422Plus: A Better Ride

US 422 has become a constant presence in the news media, and with just cause. The corridor has been the subject of numerous studies and plans in the past ten years, all moving towards one outcome, improving the corridor by providing transportation options. In its current state, the US 422 corridor is primarily auto-dependent. It is also the fastest growing corridor in greater Philadelphia, home to many of the region’s largest employers. It is the only growing corridor that is not served by train service; transit is relegated to a handful of bus routes.

Over the past decade, a number of studies have looked at options to add train service to the corridor, manage growth, and provide funding for needed improvements. When previous studies of rail service cited costs in excess of a billion dollars for a train service, the need for a funding program became evident. During the same time, funding for transportation projects continued to shrink. Both state and federal funding was becoming more and more competitive, while construction costs continued to escalate. These factors made the reality of an improved roadway network and a modern train system seem unobtainable.

When the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission completed the US 422 Corridor Master Plan, a blueprint for growth was presented to the communities. Among the recommendations were changes to land use controls to allow a mixing of uses, encouraging communities to develop in such a way that pedestrians and bicyclists are better accommodated, and incorporating transit into the design of town centers. As part of the US 422 Master Plan, a preliminary capital project plan was outlined, with estimated costs for design and construction, and also recommended methods to fund the construction. The recommendation to evaluate tolling US 422 was viewed as both the most viable alternative, and also the most controversial.

Absent any dramatic changes in funding, tolling appeared to be a worthwhile option, one worth further study. The 422Plus project is just that, a feasibility analysis on converting US 422 to a tolled facility. The concept is to create a local authority, authorized by Berks, Chester, and Montgomery Counties to administer the collection of tolls, maintenance of the roadway, and construction of capital projects. The tolls would be collected at four locations along US 422, at a rate comparable to the PA Turnpike for a similar distance, using the money collected to fund the capital improvements. The anticipated improvements include a second bridge at Valley Forge to ultimately carry six lanes of traffic over the Schuylkill River, additional lanes from US 202 to PA 29 to alleviate morning and evening congestion, improvements to key intersections along the corridor to improve the flow of local traffic, and the restoration of rail service providing a one seat ride from Wyomissing to Center City Philadelphia via Norristown.

The plan was first presented to the Transportation Funding Advisory Commission, and has since been presented to the US 422 Corridor Coalition, the municipal officials of the corridor, many of the state legislators representing the corridor, and is planned to be presented to the residents of the corridor in early fall. The concept has had a polarizing affect, drawing supporters and detractors, both sides making valid arguments in favor of, and in opposition to the idea of tolling. What the 422Plus project represents is a local solution to a local problem. The idea of a region taking control of its transportation system and funding is new ground for Pennsylvania, and likely to draw criticism. As the project moves forward, GVF will continue to provide information to our members so that when the time comes for a decision whether this solution should advance or not, the decision is made based on facts and information rather than a visceral reaction to a misunderstood problem.

Posted in: local,policy,Shayne Trimbell