East Brandywine Township

Traffic Impact Advisory Committee

Tuesday, January 21, 2003 – 7:30 P.M.

The Traffic Impact Advisory Committee met on Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at McCausland Hall, 1214 Horseshoe Pike, East Brandywine Township .

Those in attendance:  Hudson Voltz, Chairman Board of Supervisors, Scott T. Piersol, Township Manager, Andreas Heinrich, Heinrich & Klein, Richard Bates, John Black, Brian Formica, Everett Lang, John Neff, Christopher Saello, Mervin Thomas, and Harold Thompson and Norann King, Secretary.  Bruce Rawlings and Stephen Cushman from the Township Planning Commission attended the meeting at the invitation of the Traffic Impact Advisory Committee.

Absent:  Albert Giannantonio, Township Engineer, John Bryer, Christopher Luning and Dan Raspanti.

Opening of meeting:

Mr. Voltz opened the meeting at 7:30 P.M.

The Traffic Committee was provided with a sketch map of the study area by Township Engineer, Mr. Albert Giannantonio of Yerkes Associates.  The map separates East Brandywine Township into two distinct areas.  The first area shows the build-out potential area of 7 square miles; the second shows excluded areas that equal 4 square miles.

Andy Heinrich of Heinrich & Klein handed out a proposed sketch map of a one way couplet system (bypass) on the south side of Guthriesville.  The bypass would be approximately one mile in length, starting in the vicinity of North Guthriesville Road , and ending near the Wright Insurance Agency, opposite the Brandywine Country Living Agway.  Listed below are some major points that were discussed regarding the bypass plan:

• Overall, the Committee liked the location by the bypass shown on Mr. Heinrich’s sketch map.

• Businesses within Guthriesville will be saved using the loop road plan.

• Will the Committee exclude widening Rt. 322?  At the present time this alternative will not be excluded.

• Due to anticipated traffic congestion, the Committee is concerned about the area where the bypass will merge with Rt. 322, west of the Township building. 

• What is the anticipated time frame for approval from PennDot?  Mr. Heinrich stated as long as ten years, but less than ten years if the Township has engineered plans.

• What would be the cost of widening Rt. 322 to six lanes?

• How can the character of the existing Village by retained?

• Although the bypass will resolve traffic congestion problems in Guthriesville, it may not resolve problems east or west of the proposed bypass.

• If the Committee decides to recommend the bypass option, the Township will need to look at the property values in the bypass area, and complete appraisals of those properties. The committee will also need to look at property values that border the bypass, which could also be affected.

The committee is interested in hearing a response from surrounding townships, including Honeybrook Borough, Honeybrook Township , West Brandywine Township to see if they are interested in joining our group.  As of this date, no response has been received from these other municipalities.  The Committee feels it would be beneficial to all the municipalities to look at traffic impact as a joint venture.

The next Traffic Impact Committee meeting will be held February 11, 2003 at 7:30 P.M.   The topics for discussion will include:

1. Electing a Chairman and Vice-Chairman.

2. Review updated maps provided by Mr. Giannantonio.

3. Discussing the number of homes that will be impacted by building the couplet bypass versus widening SR 322 (Horseshoe Pike). 

4. The Committee asked Mr. Heinrich and Mr. Giannantonio to do a cost analysis on the Guthriesville Bypass versus widening SR 322 to five lanes.

COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE

Mr. Voltz asked if there were comments from the audience.  There were none. 

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:55 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Norann King

Secretary

East Brandywine Township