202 Update
In the fall of 2003 the GVA hired Michael Wong of Valley Forge Labs to review the PennDOT 202 traffic noise study for Section 300. This sections runs from the Swedesford Rd bridge to Route 401. During this process Mike and the GVA met with PennDOT officials and we are still working to validate the results of their study. We are particularly concerned with the noise levels caused by the sound walls already installed on the northbound lanes near Syms. We need to make sure the proposed sound walls are high enough to achieve the noise levels projected by the Penndot analysis.
Final analysis is to be completed this fall and we hopefully will be able to recommend to our elected officials the design and any changes that will further reduce noise.
In April we met with Turnpike Information Officer Christina Hampton, Turnpike Civil Engineer Walter Green and Engineering Project Manager Donald Klingensmith for an update on the Route 29 slip ramp project. The slip ramp project now includes a full 4-way E-Z Pass only interchange at Route 29. This project is now larger than originally presented last year but is still within the state goals of better utilization of the turnpike west of King of Prussia to attempt to alleviate traffic on the secondary roads.
The final sound analysis will not be completed for a few more months. However the major problem is that the population density along Yellow Springs, Indian Run, Salem Way, Standiford Ln., Minden Ln, and others, may not be sufficient to qualify for sound walls. The current design presented by the Turnpike does not include sound walls. The GVA feels this is major issue.
At the May Tredyffrin Board of Supervisors meeting the GVA informed the Supervisors of the problem and requested their support for sound walls along the turnpike. The GVA will also be meeting with our State Senator Robert Thompson and our State Representative Carole Rubley to arrange additional support for sound walls in our area of turnpike.
The GVA has been very active this year. Our efforts on Route 202 for sound walls, the Swedesford and North Valley intersection, and now the Route 29 Slip Ramp, required additional expenditures by the GVA. These are necessary expenses for us to keep you informed in our fight to keep, preserve and protect the quality of the life in your Great Valley. While our dues request for this year remains at $15.00 and has not changed for over 15 years, we kindly request that you consider an additional $ 5.00 donation to help defray these additional costs.
The Swedesford
and North Valley Road Intersection Survey Results.
Following are the results from our survey to help determine what the residents of the Great Valley would like to see happen at the Swedesford and North Valley Road intersection. The GVA sent out 630 letters to the residents and we received 332 ballots. This is a return rate of 47%. Thank you to all the people who submitted a ballot. If you did not yet return your survey, we would like you to mail it now. Several more neighborhoods are being sent surveys, so no response is too late. Here are results to date:
A. Leave intersection alone 59 18%
B. Leave intersection alone and add traffic lights 67 20%
C. Align intersection 2 lanes with 4-way stop sign 43 13%
D. Align intersection 2 lanes with traffic lights 54 16%
E. Township plan - 3 lanes with traffic lights 108 33%
We presented the residents with five choices and we need to try to interpret the results.
· 33% prefer the township proposal
· 38% (A+B) prefer no realignment
· 67% (A+B+C+D) want something smaller than the township’s proposal
· 49% (D+E) voted to the have the intersection aligned with a traffic light
· 69% (B+D+E) prefer some kind of traffic light.
· 51% (A+B+C) want a smaller intersection smaller or leave it alone.
This issue is clearly a difficult one, as the vote indicates. The GVA will now consider the next step and we will continue to seek guidance from our members in our attempt to keep the Great Valley a great place to live.
On the second part of the survey, to reduce the posted speed limit on Swedesford Road from 45 mph to 35 mph, a majority 61% voted in favor. The actual vote tally is:
191
yes, 120 no,
21 abstain.
The Great Valley Association will now pursue this with the township and PennDOT to determine if we can have this speed limit reduction enacted.