Originally written in 2014, I revisited this post a decade later as the bypass resurfaces again in LVPC discussions and in the news. The problems have become worse. The road is as inefficient as ever and much more dangerous.
For roadways to yield the highest return on investment, we must clearly define their intended purpose and design them accordingly. Generally, two options:
Pictured is the Rt. 222 Kutztown bypass. A well designed ROAD with on/off ramps and low accessibility paired with highway geometry allows for 55 mph speed limit. It safely moves automobiles quickly and efficiently through the corridor.
ROAD
- High speed by design
- Highway geometry
- Low accessibility
- A place for automobiles only. This facilitates safely moving them at high speeds.
This is the Hamilton Boulevard vision outlined in a 2013 corridor study. It’s multimodal in nature creating a higher value environment. Traffic travels at safer speeds due to calming measures. This is much closer to a STREET generating higher returns on investment for the community.
STREET
-
-
- Safe by design
- Complex environment
- High accessibility
- A place to capture value and encourage commercial development
- Designed for all modes of transportation. A generally pleasant environment.
- Facilitates high value development
-
So which type is the the bypass and which is the boulevard? I argue side by side STROADS. Similar to how a futon serves poorly as both a couch and a bed, a STROAD moves cars too slowly for efficient travel yet too fast to attract meaningful private investment. This leads to a costly failure that doesn’t excel at anything. As taxpayers why do we spend public money on very expensive things that don’t accomplish any goal particularly well?
*Update: In 2015, I spearheaded a letter-writing campaign supporting Lower Macungie’s LVTS funding request to address the issue and attempt to fix the mess. Unfortunately, that request was ignored and today almost 10 years later the situation is even more dangerous.
Here is the Macarther Rd. Classic STROAD. An obviously dangerous place for pedestrians. But despite highway geometry, does not move automobiles quickly or efficiently either. Lots of accidents. Dangerous for automobiles. Dangerous for people. Very expensive to build and maintain. Jarring environment. Not a pleasant place.
STROAD
-
-
-
- Does not move automobiles quickly or safely
- Dangerous for pedestrians
- Expensive to build and maintain
- Encourages low value development.
-
-
Side by side stroads is the direction we’re headed today.
STROADS are the futon of the transportation network.
The 222 bypass today is a dangerous STROAD built with highway geometry but with traffic signals instead of on/off ramps and artificially limited to 45 mph. The “bypass” doesn’t move cars efficiently or quickly. It’s also very dangerous. The whole thing is quite frankly a speed trap since the posted speed doesn’t correspond to the design speed. Therefore: STROAD *Note in 2019 the speed limit was increased to 55mph.
On the the boulevard we have a developing STROAD. As of late township staff worked hard to require higher quality development. Still, most PENNDot road improvements have been of a STROAD nature directly conflicting with stated goals of safety, value and walkability. It fundamentally encourages low value strip or “power center” development. For ex. planned driveways off Hamilton Crossings will be super sized and dangerous. That will not make it a very safe place for people. Therefore businesses will respond rationally and over build parking lots, oversized signs, supersized driveways ect. As all this compounds we may wake up one day with Macarther Rd. west.
To fix this we need to STOP and all get on the same page, deciding once and for all what purpose we want these roads to serve. Try to be both and you will fail at both.
Keys:
Bypass – Purpose to move cars efficiently and quickly between clusters of destinations
- Grade separation on the bypass. Get rid of the signals and build ramps.
- Raise the speed limit to 55 (THIS WAS DONE IN 2019)
- Prioritize through movements.
Boulevard – Purpose foster a vibrant community center. A multi-modal corridor.
- Calm traffic using techniques/strategies outlined in Penndots smart transportation manual.
- Transit corridor
- Make safe for Pedestrians
- Fix zoning code to allow high value development (as opposed to only strip malls)
- Neighborhood Commercial