transit-oriented development and conservation and natural resource planning got a big boost recently when DVRPC received substantial grants for expansion and development of ongoing projects in those areas.

Thanks in part to a grant just awarded to this region by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the 1990's will probably be designated as the era of "livable communities". Federal Transit Administrator Gordon Linton presented the $665,000 check to DVRPC in May. The funding is intended to bolster a project which will:

• Develop a Location Efficient Mortgage Program, whereby a prospective homeowner, in areas well-served by public transit and services, could own fewer cars and utilize those funds toward a better home and a higher monthly mortgage payment;
• Expand ongoing education and information campaigns targeted to local officials, the development community and the general public, documenting the benefits of transit-oriented communities; and
• Proactively plan for transit-oriented development at station areas along the proposed Schuylkill Valley Metro rail line, in conjunction with local plans and objectives.

DVRPC, in partnership with the City of Philadelphia, the counties of Berks, Chester and Montgomery, the Berks Area Reading Transportation Authority (BARTA), the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), the Delaware Valley Community Reinvestment Fund and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, will coordinate the primary elements of the project.

The grant, one of 35 made nationwide out of 524 applicants for a total of $13.1 million in fiscal 1999, is designated under an innovative program created by the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) to help protect the environment and improve access to jobs, services and the marketplace.

DVRPC plans to use this funding to develop communities at the same time as transit expands. Incentives would include such innovative ideas as promoting pedestrian-friendly town centers near rail stations, providing all-inclusive services within walkable and bikeable areas, and informing the public about these opportunities.

In May, DVRPC also received a $242,000 grant from the William Penn Foundation for work over two years to enhance the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for conservation and natural resource planning. GIS is a data management system that links computers, people and data in order to display graphically what used to be seen in table form. By using GIS, geography can be analyzed individually or in relationship to other data sources. In turn, GIS conservation organizations will be better equipped with GIS to identify those areas in need of protection or remedial action and prioritize their efforts.

The project will be targeted to the non-profit conservation organizations supported by the William Penn Foundation. A significant number of the Foundation's grants to these organizations involve planning, technical assistance, feasibility studies, impact analyses, watershed management, or citizen environmental education which could be facilitated or improved through GIS.

Under this project, DVRPC will utilize its expertise to compile available GIS data layers within the William Penn Foundation's Expanded Grantmaking Region; combine those common layers in a regional GIS database that would be replicated and distributed to users on CD-ROM; assess those data layers that are currently incompatible due to differences in scale, projection or coverage and conduct a pilot project to reconcile these layers with the regional base; provide training to GIS users through hand's-on-training courses organized at DVRPC; assist users on-site via a GIS expert "circuit rider" that would work with area organizations; and, expand the existing DVRPC on-line GIS application, which allows users without on-site GIS to access and use the DVRPC GIS database with a standard computer and Internet browser.

The results of the project will be made available to a much wider public through the DVRPC website or through dissemination of the resulting GIS data to other area conservation organizations.

DVRPC ELECTS NEW BOARD OFFICERS FOR FY 2000
During a time when attention is focused on moving smoothly into the millenium, the DVRPC Board elected new officers to guide the Commission through what is expected to be an exciting year of planning for the region.

At the June meeting, Jerrold D. Colton (New Jersey Governor's Appointee) was elected FY 2000 Chairman of the Board and Executive Committee of DVRPC. The Board also elected Vice-Chairman Charles H. Martin (Bucks County), Secretary James G. Atkinson (Gloucester County), and Treasurer Timothy J. Carson, Esq.(Pennsylvania Governor's Appointee). Their terms will continue through June 30, 2000.

Colton, a graduate of Rutgers College and Rutgers University School of Law, joined the DVRPC Board in December of 1997 and was the FY 1999 DVRPC Board Vice-Chairman. He is founder and managing partner of Colton, Stein, & Zamost in Voorhees, New Jersey focusing on traditional civil and criminal law, with a specialty in sports law. His expertise in sports law landed him regular appearances on Comcast Sportsnet as a Sports/Legal Expert. Prior to going into private practice, he was an assistant prosecutor in the Camden County Prosecutor's Office and an attorney at the Philadelphia law firm of Levy, Angstrich, Finney, Mann & Burkett. He is on the Board of Directors of the Boomer Esiason Foundation and the Jewish Community Center of Southern New Jersey. He is a member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America; Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the New Jersey and Camden County Bar Associations. He is also a certified contract advisor for the National Basketball, Football and Hockey Players Associations.

Charles H. Martin boasts over 30 years of professional, corporate experience in customer service and public relations including media relations, consumer affairs, public policy, emergency planning and quality management. Elected to a four-year term as a Bucks County Commissioner in 1995, he served as Chairman for two of his four years. A graduate of Lebanon Valley College, Martin served 13 years as Public Affairs Officer for the Bucks County division of the Philadelphia Electric Company (now PECO Energy). He is currently on the Board of Directors of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, the Bucks County Hero Scholarship Fund and is member of the Southampton Republican Club.

James G. Atkinson is now serving his eighteenth year with the Board of Chosen Freeholders in Gloucester County. Atkinson served for nine years as a member of the Washington Township Committee, with two terms as Mayor. He is a charter member of the Washington Township Parks and Recreation Commission, Washington Township Historical Society and Washington Township Athletic Association. He is also a member of the Gloucester, Camden, Burlington, Tri-County Water Quality Management Board and a member of the Southern New Jersey Freeholders Association. He served in the United States Naval Air Corps during World War II, and is currently a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 4189, Turnersville.

Timothy J. Carson, Esq., a senior partner in the law firm Saul, Ewing, Remick & Saul is a graduate of the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce, University of Pennsylvania and Villanova School of Law. Presently, he serves on the Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, as the Zone One Governor, representing all Philadelphia lawyers. He was awarded the Pennsylvania Bar Association's distinguished "President's Award" for outstanding leadership and service. He is a past vice chairman of the DVRPC Board (1997-98).

The I -295/I-76/NJ Route 42 Interchange Challenge
Study Offers Potential Solutions
On any given morning you may awaken to a traffic report discussing the chore of traveling through the I-295/ I-76/NJ Route 42 Interchange. The interchange, literally at the crossroads of Southern New Jersey, handles over 225,000 vehicles on an average day.

But it doesn't always handle them smoothly.

In a three and one-half year period, there were more than 2,100 accidents and three fatalities within the interchange area. In addition, numerous substandard geometric and operational conditions have been cited, such as poor sight distance, inadequate bridge clearances, missing ramps and and the lack of direct connection for through traffic on I-295. The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and DVRPC are working to change these conditions and solve the Interchange's multi-faceted problems.

Last fall, NJDOT and DVRPC instituted a Transportation Investment Study (TIS) to address the issues surrounding the Interchange. The TIS, a cooperative effort including both private and public stakeholders, was established to provide decision makers with multi-modal alternatives prior to the allocation of federal funds. This study was designed to focus on types and levels of benefits, not on construction feasibility or cost. To achieve a collaborative process, six meetings of a TIS Committee (composed of Federal, regional, county and municipal stakeholders) were held at key decision points to direct the technical analysis. Two public meetings were also held to obtain more detailed information on public concerns; one at the beginning of the study to examine the range of alternatives to be studied and another near the end of the study to present preliminary findings. The primary focus of the study was the Interchange itself, but a secondary focus was on portions of the highway network in surrounding Gloucester and Camden counties. The primary objectives of the study included:

• Reduce accidents within the interchange
• Improve design standards within the interchange
• Divert regional traffic from surrounding arterials
• Separate regional traffic flows through the interchange
• Improve traffic operations within the interchange
• Reduce congestion within the interchange and the region

The TIS screening process resulted in the development of seven highway and transit alternatives which were measured against the goals and objectives of the study. Key findings included:

• Building a new turnpike interchange between the NJ Turnpike and Route 42 in the vicinity of the Route 42/55 merge, would produce significant regional benefits, but does not address the interchange problems;
• A Partial Build, where the missing ramps from I-295 northbound to Route 42 southbound and Route 42 northbound to I-295 southbound are added, would improve the interchange and could be implemented independent of a Full Build Alternative since the missing ramps serve their own market; and
• The Full Build Alternative, to add the missing ramps plus direct Route 42/I-295 access, provides the greatest benefit to the interchange and to the region and is the only alternative that addresses all the study objectives.

Based on this study, the Full Build appears to be the preferred alternative. The Full Build would eliminate the geometric deficiencies and reduce the high number of accidents within the interchange. The TIS Committee recommended that the Partial Build Alternative , which is an element of the Full Build alternative, be advanced as soon as possible and before the more complex Full Build Alternative. With the DVRPC Board's approval of the TIS, NJDOT will initiate analysis to determine feasibility of building the interchange.

ENVISIONING A "NEW REGION"
Suburban development in the Delaware Valley has created positive opportunities for many families, but the seemingly random pattern of suburban expansion has also contributed to problems in the area. Traffic congestion, loss of open space and urban deterioration are just some of the symptoms affecting the region. Planners and officials are now re-examining ways to bring back vibrancy and sense of place to create a more satisfying way of life, thus increasing the " livability" of communities in the region.

The New Urbanism Movement is receiving significant consideration from not only planners, but the media at large. New Urbanists promote principles of traditional neighborhood design to make places more livable, including mixed uses, transportation choices, visually appealing architecture at a human scale, diversity, and strong community identity. In order to fully realize New Urbanism's intent in the Delaware Valley, these worthy ideas have been incorporated into a regional perspective to help build a thriving metropolitan area. The "New Regionalism" takes New Urbanism beyond isolated planning at the neighborhood scale to include limiting new development to designated growth areas; fostering suburban development based on traditional neighborhood design principles; encouraging infill development and urban revitalization; and preserving an inter-connected open space network.

DVRPC has outlined its concept for New Regionalism in a detailed report entitled, " New Regionalism: Building Livable Communities Across the Delaware Valley." The report, released in July, explains key strategies and design principles, and makes recommendations for enhancing livability at both the neighborhood and regionwide scale. The report also presents local case studies of how various communities in the Delaware Valley are applying these principles to make themselves more livable.

New Regionalism promotes planning with the entire Philadelphia metropolitan area in mind since the region embodies the basic economic, environmental, and cultural unit within which people live, work and play. It cautions us to rebuild and reclaim existing communities first, before building on greenfield sites, since the Delaware Valley contains a well-developed network of older villages, boroughs, cities and first generation suburbs. New Regionalism encourages building upon the Delaware Valley's unique natural, cultural and physical assets and it suggests providing people with meaningful choices about where and how they live, recognizing that the residents of this region have a wide range of needs, values and goals for themselves and their communities.

The New Regionalism challenge facing the Delaware Valley is two-fold. First, to promote infill & redevelopment in existing developed communities and to channel new development into designated growth areas; Second, to encourage both the development and redevelopment taking place in city & suburb to adhere to the best principles of New Urbanism.

By offering a new vision of development, it is hoped that New Regionalism will spur a public dialogue about changing the way that land use and transportation development decisions are made, as DVRPC prepares Horizons: The Year 2025 Plan for the Delaware Valley.

FORECASTING OUR FUTURE
On June, DVRPC adopted regional and county population and employment forecasts to the year 2025. Municipal level forecasts are expected to be available this fall.

Population and employment forecasts serve as the backbone of DVRPC's planning efforts for the Delaware Valley, its counties, and their municipalities. These forecasts are used in DVRPC's sophisticated transportation models, which in turn, are used to estimate future travel demand and evaluate individual highway and transit projects. They are also used to guide our long-range Land Use, Transportation and Air Quality Plan, and as indicators of trends in each county and municipality. In addition, the forecasts will serve in DVRPC's ongoing air quality evaluation required to meet the goals of the Clean Air Act Amendments.

What Lies Ahead

• In the first part of the 21^st century , the Delaware Valley's elderly population (65+) will grow by 58% to over 1.1 million. By 2025, over 19% of the region's population will be over 65.
• Approximately 580,000 more people will live in the Delaware Valley by 2025, pushing the region's total population over 5.9 million for the first time in history.
• Due to slow participating labor force growth over the next 25 years, the Delaware Valley's job base will grow by only 19% to just over 3.2 million by 2025.
• The service sector will account for 69% of all job growth over the next 25 years.

These forecasts were prepared by DVRPC staff in conjunction with city, county, state and federal agency representatives, as well as a panel of regional economists from the private sector. They may be seen as an objective assessment of future conditions, based not only on past trends, but also on current market demand, expected trends, and an analysis of the available land and infrastructure to accommodate growth.

Presented in atlas format, the set of twenty-two carefully selected maps and accompanying text provide fundamental information about rail freight operations, facilities, and services and relates them to the Delaware Valley's population and employment centers and transportation corridors. With clearly presented information, the plan showcases the rail freight system as a vital complement to highway, port, and airport facilities.

The core of the Delaware Valley Rail Freight Plan is the FasTrax Improvement Program . The FasTrax program consists of 90 projects, studies, and assigned roles which is intended to maximize the local rail network, remove any barriers to freight flows, and spur the integration of all transportation modes. In synthesizing the capital improvement programs of various operating companies and agencies, FasTrax provides a foundation for incorporating rail freight considerations into DVRPC's short and long range transportation planning. The plan is the latest indication of DVRPC's steadfast commitment to embrace freight concerns in planning and implementing transportation systems and solutions for the Philadelphia region.

Copies of the Rail Freight Plan are available through DVRPC's Information Services Center at 215-238-2828.

OZONE ACTION SEASON KICKS OFF
The Delaware Valley's Ozone Action Partnership is part of a growing nationwide trend toward voluntary pollution prevention that unites industry and private citizens toward a common goal--cleaner air.

To alert the public about the health and environmental effects of ground-level ozone, the Ozone Action Partnership recently launched the fourth season of the multi-state Ozone Action Program. The Partnership represents a coalition of business, government and environmental groups, in Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, that work collaboratively to inform the public of ways to improve and maintain the region's air quality.

The 1999 Ozone Action season officially kicked off with a reception and luncheon at the Independence Seaport Museum. To emphasize the importance of public transportation in reducing motor vehicle emissions that contribute to ground-level ozone and to show support for alternatives to driving, state officials traveled to the event via the RiverLink Ferry and SEPTA.

This year's event brought together over 100 state and local officials, business partners and members of the media. Awards were presented to Ozone Action partners for outstanding contributions to the Partnership and to a member of the media for consistent and dedicated coverage of the Ozone Action forecast. Recognized at the event were: PECO Energy, SEPTA, the Bernardine Center and NBC10. The event also marked the unveiling of the new 27-passenger Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered buses for the Phlash Downtown Visitor Shuttle.

"The Ozone Action Partnership is an excellent example of what can be accomplished when the private and public sectors voluntarily work together. Through public awareness, forecasting and alerts on high ozone days, ozone partnerships help us all breathe easier," said EPA Regional Administrator, W. Michael McCabe.

Administered by DVRPC, the summer-long Ozone Action Program alerts the public of ground-level ozone and forecasts Ozone Action Days when levels are unhealthful. When an Ozone Action day is forecast, employers, the media and DVRPC spread the news, asking people to take cost-efficient, voluntary actions to reduce emissions by using transit or car pooling to work, refueling cars in the evening when the sun is down, and postponing lawn mowing with gas powered mowers.

For more information about Ozone Action please visit the DVRPC website at www.dvrpc.org . A daily forecast is available by dialing 1-800-872-7261.