Planning Document Compliance

Planning Document Compliance:

The plan is compliant with many of the goals and objectives of Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County and Local the land planning documents as well as the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania rail planning documents and plans. The program calls for innovative funding for the establishment of rail service to a suburb in the Philadelphia Area.

Keystone Principles

Keystone Principle 2

Provide Efficient Infrastructure 

Fix it first: use and improve existing infrastructure. Make highway and public transportation investments that use context-sensitive design to improve existing developed areas and attract residents and visitors to these places. Provide transportation choice and intermodal connections for air travel, driving, public transit, bicycling and walking. Increase rail freight. Provide public water and sewer service for dense development in designated growth areas. Use on-lot and community systems in rural areas. Require private and public expansions of service to be consistent with approved comprehensive plans and consistent implementing ordinances. 

·     Use of existing highway capacity and/or public transit access available

·      Within 1⁄2 mile of existing or planned public transit access (rail, bus, shared ride or welfare to work services).

·      Use of context-sensitive design for transportation improvements.

·     Use/improvement of existing public or private water & sewer capacity and services

State Rail Plan 2015/16

Goal 2

Develop and Integrated Rail System

·     Balance passenger and freight needs in the same corridor

·     Improve coordination among freight, passenger and commuter rail

·     Complete links to connect the state’s major urban areas

·     Improve access to commuter and intercity rail system

Goal 3

Support future need of Residents and Businesses

·     Increase the capacity of rail infrastructure to move passenger and freight traffic

·     Develop an equitable use of rail infrastructure by passenger and freight rail

Goal 4

Enhance Quality of Life in Pennsylvania 

·     Mitigate highway congestion 

·     Develop compatible land uses along the rail lines that are consistent with smart growth and supportive of rail use

·     Increase economic development opportunities in the communities by advancing investments in rail

·     Enhance the competitiveness of the rail systems compared to other modes

Goal 7

Identify Stable and Predictable Funding

·     Pursue funding for increased investments in rail systems

·     Enact legislation that supports the development and financing of the state’s rail systems

Section 3.4 Addresses Potential Operating Subsidies and Sources

State operating funding is available through the section 1513 program Funding is determined through a formula that takes into account a service percentage of statewide passengers, senior citizens, number of revenue vehicle miles, and the number of revenue vehicle hours.  Additional funding for operations may also need to be established in order to create any new financially sustainable transportation service.

Upper Merion Comprehensive Plan

The land use chapter in the Upper Merion Comprehensive Plan identifies the Piazza property as a critical property within the township with specific guidelines for development. According to the plan, the following guidelines apply;

This property, which is located between Mancill Mill Road and the Schuylkill River, has been used for industrial purposes in the past.  The site should be used for medium-high density residential, perhaps with a mix of small-scale office and retail uses at the future port Kennedy train station.  Any future development on this site must accommodate the right of way for the cross-county metro and the train station.  It must also provide an improved access including a secondary emergency access.

Phoenixville Region Comprehensive Plan

The Phoenixville Region Comprehensive Plan was recently adopted by the Borough and the surrounding Municipalities as a regional comprehensive plan, Recommendation #15 in the transportation and circulation plan states the following:  support the construction of the Schuylkill Valley Metro with a transportation center in the French Creek Center located in Phoenixville and Pawling’s Road in Schuylkill Township.