50 NORTH DUKE STREET
LANCASTER PA 17608-3480
TELEPHONE: 717-299-8333

FAX: 717-295-3659

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
PAUL THIBAULT, Chairman
TERRY L. KAUFFMAN, Vice-Chairman
RON FORD

RONALD T. BAILEY, Executive Director

14 July 1999

Mr, David Noyes
9 Groffs Drive
Box 514
Brownstown, PA 17508

Re: Intersections of US 222 and PA 772, and PA 272 and PA 772 in West Earl Township, Lancaster County.

Dear Mr. Noyes:

Thank you for your letter of 16 June 1999 concerning congestion at the intersection of US 222 and PA 772, and the intersection of PA 272 and PA 772 in West Earl Township, Lancaster County.

The Lancaster County Planning Commission (LCPC) is aware of the development that is occurring in this portion of the township and the added traffic congestion that could result. At this time, we do not have any major projects planned or programmed that would impact this area.

The county agrees with your statement that "this is something that needs to be PLANNED for, not reacted to." Therefore, the county will help develop a solution to address the traffic congestion in the 222/272/772 area. The county will organize a meeting with PennDOT District 8-0 and the Board of Supervisors in West Earl Township to identify and discuss different options to address this matter. Also, the county will collect traffic data at the intersections to document the severity of the problem. This data will be fundamental in the development of engineering solutions to solve the problem.

In regards to your proposed solution as shown on the map attached to your letter, it might address the situation. However, the township is correct in stating that PennDOT would have to move quickly to acquire the necessary right-of-way because several properties have submitted subdivision plans for the future development of the land. We believe there are other alternatives that could reduce the traffic delays and would also cost less money than a direct connection between US 222 and PA 722 west of PA 272.

Concerning your request about transportation planning in this area, the county will add these two intersections to the County's Congestion Management System (CMS). The CMS monitors existing and potentially congested corridors and intersections in order to develop strategies and alternatives to alleviate this congestion and to enhance the mobility of people and goods. The CMS is a performance-based system which is intended to better manage existing transportation facilities using more effective operational strategies and implementation actions. This system is used to identify mobility flaws, offer potential solutions, help select solutions, and monitor performance of the implemented solutions.

Additionally, the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for Lancaster County will be updated by the county and PennDOT to add new transportation projects and/or studies. The TIP is the funding vehicle for which transportation projects are funded by federal and/or state dollars in the county. During the TIP update, the county will solicit projects, comments, and concerns from the public and the sixty municipalities in the county. The new TIP will need to be adopted by mid summer 2000. If we move quickly enough to develop a solution for this congested location, the improvement project might be included in the next TIP.

Please contact me if you have any questions or comments. Thank you for time and genuine interest in enhancing the transportation network in Lancaster County.

Sincerely:

Christopher R. Neumann
Deputy Director for Transportation Planning

MSS/mss

copy: Senator Gibson Armstrong, Transportation Committee
Ronald T. Bailey, LCPC, Executive Director
Matthew Smoker, LCPC, Transportation Planner
Terry Adams, PennDOT District 8-0
Thomas J. Briggs, West Earl Township, Board of Supervisors Chairman