PA Route 72 Corridor Study
Needs and Feasibility Study

Lancaster County, PA

In April of 2000, TPD began working on the PA 72 Needs and Feasibility Study, initiating Step 3 of the PennDOT Transportation Project Development Process (TPDP). This study will identify the areas' needs with regard to transportation deficiencies and any impacts on quality of life and other environmental features. Upon completion of the Needs and Feasibility Study in the spring of 2001, the TPD team will assist the Lancaster County Planning Commission (LCPC) in obtaining Agency concurrence by attending Agency Coordination Meetings (ACM).

The TPD Project Team is using a unique integration of transportation and land use management to perform this Needs and Feasibility Study. This approach is geared toward educating the public and Task Force members on the relationship between traffic growth and land use management. The team will investigate the possibility of implementing new land use policies within the study area that will best suit the community's vision for new infrastructure and transportation facilities. This approach requires that the team works closely with the PA 72 Task Force, which includes the Lancaster County Planning Commission, Manheim Township, East Hempfield Township, Penn Township, Warwick Township, Rapho Township, Lancaster Chamber of Commerce, Lititz Borough, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, East Petersburg Borough, and Manheim Borough.

The PA 72 Needs and Feasibility Study will focus on a wide range of issues due to the complexity of the study area. Some key issues are as follows:

· Land use and consistency throughout municipal, regional, and county comprehensive plans
· Community cohesion in urbanized areas
· Natural, cultural, and historical resources
· Vehicular emissions
· Regional and local traffic deficiencies
· Emergency service access and safety enhancements
· New economic developments
· Interconnectivity of communities