East Brandywine Township

Traffic Impact Advisory Committee

Tuesday, May 13, 2003 7:30 P.M.

 

The Traffic Impact Advisory Committee met on Tuesday, May 13, 2003 in McCausland Hall, 1214 Horseshoe Pike, East Brandywine Township .

 

 Committee attendance:        Brian Formica, Chairman,

John Black

John Bryer

Everett Lang

John Neff

Harold Thompson

 

Absent:                                   Richard Bates, Vice-Chairman

Christopher Saello

Mervin Thomas

                       

Township Representatives:   Scott T. Piersol, Township Manager

Albert Giannantonio, Township Engineer/Zoning Officer

Andreas Heinrich, Heinrich & Klein, Township Traffic Consultant

 

Absent:                                   Hudson Voltz , Chairman Board of Supervisors 

 

Opening of meeting:

 

Chairman Brian Formica opened the meeting at 7:36 P.M. with a Salute to the Flag.

 

Approval of Minutes:            Minutes, April 8, 2003

 

Mr. Formica asked if there were any additions or corrections to the above minutes.  Mr. Black advised under new business where it stated (7) seven miles it should read (7) square mile area and area contiguous.  Mr. Giannantonio further stated it should read property within a contiguous (7) seven square mile area of East Brandywine Township .  With those changes, Mr. Thompson then made a motion to approve the minutes.  Mr. Neff seconded the motion with all voting aye.

 

New Business:

 

Mr. Formica asked if any calculations were done for the per trip figures.  Mr. Giannantonio advised Yerkes is still gathering data so they can finalize this information.

 

The committee discussed the results from a recent survey, which was sent out to all Township residents. Residents could also complete the survey through our website Ebrandywine.org.  A portion of the survey questions pertained to traffic issues, which are listed below. 

  1. Would you like to see this stretch of highway widened to five or six lanes?

  2. Would you like construction of a by-pass as an alternate form of relief?

  3. Would a by-pass, with eastbound traffic using the by-pass and westbound using the existing Route 322, ease your commute?

  4. Would prefer no change other than better coordination of all the Route 322 traffic lights?

 

Total number of respondents who completed the survey through the mail to date is 211.  Total number of respondents through our website is 35.  The results from the survey showed the largest percentage of those responding were not in favor of widening SR 322, or building a bypass, but were in favor of better coordination of all the Route 322 traffic lights.

 

Some of the committee members felt the survey was misleading due to residents possibly not understanding that the proposed improvements could be partially funded under ACT 209. They thought that if residents realized there would not be a tax increase for these road improvements, the results might be different.

 

A separate PennDot customer survey is being mailed to area residents within the next few weeks.  Most of these questions pertain to road maintenance, but there are also questions regarding congestion and widening of state highways.

 

Mr. Heinrich asked Mr. Piersol if the Township has received any quotes from either Mr. Van Reiker or Mr. John Snook of the Brandywine Conservancy to conduct the Land Use Assumption Report.  Mr. Reiker declined to provide a quote, stating he could not take on anymore projects at this time do to time constraints.  Mr. Piersol hasn’t been able to speak with Mr. Snook, but did speak with Mr. John Roughan, Township Manager of Upper Uwchland Township who highly recommends Mr. Snook, and felt he did a good job on their Land Use Assumption Report.  The Township has dealt with Brandywine Conservancy before and feels very comfortable with using them.

 

Mr. Heinrich advised the Committee members he needs the Land Use Assumption Report to complete his trip studies/traffic levels of service. The report should contain the following:   (1) Existing conditions, (2) Future pass through information and (3) Pass through totals.  Once these figures are provided, it will take Mr. Heinrich at least two months to complete the roadway sufficiency analysis report. 

 

There has been much discussion on closing the entrance/exit of N. Guthriesville Road , and making a loop at the next light in Brandywine Village Shopping Center . Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Formica and Mr. Lang stated the committee needs to choose one option or the other, (either keeping the North Guthriesville entrance/exit opened or closed) and then give their recommendation to PennDot for their 12-year maintenance and improvement program.

 

FURTHER COMMENTS

 

The committee advised we have about seven to eight months left until the 18-month time clock runs out, January 17, 2004 . The committee needs to start making some decisions and recommendations to the Board of Supervisors.

 

Mr. Formica advised the next scheduled traffic meeting would be held June 10, 2003 at 7:30 P.M.  

 

Adjournment

 

There being no further business, Mr. Thompson made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:39 P.M.   Mr. Black seconded the motion, with all voting Aye.

 

 

 

 

Norann King

East Brandywine Secretary