Individuals Concerned for Newtown Square

"Connecting the Dots"

HOME

HOT TOPICS

IC4NS OVERVIEW

WHAT WE WILL DO

IC4NS MEETINGS

MEMBERSHIPS

FAQ

HTML

LETTERS / NEWS ARTICLES

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

NEWSPAPER ARTICLES

ZONING - SU1-SPECIAL USE

SU1 - USE BY RIGHT

PLAN COMM APPROVAL IN SU1

BRD O SUP APPROVAL IN SU1

ZON BRD APPROVAL OF EXCEP

DEVELOPMENT IMPACTS

QUALITY OF LIFE (QOL)

PUBLIC SERVICE SYSTEMS

TRAFFIC

DENSITY

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

PRECIDENT SETTING ACTIONS

ECONOMIC VIABILITY

MASTER PLAN TRAFFIC STUDY

BPG TRAF STDY PENNONI 7/9

TRAF STDY UPDATE-PENNONI

CONCLUSIONS

NEXT STEPS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

EXISTING TRAFFIC SETTING

RTE3/RTE252 IMPROVEMENTS

TRAFFIC IMP-FUTURE YR 'O7

TRAFFIC IMP-FUTURE YR '17

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP MAPS

STREET

DIRECTORY

ITEM LOCATIONS

ZONING

PERTINENT DOCUMENTS

TOWNSHIP DOCUMENTS

PENNSYLVANIA DOCUMENTS

NEWTOWN TWP SCHOOLS

MN SCHOOL BOARD MINUTES

MARPLE NEWTOWN SCH BRD

LIST OF SCHOOL WEBSITES

 
SOURCE:  Newtown Square Master PlanTraffic Study, McMahon Transportation Engineers & Planners, March 2007
RTE3/RTE252 IMPROVEMENTS
Future Post-Development Improvement Alternatives  (REPEATED SECTION)

The intersection of West Chester Pike (PA Route 3) and Newtown Street Road (PA Route 252), as well as the surrounding area, currently experiences high traffic volumes, and increasing development pressure, which will add more traffic, despite limited roadway capacity. The Newtown Township Comprehensive Plan has identified potential existing and proposed corridors to allow traffic to circumvent the intersection of these state routes and relieve the traffic congestion. Although the current landscape is largely developed with residential and commercial uses, densely filling several quadrants of the subject intersection, there is the potential to provide new alternative routes with cooperation from property owners and future developers. Newtown Township has undertaken this traffic study to develop alternatives to relieve existing and anticipated congestion with new roadway improvements and to create opportunities for future traffic congestion relief. The goal of this study is to identify viable traffic improvement alternatives for the Newtown Square area that best manage the existing and future anticipated traffic volumes. Existing traffic deficiencies, additional future traffic due to projected development, and limited right-of-way and other constraints throughout the area must all be considered in developing an effective transportation improvement program. As a result, there is no single solution to address the existing and future transportation needs of the area, but rather, the Township must consider a system of phased improvements to be implemented over a period of time. Furthermore, because this area is not surrounded by vacant, available land, but rather it is a densely developed area with numerous constraints, it will be necessary to balance the need for traffic improvements to achieve acceptable operations with the limiting constraints that impact the ability to implement improvements as complete solutions to the traffic deficiencies.

It is clear that the intersection of West Chester Pike (PA Route 3) and Newtown Street Road (PA Route 252) is central to the local area traffic issues. As a way for setting the stage to better understand the need for traffic improvements at this intersection, it is helpful to provide a real-world example of a similar intersection. The intersection of Pottstown Pike (PA Route 100) and Lincoln Highway (U.S. Business Route 30) in West Whiteland Township, Chester County serves as a comparable intersection of two state route, high-volume arterial roadways in the region. Based on data from PENNDOT's website, the two-way daily traffic volumes (total in both directions), as well as the year the traffic data was collected at the two intersections, are as follows:

Pottstown Pike (PA Route 100) and Lincoln Highway (U.S. Business Route 30)
• Northern leg of Pottstown Pike (PA Route 100) 37,754 vehicles (2005)
• Southern leg of Pottstown Pike (PA Route 100) 37,916 vehicles (2004)
• Eastern leg of Lincoln Highway (U.S. Business Route 30) 13,850 vehicles (2003)
• Western leg of Lincoln Highway (U.S. Business Route 30) 17,618 vehicles (2003)
West Chester Pike (PA Route 3) and Newtown Street Road (PA Route 252)
• Eastern leg of West Chester Pike (PA Route 3) 37,107 vehicles (2005)
• Western leg of West Chester Pike (PA Route 3) 28,497 vehicles (2004)
• Southern leg of Newtown Street Road (PA Route 252) 18,370 vehicles (2004)
• Northern leg of Newtown Street Road (PA Route 252) 28,228 vehicles (2003)

As shown above, the daily traffic volumes along Pottstown Pike (PA Route 100) and West Chester Pike (PA Route 3) are similar. The significant difference, approximately 33 percent, between the daily traffic volumes on the southern leg of Pottstown Pike (PA Route 100) and the western leg of West Chester Pike (PA Route 3) is due to the traffic diversions from West Chester Pike (PA Route 3) onto Winding Way, which provides a bypass to the intersection. The two-way daily traffic volume along West Chester Pike (PA Route 3) west of Winding Way is 36,457 vehicles, counted in 2003. The daily traffic volumes along Lincoln Highway (U.S. Business Route 30) are significantly lower than along Newtown Street Road (PA Route 252), approximately 33 to 60 percent on each leg.

The intersection of Pottstown Pike (PA Route 100)/Lincoln Highway (U.S. Business Route 30) provides more capacity, although it carries less traffic today than the subject intersection of West Chester Pike (PA Route 3) and Newtown Street Road (PA Route 252) as shown above. Specifically, Pottstown Pike (PA Route 100) provides three through lanes in each direction (compared to two lanes in each direction along West Chester Pike) and Lincoln Highway (U.S. Business Route 30) provides two continuous through lanes in each direction. Each of the four approaches to the intersection also provides dual left-turn lanes and separate right-turn lanes (compared to single left-turn lanes at West Chester Pike/Newtown Street Road).
Based on the future traffic projections contained within this study, the future traffic volumes at the intersection of West Chester Pike (PA Route 3)/Newtown Street Road (PA Route 252) will continue to increase and further exceed the type of traffic volumes currently experienced at Pottstown Pike (PA Route 100)/Lincoln Highway (U.S. Business Route 30). Therefore, at the intersection of West Chester Pike (PA Route 3) and Newtown Street Road (PA Route 252), if the same lane geometry were implemented as currently exists at Pottstown Pike (PA Route 100)/Lincoln Highway (U.S. Business Route 30), the intersection would be greatly improved, but it would continue to operate with some delay since the traffic volumes are higher.


Intersection Improvements at West Chester Pike and Newtown Street Road

To further illustrate this point, it is necessary to review the traditional intersection improvements that are needed at the intersection of West Chester Pike (PA Route 3) and Newtown Street Road (PA Route 252) to accommodate existing and future traffic volumes. The necessary improvements are listed below, and the improvements and resulting levels of service are presented graphically, as indicated. Additionally, cost opinions are provided; however, these costs are only order of magnitude approximations, and are based only on local knowledge of the area and prior experience with similar construction projects. The costs are not based on survey, or conceptual engineering. Detailed capacity/level-of-service analysis worksheets are contained in Appendix J.

Figure 17 - Existing Conditions
Option 1
• Widen West Chester Pike (PA Route 3) to provide three through lanes in each
direction.
• Improvements result in LOS D or better both overall and for all movements at the
intersection.
• The order of magnitude preliminary opinion of cost is between $1 to $1.5 million,
which includes construction costs, but excludes engineering fees, utility relocation,
and right-of-way acquisition costs.
Option 2
• Provide second northbound and southbound Newtown Street Road (PA Route 252)
left-turn lanes.
• Improvements result in LOS D or better overall, but some delay (LOS E) on the
southbound left-turn movement.
• The order of magnitude preliminary opinion of cost is between $1 to $1.5 million,
which includes construction costs, but excludes engineering fees, utility relocation,
and right-of-way acquisition costs.

Figure 18 - 2007 Future Pre-Development Conditions
Option 1
• Widen West Chester Pike (PA Route 3) to provide three through lanes in each
direction.
• Improvements result in LOS D or better both overall and for all movements at the
intersection.
• The order of magnitude preliminary opinion of cost is between $1 to $1.5 million,
which includes construction costs, but excludes engineering fees, utility relocation,
and right-of-way acquisition costs.
Option 2
• Provide second northbound and southbound Newtown Street Road (PA Route 252)
left-turn lanes.
• Provide a separate southbound Newtown Street Road (PA Route 252) right-turn
lane. It is noted that this would likely be considered a low priority improvement
since Winding Way provides an alternate route for this movement.
• Improvements result in LOS D or better overall, but with some delay (LOS E) on the
southbound left-turn movement.
• The order of magnitude preliminary opinion of cost is between $1 to $1.5 million,
which includes construction costs, but excludes engineering fees, utility relocation,
and right-of-way acquisition costs.

Figure 19 - 2017 Pre-Development Conditions
• Widen West Chester Pike (PA Route 3) to provide three through lanes in each
direction.
• Widen Newtown Street Road (PA Route 252) to provide three through lanes in each
direction.
• Provide second eastbound and westbound West Chester Pike (PA Route 3) left-turn
lanes.
• Provide second northbound and southbound Newtown Street Road (PA Route 252)
left-turn lanes.
• Improvements result in LOS D or better overall, but with some delay (LOS E) on
several traffic movements.
• The order of magnitude preliminary opinion of cost is between $3 to $4 million,
which includes construction costs, but excludes engineering fees, utility relocation,
and right-of-way acquisition costs.

Figure 20 - 2007 Future Post-Development Conditions
• Widen West Chester Pike (PA Route 3) to provide three through lanes in each
direction.
• Provide a separate southbound Newtown Street Road (PA Route 252) right-turn
lane. It is noted that this would likely be considered a low priority improvement
since Winding Way provides an alternate route for this movement.
• Improvements result in LOS D or better both overall and for all movements at the
intersection.
• The order of magnitude preliminary opinion of cost is between $1 to $1.5 million,
which includes construction costs, but excludes engineering fees, utility relocation,
and right-of-way acquisition costs.

Figure 21 - 2017 Post-Development Conditions
• Widen West Chester Pike (PA Route 3) to provide three through lanes in each
direction.
• Widen Newtown Street Road (PA Route 252) to provide three through lanes in each
direction.
• Provide second eastbound and westbound West Chester Pike (PA Route 3) left-turn
lanes.
• Provide second northbound and southbound Newtown Street Road (PA Route 252)
left-turn lanes.
• Provide a separate southbound Newtown Street Road (PA Route 252) right-turn
lane. It is noted that this would likely be considered a low priority improvement
since Winding Way provides an alternate route for this movement.
• Improvements result in LOS E or better both overall and several movements
continue to operate with delay (LOS E and F).
• The order of magnitude preliminary opinion of cost is between $3 to $4 million,
which includes construction costs, but excludes engineering fees, utility relocation,
and right-of-way acquisition costs.

The results described above further illustrate that the type of intersection improvements needed at West Chester Pike (PA Route 3)/Newtown Street Road (PA Route 252) will exceed the current lane geometry at Pottstown Pike (PA Route 100)/Lincoln Highway (U.S. Business Route 30). Therefore, major intersection improvements of the type provided at Pottstown Pike (PA Route 100)/Lincoln Highway (U.S. Business Route 30) must be considered to improve traffic conditions; however, additional improvements will be necessary, and therefore, other alternatives must be considered at this intersection and within the surrounding area, which will provide alternate routes to divert traffic from the intersection of West Chester Pike (PA Route 3) and Newtown Street Road (PA Route 252). Such improvements have been evaluated and the results are described in the following sections.
Intersection Improvements at West Chester Pike and Newtown Street Road

To further illustrate this point, it is necessary to review the traditional intersection improvements that are needed at the intersection of West Chester Pike (PA Route 3) and Newtown Street Road (PA Route 252) to accommodate existing and future traffic volumes. The necessary improvements are listed below, and the improvements and resulting levels of service are presented graphically, as indicated. Additionally, cost opinions are provided; however, these costs are only order of magnitude approximations, and are based only on local knowledge of the area and prior experience with similar construction projects. The costs are not based on survey, or conceptual engineering. Detailed capacity/level-of-service analysis worksheets are contained in Appendix J.

Figure 17 - Existing Conditions
Option 1
• Widen West Chester Pike (PA Route 3) to provide three through lanes in each
direction.
• Improvements result in LOS D or better both overall and for all movements at the
intersection.
• The order of magnitude preliminary opinion of cost is between $1 to $1.5 million,
which includes construction costs, but excludes engineering fees, utility relocation,
and right-of-way acquisition costs.
Option 2
• Provide second northbound and southbound Newtown Street Road (PA Route 252)
left-turn lanes.
• Improvements result in LOS D or better overall, but some delay (LOS E) on the
southbound left-turn movement.
• The order of magnitude preliminary opinion of cost is between $1 to $1.5 million,
which includes construction costs, but excludes engineering fees, utility relocation,
and right-of-way acquisition costs.

Figure 18 - 2007 Future Pre-Development Conditions
Option 1
• Widen West Chester Pike (PA Route 3) to provide three through lanes in each
direction.
• Improvements result in LOS D or better both overall and for all movements at the
intersection.
• The order of magnitude preliminary opinion of cost is between $1 to $1.5 million,
which includes construction costs, but excludes engineering fees, utility relocation,
and right-of-way acquisition costs.
Option 2
• Provide second northbound and southbound Newtown Street Road (PA Route 252)
left-turn lanes.
• Provide a separate southbound Newtown Street Road (PA Route 252) right-turn
lane. It is noted that this would likely be considered a low priority improvement
since Winding Way provides an alternate route for this movement.
• Improvements result in LOS D or better overall, but with some delay (LOS E) on the
southbound left-turn movement.
• The order of magnitude preliminary opinion of cost is between $1 to $1.5 million,
which includes construction costs, but excludes engineering fees, utility relocation,
and right-of-way acquisition costs.

Figure 19 - 2017 Pre-Development Conditions
• Widen West Chester Pike (PA Route 3) to provide three through lanes in each
direction.
• Widen Newtown Street Road (PA Route 252) to provide three through lanes in each
direction.
• Provide second eastbound and westbound West Chester Pike (PA Route 3) left-turn
lanes.
• Provide second northbound and southbound Newtown Street Road (PA Route 252)
left-turn lanes.
• Improvements result in LOS D or better overall, but with some delay (LOS E) on
several traffic movements.
• The order of magnitude preliminary opinion of cost is between $3 to $4 million,
which includes construction costs, but excludes engineering fees, utility relocation,
and right-of-way acquisition costs.

Figure 20 - 2007 Future Post-Development Conditions
• Widen West Chester Pike (PA Route 3) to provide three through lanes in each
direction.
• Provide a separate southbound Newtown Street Road (PA Route 252) right-turn
lane. It is noted that this would likely be considered a low priority improvement
since Winding Way provides an alternate route for this movement.
• Improvements result in LOS D or better both overall and for all movements at the
intersection.
• The order of magnitude preliminary opinion of cost is between $1 to $1.5 million,
which includes construction costs, but excludes engineering fees, utility relocation,
and right-of-way acquisition costs.

Figure 21 - 2017 Post-Development Conditions
• Widen West Chester Pike (PA Route 3) to provide three through lanes in each
direction.
• Widen Newtown Street Road (PA Route 252) to provide three through lanes in each
direction.
• Provide second eastbound and westbound West Chester Pike (PA Route 3) left-turn
lanes.
• Provide second northbound and southbound Newtown Street Road (PA Route 252)
left-turn lanes.
• Provide a separate southbound Newtown Street Road (PA Route 252) right-turn
lane. It is noted that this would likely be considered a low priority improvement
since Winding Way provides an alternate route for this movement.
• Improvements result in LOS E or better both overall and several movements
continue to operate with delay (LOS E and F).
• The order of magnitude preliminary opinion of cost is between $3 to $4 million,
which includes construction costs, but excludes engineering fees, utility relocation,
and right-of-way acquisition costs.

The results described above further illustrate that the type of intersection improvements needed at West Chester Pike (PA Route 3)/Newtown Street Road (PA Route 252) will exceed the current lane geometry at Pottstown Pike (PA Route 100)/Lincoln Highway (U.S. Business Route 30). Therefore, major intersection improvements of the type provided at Pottstown Pike (PA Route 100)/Lincoln Highway (U.S. Business Route 30) must be considered to improve traffic conditions; however, additional improvements will be necessary, and therefore, other alternatives must be considered at this intersection and within the surrounding area, which will provide alternate routes to divert traffic from the intersection of West Chester Pike (PA Route 3) and Newtown Street Road (PA Route 252). Such improvements have been evaluated and the results are described in the following sections.
 
ASK A QUESTION    COMMENTS    GROUPS WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT   WANT TO DONATE?   CONTACT US
                   Copyright © 2007 Individuals Concerned for Newtown Square Civic Association (IC4NSCA) 
                                                                         WebSite Live Since 11/7/07