DVRPC News - Summer 2002

In keeping with this policy, DVRPC opened a public comment period from May 6 to June 5, 2002 to provide an opportunity for citizens to review and address the Draft FY 2003 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for New Jersey (FY2003 - FY2005) and for Pennsylvania (FY2003 - FY2006); and for Amendments to the Year 2025 Long-Range Plan.

As the agency that funnels federal dollars into the Delaware Valley, the Commission has been seeking input from the public regarding how to prioritize transportation projects and how to move forward with the region's plan for the future. As the short- range list of transportation improvements, the FY 2003 TIP lists more than 500 projects worth almost $3.5 billion in the Pennsylvania portion of the region over the next four years. At the same time, more than 200 projects totaling $910 million are on the table in New Jersey for the next three years. Both TIPs contain a wide variety of projects that will improve the entire transportation system, such as:

• PA-413 Corridor improvements and repair/replacement of 40 bridges in Bucks County;
• US 322 corridor improvements and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) on I-476 in Delaware County;
• Restoration and reconstruction of Route 1, Chester County;
• Reconstruction of PA-309 in Montgomery County;
• Reconstruction of I-95 and pedestrian streetscape improvements at 30th Street Station, Philadelphia;
• Frankford Transportation Center (Philadelphia) Reconstruction, SEPTA;
• New connector between I-295 and the New Jersey Turnpike in Burlington County;
• Collingswood and Berlin Circle improvements in Camden County;
• Intersection and roadway improvements along Route 47 in Gloucester County;
• Bike and safety improvements along Route 29, Mercer County; and
• Overhaul of PATCO rail cars by DRPA.

The Commission's Year 2025 Long-Range Plan, Horizons, which was adopted in April of 2001, was also up for review to reflect the Commission's adoption of revised population forecasts for the region as well as the addition of three new studies to the Plan: PA Turnpike Capacity Improvements, Bus Rapid Transit in the Princeton Area, and the Potential for Expanded Transit for the Delaware River Waterfront Areas. In addition, three highway widening projects in Montgomery County will be transferred to the studies list. Finally, the revised Plan will reflect updates to the Regional Aviation System Plan.

To provide the public with an opportunity to comment on these documents, DVRPC held public meetings in Blackwood, NJ, and Phoenixville and Philadelphia, PA. In addition, copies of the draft TIP and changes to the Long-Range Plan were available for review at numerous libraries throughout the region, as well as in DVRPC's library, and on the DVRPC website at www.dvrpc.org. (DVRPC's Board adopted the FY 2003 TIP for Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as well as the changes to the Long-Range Plan, at its meeting in late June).

LEADERS TOUT RAIL FREIGHT INDUSTRY TRAIN TRIP GRABS CONFERENCE SPOTLIGHT
In May, more than 200 railroad professionals converged upon the Delaware Valley for the 2002 Pennsylvania Joint Rail Freight Seminar. Hosted by DVRPC, the Pennsylvania Rail Freight Advisory Committee and the Keystone State Railroad Association, the three-day conference featured expert speakers, exhibits, and scholarship awards. The conference theme, A Proud History, A Secure Future, set the context for celebrating the state's rich freight railroading heritage while examining tough security issues in the post 9/11 world.

The major highlight for the conference attendees was a four-hour train tour of rail, port, and industrial facilities in Philadelphia. The train included two historic locomotives, a business car used by several U.S. Presidents, and a lounge car fully stocked with soft pretzels. The excursion attracted elected officials and was augmented with narration and a special trip book prepared by DVRPC.

DVRPC Executive Director John Coscia (right) welcomes keynote speaker Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania to the 2002 Pennsylvania Joint Rail Freight Seminar hosted by DVRPC. Other speakers included DRPA Chairman Manny Stamatakis, the FRA's Curt Secrest, and Steve Sullivan of the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association.	Senior railroad executives who fielded audience questions at a Town Hall Forum included (l-r) Fred Green of the Canadian Pacific Railway, Dan Mazur of the Norfolk Southern Corporation, Don Shanis of DVRPC (facilitator), Randy Evans of CSX Transportation, and Charlie Marshall of Genesee & Wyoming Inc.

The Pennsylvania Joint Rail Freight Seminar is conducted annually at various locations around the state and is widely regarded as the premiere conference of its kind in the nation. The seminar joins the state's freight railroads (the most of any state in the country with 68) with PennDOT, the MPOs, and others with a strong interest in the industry. First held in 1991, this year's event marked the twelfth seminar.

Summing up the sentiments of many seminar attendees, DVRPC Executive Director, John J. Coscia, stated: "Since the days of the Pennsylvania Railroad, the Commonwealth has been a vital center of rail freight activity. This conference is a terrific way to increase the visibility of the industry and to encourage public-private solutions to transportation challenges. Simply put, we need a healthy, robust rail freight industry."

Copies of many of the formal presentations made at the seminar can be accessed through the transportation section of the DVRPC webpage (www.dvrpc.org).

HAPPY TRAILS:COMMISSION SPONSORS "TALES OF TRAILS CONFERENCE"
In communities across the region, growing interest in hiking, biking and walking has fueled a new appreciation for off-road trails, paths and bike lanes. And, municipalities are blazing new trails in response to the growing demand. In Montgomery County, for instance, more than 70 miles of trails are under design or in construction. Philadelphia is on its way to installing 300 miles of bike lanes on the city's road network. To add momentum to this emerging trend, DVRPC organized a special conference-Tales of Trails. The event was held on May 9th in West Conshohocken, PA.

The conference brought together about 50 municipal officials, planners and advocates to learn, network and share resources. Guest speakers and panelists from throughout the region shared their stories of success and insights. Luncheon speaker Ken Edmonds of the East Coast Greenway Alliance spoke about his organization's ambitious plans to create a continuous trail from Maine to Florida. Local trail expert and architect Bob Thomas led a group on a tour of the Schuylkill River Trail.

More information is available on existing and planned trails in the region by visiting www.dvrpc.org/mapping.htm.

DVRPC FOCUSES ATTENTION ON PREVIOUSLY "IGNORED COMMUNITIES"
Focusing on Revitalizing Older Suburbs proved to be a subject of great interest to a diverse audience. Almost 300 attendees packed the conference area of the Philadelphia Marriott West in Conshohocken, PA, on April 30th to hear strategies to revive communities. DVRPC, along with Temple University Ambler's new Center for Sustainable Communities, were co-hosts of the one-day conference devoted to a theme of Building from Strength.

The event examined local suburbs such as Bristol, Chester Heights, Yeadon, Pennsauken, Downingtown, Merchantville, Lansdale, Doylestown and West Chester. DVRPC Assistant Executive Director, Barry Seymour, noted "these older communities have not received enough attention. They have been the ignored communities for too long." Attendees included elected leaders, planners, architects, affordable-housing advocates, redevelopment experts and state government policy officials.

Several attendees, including East Norriton Township supervisor F. Bud Denner left the conference with valuable information such as how to reinvigorate once-vibrant commercial districts. Denner noted that his township would like to capture some of the shopper traffic that passes through on the way to King of Prussia, recreating the retail growth they once knew.

Much of Denner's information and inspiration commenced with speaker Judith Rawson. Rawson, Mayor of the City of Shaker Heights, Ohio described the consortium of 30 older Cleveland suburban communities organized to stimulate reinvestment in their towns.

Highlighting the seminar was the release of the Brookings Institute's latest report on older towns, Valuing America's First Suburbs. The report addresses the assets and challenges of older suburbs in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions of the country, and provides recommendations for federal, state and local officials to improve community competitiveness.

Bruce Katz, Director of the Center for Urban and Metropolitan Policy of the Brookings Institution cited Pennsylvania and New Jersey's fragmented political structure of municipal government as an impediment to action. Within the nine-county Philadelphia metropolitan area exists 352 municipalities, each with the power to make land-use decisions. Katz urged local officials to start practicing the new land-use laws passed by Pennsylvania in 2000.

DVRPC believes that it is only by putting these new laws into practice that this region can promote the goals of less sprawl and congestion and better quality of life.

DVRPC welcomes young women from University City High School in West Philadelphia. Above, DVRPC Executive Director John Coscia, poses with his "daughters" for the day.

At the end of the event- filled day, each "daughter" left with a certificate of completion of the program… and a greater vision of the broad horizons in career options for women.

OZONE ACTION EVENT KICKS OFF 7TH YEAR OF DRIVE FOR CLEANER AIR
Air quality in the Delaware Valley received considerable attention last month as over 75 state and local officials, environmental advocates, business partners and members of the media gathered for a common goal - cleaner air for the Delaware Valley region.

Highlighting this year's Ozone Action Kick-Off Event was the Ozone Action Partnership's participation in the Tour de Sol, the Great American Green Transportation Festival - an alternative-fuel car road rally that came through Philadelphia on May 16th. Held from 11am to 2pm on the Ben Franklin Parkway, this event, sponsored by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA), showcased energy efficient and alternative fuel vehicles that can help to improve this region's air quality. The Ozone Action Partnership was proud to sponsor two of the competition's entrants, West Philadelphia High School and Cinnaminson High School.

No "Coaching" Needed… Appearing at the Ozone Action Kick-Off Event with Coach Ozone are the 2002 Ozone Action award winners (from left): DART First State, accepted by Stephen Kingsberry; Special Recognition, James Salvaggio; 6 ABC WPVI, accepted by Sally Ann Mosey; John Magee, SEPTA and Ozone Action Board Chair; and Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association, accepted by Sandra Brillhart.

On a Clear Day… You can talk about the ground-level ozone problem but not have to experience the bad side effects. Discussing the health problems associated with ozone are (from left) William F. Ryan, meteorologist to the Ozone Action Partnership and affiliated with Penn State University; John J. Coscia, DVRPC Executive Director; Charles Pietarinen, Chief, Bureau of Air Monitoring, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP); and Samuel Wolfe, Assistant Commissioner for Environmental Regulation, NJDEP.

At the conclusion of the Tour de Sol event, Ozone Action Partners and dignitaries from Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey rode a SEPTA bus to the Ozone Action program's main kickoff - a reception at the Independence Visitors Center at 6th and Market Streets, Philadelphia. Participants heard Bill Ryan, DVRPC's ozone forecaster, discuss the challenge of predicting ground-level ozone. He also announced the first Ozone Action forecast of the new season.

Awards were presented to Ozone Action partners for outstanding contributions to the partnership and to members of the media for exceptional coverage of ozone issues. Recognized at this year's event were: DART First State, Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association, James Salvaggio (special recognition), 6 ABC, WPVI, and Radio Y-100.

The Ozone Action Partnership is a coalition of more than 150 business, government and environmental groups, representing Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, that work collaboratively to inform the public of ways in which to improve and maintain the region's air quality. The Partnership's kick-off event launched the seventh season of the multistate Ozone Action Program. Administered by DVRPC, the summer- long Ozone Action Program alerts the public to the hazards of ground-level ozone and forecasts Ozone Action Days when levels are unhealthy.

Additional information about the Ozone Action Program, as well as printed materials are available by contacting DVRPC at 215-592-1800. A daily air quality forecast is available via the Ozone Action Hotline at (800) 872-7261. Or visit the DVRPC Web site at www.dvrpc.org.