East Side Corridor
Transportation Facility
Feasibility Study

East Side Corridor Feasibility Study

Summary of Comparison for Alternate Corridors

Corridor attributes

Advantages

Disadvantages

Alternate A

§          Most costly, yet traffic diversion from interstates and Veteran’s Parkway is comparable to Alternate D

§          Greatest impact on built environment

§          11 miles of roadway

§          $245 –266 million

§          No floodplains or stream crossings

§          Fails to attract State Farm traffic

§          Provides limited benefit to Downs

§          Highest potential displacements and most affected residential properties

§          Near National Register site

§          Some wetlands affected

§          Highest project cost

§          Complicated I-74 interchange and relocation of I-55 mainline

§          Most complicated system of interchanges

§          Most property owners affected

Alternate B

§          Builds on Towanda-Barnes Road improvement investment

§          Ineffective in diverting traffic from interstates or Veteran’s Parkway

§          3.4 miles roadway

§          $158 million

§          Most adjacent to future growth areas

§          No floodplain or stream crossings, minimal wetlands affected

§          Farmland undergoing urban conversion

§          Most easily staged

§          Builds on Towanda-Barnes Road investment

§          Lacks freeway continuity

§          No interstate or Veteran’s Parkway traffic served

§          Near National Register site

§          Relocation of I-55 mainline

Alternate C

§          Best access to growing areas

§          Comparable interstate and Veteran’s Parkway diversion to Alternate D

§          Relocation of I-55 mainline

§          10.4 miles roadway

§          $235-250 million

§          Best access to major employment centers and airport

§          Greatest relief to most congested segments of Veteran’s Parkway

§          Most adjacent to future growth areas

§          No floodplain or stream crossings, minimal wetlands affected

§          Farmland undergoing urban conversion

§          Relocation of I-55 mainline

Alternate D

§          Serves most traffic

§          Poor service to north end of future development, and to Towanda

§          12.5 miles roadway

§          $232-250 million

§          Attract most traffic

§          Diverts greatest interstate through traffic and Veteran’s Parkway traffic

§          Greatest reduction in travel time

§          Most effective diversion of Veteran’s Parkway traffic

§          Avoids National Register site

§          Avoids I-55 mainline relocation

§          Provides limited benefit to development areas north of Fort Jesse Road

§          Provides limited benefit to Towanda

§          Second highest potential displacements, and second most affected residential properties

§          Crosses Money Creek floodplain

Alternate E

§          Poor service

§          Major natural environmental impacts

§          14.1 miles roadway

§          $235 million

§          Fewest all-freeway displacements

§          Avoids National Register site

§          Least all-freeway project cost

§          Least traffic maintenance issues

§          Easier to construct

§          Avoids I-55 mainline relocation

§          No improved access to major employment centers and airport

§          Serves primarily interstate traffic

§          Poses urban sprawl concerns

§          Crosses five stream floodplains

§          Consumes most prime farmland and wooded areas