KING OF PRUSSIA MALL AND GVF TRANSPORTATION HOST DUMP THE PUMP EVENT

In an effort to get more people out of their vehicles and onto public transportation and other alternate modes of transportation, GVF Transportation and the King of Prussia Mall hosted a Dump the Pump expo on Thursday, June 18, 2009 at the King of Prussia Mall.
Dump the Pump Day is nationally recognized by the American Public Transportation Association. The day is designed to encourage people to get out of their cars and ride public transportation to raise awareness of the financial benefits of transit. Public transportation has the ability to save people money, conserve gasoline, and reduce the harmful greenhouse gases emitted into our environment.
A variety of vendors will be on-hand to explain the benefits of different alternative transportations, including Air Quality Partnership, Clean Air Council, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), GVF Transportation, SEPTA, TransitChek and VPSI. Bertolini’s and Sullivan’s was on hand to pass out samples of their latest fare.
A hybrid SEPTA bus was on display and SEPTA employees were on-hand to answer questions and give tours of these busses. The King of Prussia Mall also displayed their G.E.M. car (Global Electric Motorcar), which is an electronic vehicle used by security to get around the mall.
“King of Prussia Mall is pleased to partner with GVF Transportation to educate our community on the environmental and economical benefits of using public transportation,” said Bob Hart, general manager of King of Prussia Mall.

For more pictures from the Dump the Pump event, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/gvf_transportation

Why Plan for the Future?

Over the past year the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission has been working with consultant McCormick Taylor to develop a Master Plan for the US 422 Corridor. The plan is evaluating options for changes to land use practices, transportation infrastructure investments, and potential funding mechanisms for constructing the recommendations. Paramount in the plan is a need for change. By all definitions, the US 422 corridor is growing, and that growth is not expected to slow down through the year 2030, which is the outlook the plan is taking.
The US 422 Master Plan encompasses three counties (Berks, Chester, Montgomery) and includes twenty-four municipalities. The corridor extends approximately 25 miles and begins in King of Prussia and terminates with the end of the freeway in Amity and Union Townships in Berks County. The spine of the corridor is US 422, which is in dire need of improvements throughout the corridor. The corridor is underserved by transit, and its parallel routes, Ridge Pike in Montgomery County and PA 724/PA 23 in Chester County, have been experiencing growing congestion year after year. The corridor is continuing to grow, each year more businesses are established in the corridor, and more homes are being built.
Why plan? The growth that has occurred over the past decades has left the corridor with crumbling roads, sprawling subdivisions, daily traffic congestion, and little sense of place or community. If this pattern continues, the problems of the corridor are going to get worse, not better. The US 422 Master Plan will provide guidance for the corridor municipalities so that the decisions made today produce a desirable outcome tomorrow. The Master Plan also evaluated the needs of the corridor, and prioritizes them so that when decisions on infrastructure are made, the right improvement is built. The purpose of the plan is solely to provide guidance and direction. The plan is not a policy, or a mandate, but a set of recommendations. The municipalities in the corridor are at their own free will to adhere to the recommendations and experience the benefits of doing so, or the consequences of taking a divergent path.
What will the corridor look like in thirty years? Does it retain the spacious open fields, foster vibrant downtown life, provide reliable and frequent public transportation, offer recreational opportunities, and promote a pedestrian and bicycle friendly environment? If the recommendations of the plan are followed through with, that vision should not be far from reality. The heart of the plan is change, and change for the better. At the current rate of development the open and available land in the corridor will be nothing more than tract upon tract of uniform residential development with a big box store located on the major arterials. The existing downtowns such as Pottstown will continue to decline along with the beautiful countryside surrounding them. We will be left with little open space, and the open space available will be that which could not be developed. Traffic will grow by an estimated 13% choking off the region and pushing industry, and jobs elsewhere. Commute times will be unbearable, and the quality of life will suffer.
The corridor does not have to look like that, and it can be the premier place to live, work, shop, and play, not only in Greater Philadelphia, but in the entire region. The nexus of change is now. In brief, the plan is recommending the opposite of the trend scenario you just read about. The central theme throughout is a shift in direction, to a more sustainable direction. The plan recommends extending passenger commuter rail throughout the corridor. Expanding commuter rail will only be successful if the towns surrounding the station support a vibrant and diverse lifestyle. These towns will foster small businesses, provide a multitude of housing options, and create jobs in the community to keep people local. Public transportation isn’t the only way around, the plan recommends improving our roadways, but not just for cars. Complete streets is a movement in which a roadway is designed for all users, allowing pedestrians and bicyclists to not only feel safe, but welcome. This kind of improvement not only reduces congestion, it also improves the air, and the visual appeal of a place. Of course not everyone can take public transit or walk/bike to their destination, so improvements to the highway network are needed to move cars more efficiently. The plan will effectively allow for more growth than the current pattern while reducing congestion, creating new opportunities, maintaining open space, and improving the environment.
The US 422 Master Plan is just the beginning in a long process of growing the US 422 corridor into a desirable place to live, work, shop, and play. The plan creates the vision and direction for the corridor. If the businesses, developers, and residents of the corridor want nothing to happen, then simply do nothing. Stagnation and decline are easy goals to accomplish because it only requires inaction. Making the vision of the Master Plan a reality requires some risk, hard work, and the desire to change course. If you want to see the entirety of the plan, please visit www.422coalition.com/422plan.htm.
Shayne Trimbell works as a project manager with GVF Transportation. To reach Shayne by email: strimbell@gvftma.com, or by phone: (610)322-9951.

PennDOT Announces Funding for Smart Transportation

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation recently announced it is providing $59.2 million for 50 "Smart Transportation" related projects under the Pennsyvlania Community Transportation Initiative (PCTI) program. Smart transportation initatives are designed to improve communities by linking transportation investments to local land use planning. PCTI will fund planning and construction projects that demonstrate creative and efficient ways of addressing various transportation challenges through strong local partnerships and considerations of community goals. PennDOT had received more than 400 applications from municipalities, Metropolitan and Rural Planning Organizations, and transit authorities requesting more than $600 million. The chosen list of PCTI grant recipients includes planning and construction projects that focus on downtown revitalization efforts, local street connections, multi-use trails, traffic calming efforts, and transit-oriented development studies.

"These investments will stimulate the economy by putting people to work creating sustainable communities that will improve our quality of life and send a clear message that Pennsyvlania is a great place to live and work," said PA Governor Ed Rendell.

"Smart transportation is the way we must be thinking," said PennDOT Secretary Allen Biehler, P.E. "We are closely examining costs, accomodating all modes of travel, leveraging and preserving our existing infrastructure, enhancing local street networks, building towns rather than inviting sprawl, planning and designing with thoughtful consideration of community context, and working with local governments."

The PCTI program was created out of a collaboration between 10,000 Friends of PA, a group which advocates for sustainability and smart transportation , and PennDOT. PennDOT has also developed the Smart Transportation Guidebook, which offers a broader range of solutions to balance the unique characteristics of the varying community types across PA with transportation improvements.

The Greater Philadelphia region received $18.5 million in PCTI funding. Among the projects funded includes:

- $1,775,000 to Montgomery County to reduce the width of Hanover Street vehicle lanes in Pottstown and North Coventry Township in order to have room to install bike lanes, parking, and a multi-use trail from River Road to High Street.

- $275,000 to Abington Township to plan for transit-oriented development at the Noble Train station.

- $350,000 to Lower Merion Township to construct bicycle and pedestrian improvements from Cynwyd station to the Cynwyd trail.

- $1,400,000 to Cheltenham Township to construct traffic calming and pedestrian improvements to provide intermodal connectivity in a high density area.

- $2,480,000 to the City of Philadelphia to reconstruct sidewalks and provide pedestrian enhancements and lighting along 10th Street and Berks Street past the Temple Regional Rail station to the corner of Germantown Avenue.

- $1,735,422 to the City of Philadelphia to improve pedestrian safety and provide traffic calming in the Chinatown neighborhood along and around Vine Street between 9th Street and 11th Street.

For more information about smart transportation or to see the full list of PCTI grant recipients, click here.

What a Trail Means for Your Business

Recently I had the opportunity to attend a conference completely dedicated to trails, specifically multi-use bike trails such as the Schuylkill River Trail. The conference was sponsored by the Schuylkill River Heritage Area and brought speakers in from different backgrounds, and different regions. The topic of discussion was how a community can thrive based on the traffic generated by a trail. Now that the warm weather is here, it is time to start thinking about generating business from the trail.
The Schuylkill River Trail parallels the Schuylkill River from its headwaters near Pottsville to the confluence with the Delaware River in Philadelphia. Portions of the trail have been completed, others are under construction, and still others have not advanced beyond the planning phase. The trail runs through the heart of the US 422 Corridor, and is in various stages of development. Pottstown is fortunate to play host to the western trailhead. From Pottstown, cyclists can ride on paved and packed gravel paths to Reading (some sections are on-road). The Schuylkill River Trail over its entire length has tens of thousands of users annually, many using the Pottstown segment.
If you operate a business near the trail, it is time you start inviting the trail users to visit your business. If you are looking to expand your business, or relocate, consider trail access as a valuable asset. Here are some tips that you can use to draw more trail users to your business.
BE BIKE FRIENDLY: Remember, your trail using customers will be on their bikes, and will come back if you provide a friendly, positive experience. Include things such as a water fountain, or bottled water to quench their thirst. Relax any dress codes during cycling hours. Allow cyclists to use your bathrooms. These are simple customer relation issues that make the experience very positive for cyclists.
PROVIDE BIKE FRIENDLY AMENITIES: Is there a place to secure a bike while cyclists visit your business? Consider installing a bike rack, renting bike locks, or providing a bike check. If you want people to come off the trail and into your business, they have to leave their bikes. Without a safe and secure place to leave the bike, trail users won’t come in.
PROVIDE OUTSIDE DINING: Part of the appeal to riding on a nice sunny day is enjoy the outdoors. Cycling also builds and appetite, however trail users may not want to sit inside the restaurant in their cycling clothes. Provide an option for outside dining, non-cycling patrons may enjoy the option as well.
KNOW THE AREA: Many of the cyclists coming off the trail to grab a bite to eat, or get a drink to cool off might be visiting your community and business for the first time. Be friendly, and be prepared to provide directions to some of the area attractions. The last thing a cyclist wants is to get lost in a new town.
Don’t be afraid to use the trail as a marketing tool. If you are located near the trail, advertise it with your marketing materials. Cyclists are customers, and customers will only patronize your business if they know how to get there. Use the trail in recruiting employees as well. Provide a bike rack, and if possible, a shower. Encourage your employees to ride to work, make it fun, it will help attract the best and brightest employees.
Having a trail, such as the Schuylkill River Trail, is an asset to any community. Being a bike friendly business will attract trail users right to your front door. If the experience is positive, they will come back time and time again, and bring more of their cycling friends.

Obama's Vision for US High-Speed Rail Network

On April 16th, President Obama, with US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood at his side, called for $13 billion to be spent in an effort to launch a “new era” of high-speed passenger rail transportation. The announcement coincided with the release of the US Department of Transportation’s High Speed Rail Strategic Plan. The Obama administration has called for $8 billion to come from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and go to states for upgrading existing passenger rail lines, while laying the groundwork high-speed rail projects. President Obama said he would seek to budget $5 billion more over the next five years for high-speed rail. The administration has also identified 10 rail corridors which will receive this high speed rail investment, featured in the picture to the left of this post. Among these corridors is the Amtrak-operated Keystone Corridor, which runs from Philadelphia, through Harrisburg, to Pittsburgh.


Many comparisons have been drawn between President Obama’s vision for a national high-speed rail system and President Eisenhower’s push for the interstate highway system 50 years ago. The US DOT High Speed Rail Strategic Plan, notes that strong public sector leadership and private sector partnership were instrumental in the development of the national interstate and aviation networks in the 20th century. However, both of these travel systems face mounting congestion, and combined, they represent roughly 70% of our nation’s oil demand and contribute 28% of our greenhouse gas emissions. The plan acknowledges that highway and aviation travel are indispensable forms of transportation, but a new approach to solving our nation’s transportation problems, which incorporates the economic, environmental, and energy challenges into its planning, is needed.


The answer, according to the administration, is a high-speed passenger rail network of 100 to 600 mile intercity corridors that connects metropolitan regions across the U.S. Establishing high-speed commuter rail in these corridors promotes the “Smart Growth” approach to community investment, leading to higher density development in urban communities. High-speed rail is also much more environmentally friendly and energy efficient, as the US Department of Energy 2007 Transportation Energy Data Book notes that even the modest commuter rail network consumes one-third less energy per passenger mile than automobiles. The initial $8 billion jump start from the ARRA is merely the beginning of what will be a long-term commitment from both the state and the federal level. The US DOT strategic plan is also just the first step in elaborating the President’s high-speed rail corridor vision, to be followed by the President’s FY 2010 budget, the National Rail Plan called for by Congress, and discussions over future surface transportation legislation. To read the entire High Speed Rail Strategic Plan, click here.

A recent story from NPR news discusses the issue of America’s air traffic control system:

A recent story from NPR news discusses the issue of America’s air traffic control system:
“The radar system used to guide U.S. flights is more than 40 years old, which may help explain why nearly one-quarter of all those flights are late. The Federal Aviation Administration wants to phase out radar and roll out a satellite-based air traffic control system, NextGen, which is based on the same GPS technology now used in cars.

Air traffic controllers and pilots would have instantaneous information on the location of any plane at any time. Supporters of the system say it would allow planes to fly closer together, making more room in the sky for additional flights and cutting delays. But it will cost the government as much as $20 billion to update its air traffic control operations, and the airline industry will have to spend another $20 billion for new equipment and training. Some airlines are already spending money on upgrades to be ready for NextGen, which is scheduled to be up and running by 2025. But so far, Washington has not anted up the cash the FAA needs to modernize.”

The story goes on to say that “The House is moving forward with legislation similar to what it passed last year, and some of the issues that dragged down that legislation could return. Those include a passenger bill of rights, a ban on cell phones in flight and labor issues with traffic controllers. Dorgan [Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND)] says the Senate is writing its own bill and will hold another round of hearings this spring.”

For the full story, please visit: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102914658.

U.S. Infrastructure Gets "D" From ASCE

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) recently released the full findings of its survey on the state of American infrastructure in a 153-page report entitled 2009 Report Card for America's Infrastructure. The ASCE issued grades of "D" for aviation, "C" for bridges, "C-" for rail, "D-" for roads, and "D" for mass transit. The overall grade for infrastructure in the U.S. was a "D". The report card estimates that over the past five years, there has been an infrastructure investment shortfall in the U.S. of $2.2 trillion. Among the report card's other findings:

- American commuters spend 4.2 billion hours per year stuck in traffic, at a cost to the economy of $78 billion (roughly $710 per motorist)

- Poor road conditions cost drivers another $67 billion annually in vehicle repairs and increased operating costs

- One-third of America's major roads are in poor or mediocre condition and 45% of major urban highways are congested

- Current spending of $70 billion per year for highway capital improvements is well below the estimated $186 billion needed annually to substantially improve existing conditions

- Over the next five years, the report card estimates road and bridge investment needs at $930 billion, but spending at current levels would only allot $381 billion, leaving a project $549 billion five-year shortfall

The ASCE analysis of Pennsylvania produced some startling, though not unexpected, conclusions. The ASCE report card states that 50% of Pennsylvania's bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. Roughly 44% of Pennsylvania's major roads are in poor or mediocre condition. Another 34% of Pennsylvania's major urban highways are congested. Vehicle travel along Pennsylvania highways increased 27% from 1990 to 2007. Pennsylvania currently has $3 billion in backlogged road repairs.

ASCE President Wayne Klotz noted that while the nation's infrastructure problems are significant and very serious to the country's economic health, the crisis is solvable. The report card proposed five key solutions to improve U.S. infrastructure:

- Increase federal leadership in infrastructure to address the crisis

- Promote sustainability and resilience in infrastructure to protect the natural environment and withstand natural and man-made hazards

- Develop national, state, and regional infrastructure plans that complement a national vision and focus on statewide results

- Address the lifecycle costs and ongoing maintenance to meet the needs of current and future users

- Increase and improve infrastructure investment from all stakeholders

The ASCE also recommended reform of the federal highway program to emphasize performance management, cost/benefit analysis, and accountability. To read a copy of the ASCE 2009 Report Card for America's Infrastructure, click here. A link to state-by-state infrastructure grades is also available, beginning with Pennsylvania.