Thursday, April 20, 1995
Alternate route planned for turn of the century
by Danielle M. Murphy
Collegian Staff
The Pennsylvania Department
of Transportation (PennDOT) has
made its recommendation for an
east side highway to connect the
Bayfront Parkway with Interstate
90. Of four routes under
consideration, PennDOT has
chosen Alternative Route 3 as its
"Preferred Alternate."
"Alternative 3 was chosen by
PennDOT and other resouces
because it best meets the project
needs," said Karen Petit,
PennDOT Public Relations.
"In terms of economic, social,
design, and environmental
considerations Alternative 3 best
meets the project needs after two
years of study," added Petit.
Alternative 3 follows the
railroad corridor from the
Bayfront area, intersects
Wintergreen Gorge, follows a
newly designed four-lane Station
Road, and meets 1-90.
As proposed, Alternative 3
intersects Behrend's campus at
homeplate of the women's
softball field. Designs for
Alternative 3 are not final.
PennDOT is identifying corridors
for the route and not designing
the actual roadway. Before actual
construction begins,
environmental impact studies
must be completed and the mute
must receive Federal Highway
Administration approval.
"These are only preliminary
designs," said Petit.
"Once it's approved, which is
expected by next year:well hire a
consultant for the final design,"
added Petit.
Earliest possible dates for
construction are near the end of
the decade in 1998 or 1999.
According to PennDOT,
estimated costs for Alternative 3
are over $BO million and funding
is not yet available. Of the
original alternates, Alternative 3
is the most expensive because of
bridge construction.
News
According to John Ream 111,
Director of Operations, "We're
not going to see construction in
the next four years. PennDOT is
still refining as to the actual
location of the mad."
PennDOT's plans show
Behrend's main campus entrance
as being on Jordan Road with a
traffic light at the intersection of
Station and Jordan Roads. "There
are advantages for Behrend," said
Ream. "The entrance will be
improved with the traffic signal.
Also, there is a history of
accidents on the roadway between
1-90 and campus, this route will
improve that connection."
"There will also be a better
link into town," added Ream.
Penn State would receive
compensation for any campus
land used in construction of the
IlPhniY.
from SGA ELECTIONS on page 1
Elections
continue
today
have to re-invent the wheel
because they are already involved
in SGA." Bennett said Miller and
Woycheck would have to reinvent
the wheel because they have not
been very involved with SGA in
the past.
Present Student Government
Association President Sam Epps
endorses the Buther/Keefe ticket
as well.
"I think that Nicole and Tom,
with their extensive experience
h ith SGA and in dealing with
PennDOT chose Alternative 3
after conducting several studies
and surveys over the past two
years. PennDOT first established
the need for an east side connector
based on safety reasons, traffic
congestion, and economic
development. Environmental
studies were also conducted to
identify the best location for the
route and an Environmental
Impact Statement must be
completed before the alternative
receives final approval.
In a public opinion survey
conducted during the fall among
Erie residents, 58.6 percent chose
Alternative 3 as the best route
and the one that would cause the
least amount of access problems
for homeowners along the
roadway. A majority of those
surveyed felt Alternative 3 would
open the most areas for economic
administration, are best suited to
continue and build on the
foundation established by the
SGA this year. Their ideas to
involve students more will fit in
well with the direction SGA is
already headed in," said Epps.
Other offices in the elections
are the Resident and Commuter
Senator positions. There are six
Resident and eight Commuter
seats available. SGA received
only three petitions for Resident
Senator and three petitions for
Commuter Senator before the
extended deadline. The six
candidates will be elected to their
respective seats as long as they
each receive at least one vote in
the election.
- STUDY AREA
ALTERNATE 2
ALTERNATE 3
ALTERNATE 4
ALTERNATE 5
DESIGN/AVOIDANCE ALT.
INTERSECTION & ROADWAY
IMPROVEMENTS
ERIE EAST SIDE ACCESS STUDY
ALL COMPOSITE ALTERNATNES
Previous environmental studies
showed that Alternative 3 would
affect the least amount of
floodplains, .25 acres. The
alternative will affect 3.76 acres
of wetlands, compared to 7.52
acres by Alternative 2 and less
than three acres by Alternatives 4
and 5. Alternative 3 will require
the displacements of 48
residences and businesses, the
second lowest number among the
original alternatives.
Alternatives 4 and 5 would have
required 95 and 122
displacements, respectively.
A construction date for
Alternative 3 has not been set and
PennDOT must still raise funds
for the project if final approval is
given. A public meeting will be
held April 27 at 7 p.m. at Har b or
Creek High School.
The three Resident Senators
are: Melissa Barger, Roxzana Y.
Kelly, and Sharain Naylor.
The three Commuter Senators
are: John R. Anderson, Modllo,
and Michael Anderson.
The remaining Senate seats
will be filled next year in a
manner determined by the Senate.
The remainder of the seats are
filled by Council Presidents.
The individual Councils will
hold their own elections to
determine who will represent
them to the Student Government
Association.
As a reminder, students may
have their voices heard by voting
today between 10 a.m. and 3
p.m. in the Science Building.
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