Project Needs and Goals

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), in partnership with Lancaster County, are currently completing Step 5 of the PENNDOT Project Development Process, which consists of the detailed engineering and environmental analysis of the PA 23 EIS project alternatives. The goal of this phase of the project is to result in a consensus on the alternatives to be evaluated in detail in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS).

The evaluation consisted of an examination of the alternative's ability to meet the needs of the project, the impacts to the environment, as well as consideration of the views of the public and local, state and federal stakeholders.

PROJECT NEEDS AND GOALS

The PA 23 EIS project needs were determined as a result of a Needs Report completed in May 1999. The Needs Report identified seven "key requirements" for the project. Three of those key requirements became the Transportation Needs for the project, and they are:

• Improve Safety Conditions at select intersections and roadway sections that currently exhibit high crash rates;
• Improve Operational Efficiency of the existing transportation system; and
• Accommodate Future Mobility needs for the safe and efficient movement of people and goods.

The remaining four key requirements identified in the Needs Report became the Land Use and Socioeconomic Goals for the project. These goals are:

• Preserve farmlands, and protect forested lands, water resources, and scenic vistas;
• Facilitate the implementation of the County's growth management strategy;
• Support all sectors of the study area's economy, consistent with the County’s growth management strategy; and
• Preserve the viability of social sub groups with unique transportation needs