East Side Corridor
Transportation Facility
Feasibility Study

Category

Alternate A (Far West)

Alternate B (TSM)

Alternate C (West)

Alternate D (West-East)

Alternate E  (East)

Transportation Issues

Access to Major Employment Centers and Airport Project Goal

*     Provides third best access to major employment centers and the Airport.

*     Little traffic diversion from State Farm South Campus and less effective access to Downs.

*     Less effective than freeway Alternate C in serving major employment centers and the Airport.

*     Provides best access to major employment centers and the Airport.

*     Provides second best access to major employment centers and the Airport.

*     No improved access to major employment centers and the Airport.

System Connectivity and Continuity Project Goal

*     Achieves connectivity and continuity with new freeway.

*     Attracts  10,000 to 24,000 ADT with up to 18,000 ADT south of US 150.

*     Achieves connectivity, but not continuity with only portion  being a new freeway.

*     Attracts  11,000 to 17,000 ADT with up to 26,000 ADT south of US 150.

*     Achieves connectivity and continuity with new freeway.

*     Attracts 17,000 to 23,000 ADT with up to 28,000 ADT south of US 150.

*     Achieves connectivity and continuity with new freeway.

*     Attracts  19,000 to 24,000 ADT with up to 29,000 ADT south of US 150.

*     Achieves connectivity and continuity with new freeway.

*     Attracts 9,000 to 12,000 ADT with up to 10,000 ADT south of US 150..

Movement Around East Side Project Goal

*     Less effective than Alternates C and D in diverting interstate traffic.

*       Fails to divert interstate traffic.

*       No relief to Veterans Parkway.

*     Diverts second greatest interstate through traffic.

*     Third most effective diversion of  Veterans Parkway traffic.

*     Diverts greatest interstate through traffic.

*     Most effective diversion of  Veterans Parkway traffic.

*       Serves primarily interstate through traffic

*       No relief to Veterans Parkway.

Access East Side Development Areas Project Goal

*       Less effective access than Alternate C south of Cheney=s Grove Road and provides limited benefit to Downs.

*       Less effective than freeway Alternate C.

*       Provides best access to developing areas including Downs and Towanda.

*       Less effective access than Alternate C north of Fort Jesse Road and for Towanda.

*       Fails to serve developing areas, Downs and Towanda.

Adequacy for Future Traffic Project Goal

*     Better than Alternate B or  and E, but worst than Alternate C or D in reducing vehicle-miles of travel in year 2025.

*     Third greatest relief to highly congested segments of Veterans Parkway.

*     Second most effective diversion of  Veterans Parkway traffic.

*     Doesn=t relieve US 150 into Downs.

*     Least reduction in vehicle-hours of travel in year 2025.

*     No relief to Veterans Parkway.

*     Second greatest reduction in vehicle-hours of travel in year 2025.

*     Greatest relief to highly congested segments of Veterans Parkway.

*     Third most effective diversion of  Veterans Parkway traffic.

*     Relieves US 150 into Downs.

*     Greatest reduction in vehicle-hours of travel in year 2025.

*     Second greatest relief to highly congested segments of Veterans Parkway.

*     Most effective diversion of  Veterans Parkway traffic.

*     Relieves US 150 into Downs.

*     Next least reduction in vehicle-hours of travel in year 2025.

*     No relief to Veterans Parkway.

Environmental Issues

Displacements

(300 foot right-of-way except interchanges)

*     Greatest potential displacements of 23 to 25 residences and 64 to 65 outbuildings.

*     Lowest displacements at 11 residences and 8 outbuildings.

*     Potential displacements of 18 to 20 residences and 47 to 50 outbuildings.

*     Potential displacements of 18 to 20 residences and 32 to 35 outbuildings.  However, more homes in 1000-foot corridor than Alternate C. 

*     Lowest all-freeway  displacements at 10 residences and 12 outbuildings. 

Regulated land Issues and compatibility with local plans.

*     Affects one commercial park (not 4f) and about 1200 feet from Duncan Manor National Register site.

*     Second most adjacent to forecasted future growth area.

*     Affects one commercial park (not 4f) and about 1200 feet from Duncan Manor National Register site.

*     Most adjacent to forecasted future growth area.

*     Affects one commercial park (not 4f) and about 1200 feet from Duncan Manor National Register site.

*     Most adjacent to forecasted future growth area.

*     Affects one commercial park (not 4f) and about 1200 feet from Duncan Manor National Register site.

*     Third most adjacent to forecasted future growth area.

*     No regulated land affected.

*     Least adjacent to forecasted future growth area, and poses urban sprawl concerns.

Floodplain, Wetland and Stream Crossing Issues

*     No floodplain or stream crossings.

*     2 wetlands = 3 acres

*     No floodplain or stream crossings.

*     1 wetland < 1 acre

*     No floodplain or stream crossings.

*     1 wetland < 1 acre

*     Crosses Money Creek affecting 29 acres of floodplain.

*     2 wetlands = 2 acres

*     Crosses Money Creek and four tributaries of Kickapoo Creek affecting 66 acres of floodplain.

*     2 wetlands = 2 acres

Wooded Areas  & Farmland Issues

(based on soil type within right-of-way)

*     97% prime farmland of  902 to 955 acres.

*     Some wooded areas.

*     91% prime farmland of 558 acres, but land undergoing urban conversion.

*     No wooded areas.

*     93% prime farmland of 906 to 949 acres, but land undergoing urban conversion.

*     No wooded areas.

*     93% prime farmland of 873 to 900 acres, but land near south of Ft. Jesse Road undergoing urban conversion.

*     No wooded areas.

*     96% prime farmland of  922 acres.

*     Most wooded areas.

Agency Issues

Project Cost

*       At $266 million, most costly all-freeway option due to right-of-way and length.

*       At $158 million, lowest project cost as only  3.4 miles of freeway.

*       At $250 million, comparable to Alternate D.

*       Higher right-of-way costs than Alternate D, but shortest all-freeway length..

*       At $246 million, comparable to Alternate C.

*       Lower right-of-way costs than Alternate C, but second longest all-freeway length.

*        At $235 million, lowest all-freeway cost due to fewer interchanges and lower right-of-way costs despite longest freeway length.

Maintenance Cost

*       11.0 miles of new roadway to maintain

*       3.4 miles of new roadway to maintain

*       10.4 miles of new roadway to maintain

*       12.5 miles of new roadway to maintain

*       14.1 miles of new roadway to maintain.

Utility Relocation Cost

*       Third lowest utility cost.

*       Lowest utility cost.

*       Second lowest utility relocation cost of all-freeway options.

*       Second highest utility relocation cost.

*       Highest utility cost of all-freeway  options.

Traffic Maintenance During Construction

*       Most significant traffic maintenance issues due to complicated system interchange with I-74 and relocation of I-55 mainline.

*       Least traffic maintenance issues as fewer interchanges and crossroads.

*       Significant traffic maintenance issues due to relocation of I-55 mainline.

*       Traffic maintenance at new system interchanges and cross roads.

*       Least traffic maintenance issues of all-freeway options as fewer interchanges and crossroads, and simple system interchanges.

Construct-ability Issues

*       Most complicated system interchanges and highest number of property owners affected and highest potential for displacements.

*       Most easily staged development.

*       Shortest all-freeway route, but I-55 mainline must be relocated.

*       Avoids issues of interchange spacing on I-55 west of Towanda,  but has more grade separations and road relocations than Alternate C.

*       Simple system interchanges and fewer crossroad interchanges.