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PA Turnpike Rt 29 Slip Ramp Citizens Advisory Committee Report to Charlestown Board of Supervisors April 3, 2000   Reproduction of Susanna Staas' handout to attendees of the Board of Supervisors' meeting on April 3. PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE CITIZENS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE Report to Board of Supervisors, April 3, 2000 Susanna Staas, CAC Representative from Charlestown The Advisory Committee met for the third time on February 23. At this meeting - for the first time-- emphasis seemed to be upon gathering real, objective information! Lead presenter was William Fulton of the Chester County Planning Commission, who reviewed Landscapes. He reported that the county Planning Commission and the County Commissioners have presented a list of objective questions to the Turnpike; and will use the objective answers to these questions as a basis upon which to endorse or to oppose the slip ramp. See the list of questions in Attachment A to the minutes.   The Turnpike representatives stated they are surveying every business in Great Valley - 55 have been surveyed to date. Every vehicle going through Valley Forge Interchange during rush hour will be surveyed to determine origin and destination. Data should be available in about 4 months.   Turnpike representative has stated that no decision re the slip ramp will be made until after the completion of the CAC process.   Lee Ledbetter, Schuylkill Twp. Supervisor and representative to the CAC submitted a list of questions in November. The Turnpike's answers to the questions are in Attachment C. The answer to the final question is particularly important to us. The Turnpike states that communication re traffic questions and studies should be conducted between the Townships and the DVRPC.   The CAC is being driven to debating preferable alternatives for the slip ramp - including no-build. Criteria for judging preference were drafted - see page 10 of the minutes. Several on the CAC continually state that it is impossible to make a judgment on the slip ramp in isolation from the overall traffic system in the county- ie Rte 202, Railroads, Buses, Light Rail, etc. In its study: Connecting Landscapes, the Chester County Planning Commission is addressing this system. That study is still at least a year away from completion. The Charlestown CAC representatives look for guidance and support from the Supervisors. We would suggest that the Supervisors, perhaps in cooperation with Schuylkill and East Whiteland and in consultation with Landscapes, ask DVRPC to survey for information related to the Townships' particular concerns while they are doing the study for the Turnpike. (Attach. C).   Almost as a throw-away line during the second meeting of the CAC, Jeff Davis of the Turnpike mentioned that the Turnpike will be widening the bridge over the Phoenixville Pike - not as part of the slip ramp project. However, it seems important that the impact and implications of the widening be addressed. Again, DVRPC/PennDot will have to be involved - if only from a permitting.???ect. Again, we hope that our elected officials will bring their concerns and questions to DVRPC - and perhaps to the County.   In January, the Charlestown CAC representatives and the supervisors met with CAC representatives and supervisors from Schuylkill Twp. to communicate and coordinate. At that time, representative from East Whiteland could not attend, because their board was in the process of reorganizing. We would like to have another meeting, if possible before the next CAC meeting on April 12. To do that, we need your help to contact Michelle Vaughn and Virginia McMichael, who are now the official representatives to the CAC.

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