Traffic ahead. Maybe bumpy, too.
NORRISTOWN PA – Montgomery County planners continue to move ahead on a proposal to institute tolls on U.S. Route 422 from Valley Forge to Douglassville, as a way to pay for additional local commuter rail service and reduce traffic bottlenecks on the east-west highway.
One of the groups working with the county, the Greater Valley Forge Transportation Management Association, has scheduled two June meetings for further public discussion of the project.
The first is set for June 23 (2009; Tuesday) from 6:30-9 p.m. at the Pottstown Middle School, 600 N. Franklin St., Pottstown PA; the second for the following day, June 24 (2009; Wednesday), also from 6:30-9 p.m. at Spring-Ford High School, 350 S. Lewis Rd., Royersford PA.
News reports said county commissioners agreed Thursday (April 16, 2009) to give the county Planning Commission about 3 percent of the $625,000 cost of an 18-month study to determine the project’s feasibility.
The $15,833 payment represents Montgomery County’s share of the expense. Other portions are being paid by the TriCounty Chamber of Commerce, $2,500; the CEO Council for Growth of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, $12,500; and Berks and Chester counties. State and federal government funds are covering the rest.
Planning Commission Assistant Director Leo Bagley says the study tentatively would:
- Determine how tolls might be collected, and how much revenue could be earned;
- Identify needed highway improvements, and how traffic could be diverted off 422;
- Learn how much more money would be needed to improve 422 as a toll road and also extend the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority ( SEPTA) R6 commuter rail service from Norristown west to outer suburbs like Phoenixville, Pottstown and Wyomissing;
- Get the public involved in the process; and
- Develop a rail service operating plan.
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Ok enough is enough… Build the commuter rails first along with feeder lines, then we can talk tolls. All this is doing is punishing those who live out here and ahve to work in KOP or further in. There’s not going to be viable ways to get to work even after you get to the stations in KOP / Valley Forge. Remember the SEGWAY vehicle article we need a comprehensive solution not one designed to make planners, toll booth builders rich..
I’d rather a Tax for the counties involved that is uniorm, not a toll that will jusrt hurt those that have to drive the roadway..
We hard-core, tax paying, Berks, Chester and Montgomery residents are completely fed up with these traffic delays on 422. If this project is going the way of the “current” Rt23 interchange project we a rail system and resultant impact will be *many* years. How about we start with stimulus (shovel-ready) dollars now and lay down a third lane in each direction from Limerick to KoP? I defy anyone to identify a section of highway more congested.
It only hurts those who already have to suffer through an hour long commute to KOP. Can you imagine the backups possible for people who refuse to pay the toll? Won’t this simply damage the rural roads and endanger the communities these rural roads run through?
Agree with Jeff — just add a third lane.
PennDOT can always utilize the third lane as a carpool/express bus lane during rush hours in both directions and then SEPTA could put in express buses that run from the outlets in Sanatoga (where a carpool lot can easily be utilized during the week) down to Valley Forge and/or Norristown (via 422 and north 202) to utilize the R6 to get into Philadelphia. Those lanes can then be open outside of rush hour to everyone else.
It’s common sense, PennDOT. Use the brain cells the good lord gave you and let’s think outside the box instead of just using tolling as a way to coax more dollars into a project that may/may not even occur?