Public Meetings — Archive

(Last updated May 2005)

Public Meeting #2

On Monday, August 18, and Tuesday, August 19, 2003, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in partnership with the County of Lancaster, held a public meeting display for the PA Route 23 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) study. The August 18 meeting was held at the Worship Center in Upper Leacock Township. The August 19 meeting was held at Garden Spot High School in New Holland Borough.

The purpose of the meetings was to provide the public with an opportunity to view the refined PA 23 alternatives, to discuss project details, and to give their input on the design elements of alternatives that have been carried forward for further study, as well as several proposed access points throughout the corridor.

The meeting was arranged in an open house format so people could view the displays at anytime during the meeting. According to the sign-in sheets, 351 residents attended the August 18 meeting and 663 residents attended the August 19 meeting, for a total attendance of 1,014.

During registration, participants received a survey to measure public opinion on key issues regarding the PA 23 EIS study. Survey questions asked citizens the effectiveness of the alternatives and potential access points, accuracy of future developments and growth scenario mapping, the effectiveness of the meeting and how the individual was made aware of the meeting. Additional information requested included what interest the citizens represented and where they live.

Overall, attendance breakout by municipality was similar to the August 2002 public meeting, though there was an increase in attendance from residents in Earl and East Earl Townships and a reduction in attendance from residents in New Holland. Generally speaking, there was a continuance of support for all the alternatives carried forward and general acceptance of the currently proposed land use vision. The majority of respondents (60%) indicated that they were residents of the study area. Fifteen percent indicated that they had a business interest in the corridor, and seven percent indicated that they were farmers. The results from survey question 11, which asked the public to identify their concerns, suggest the respondents (approximately 50%) were primarily concerned with impact to neighborhoods/communities, loss of farmland, and residential impacts.

The results from survey question 4, which concerned the Widening Alternative, were not conclusive, indicating instead that there is a lack of consensus about what can be done with the existing corridor without having excessive impacts through the towns. The results from survey question 5, which concerned the access points at Willow Road, Horseshoe Road, Newport Road/Maple Avenue, Diller Avenue and Ranck Road, suggest the public supports these access points. All of the access points presented seemed to be supported equally. The results from survey questions 6 and 7, which concerns the type of highway, arterial or freeway, were inconclusive.

The results from survey question 8 suggests that the public feels the project team is moving in the right direction with the alternatives to be more responsive to the concerns and needs of the community. The project team will continue to use the data gathered at Public Meeting #2 to further refine the alternatives and minimize impacts in preparation for eventual inclusion in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.