SUMMARY REPORT Exploration of Alternative Corridor Concepts

POTENTIAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM ELEMENTS

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THIS IS NOT THE PLAN Figures & Tables

Page Page TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 Figure 1.1: Regional Location Map 31 Figure 3.3: Opportunities 4 Figure 1.2: Corridor Area 34 Figure 4.1: Recommended US 15 Cross Sections Chapter 1 10 Figure 2.1: Existing Land Use 2010 35 Figure 4.2: Corridor Improvement Framework Plan INTRODUCTION 11 Figure 2.2: Hydrologic Features 40 Figure 4.3: System Plan - Vehicular Circulation Page 2 12 Figure 2.3: Historic & Community Features 42 Figure 4.4: System Plan - Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Green Space 14 Table 2.1 PennDOT Roadway Typologies for Study Area Sections of 43 Figure 4.5: Buffalo Creek Before & After Vision US 15 Chapter 2 45 Table 4.1: Buffalo Valley Rail Trail Crossing Alternatives 14 Figure 2.4: Schematic of Transportation Elements CORRIDOR CONTEXT 46 Figure 4.6: Unsignalized Crossing with Median Refuge 15 Figure 2.5: 1890 map of Bucknell University’s campus Page 9 46 Figure 4.7: Fully Signalized Crossing with Median Refuge 16 Figure 2.6: Buffalo Valley Rail Trail (BVRT) 46 Figure 4.8: Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon 18 Figure 2.7: Work Place Locations Chapter 3 48 Figure 4.9: System Plan - Buildings & Parking with Land Use 19 Figure 2.8: Residence Locations 49 Figure 4.10: Buffalo Road Before and After Vision ASSESSMENT OF 20 Table 2.2. ADT Volumes on other Regional Roadways 50 Figure 4.11: Market Street Before and After Vision 20 Figure 2.9: Average Daily Traffic (ADT) Volumes STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, 51 Figure 4.12: Driver & Pedestrian oriented Wayfinding Signage for 20 Figure 2.10: Location Map for Traffic Count Volumes the Northern half of the corridor AND OPPORTUNITIES 21 Figure 2.11: Hourly Traffic Volumes on US 15 near William Penn 54 Figure 4.13: Rural Avenue Drive Page 28 56 Figure 4.14: Alternative A for Beagle Club Road 21 Figure 2.12: Hourly Traffic Volumes on US 15 near Saint Mary Street 56 Figure 4.15: Alternative B for Beagle Club Road 21 Figure 2.13: Hourly Traffic Volumes on US 15 near Sunset Avenue Chapter 4 56 Figure 4.16: Goal Post Treatment 22 Figure 2.14: Total Vehicles per Intersection during the Highest Peak 58 Figure 4.17: US 15 Transition Zones CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT Hour 62 Table 4.2: Intersection Level Traffic Analysis 22 Figure 2.15: East/West Trip Distribution FRAMEWORK 62 Table 4.3: Comparison of Intersection Crossing Distance & Time: 22 Figure 2.16: North/South Trip Distribution Page 33 Existing vs. Framework Conditions 23 Figure 2.17: Level of Service (LOS) 64 Figure 4.18: Existing Access Conditions along US 15 24 Table 2.3 Reportable Crashes (2000-2009) Chapter 5 64 Figure 4.19: Modified Access Conditions along US 15 with IMPLEMENTATION TOOLS & 24 Figure 2.18: Pedestrian & Bicycle Crossing Location & Counts Implementation of Green Median Concept: 25 Figure 2.19: Intersection Crash Hot Spots 64 Figure 4.20: Left Turn & Center Turn Lane Activity between US 15 Intersections (2011 PM Peak Hour) STRATEGIES 29 Figure 3.1: Strengths 70 Table 5.1: Corridor Improvement Implementation Matrix Page 65 30 Figure 3.2: Weaknesses 73 Table 5.2: Super Bottom Line Benefits Summary

US 15 Smart Transportation Corridor Improvement Plan Page 1 CHAPTER 1

Introduction

Purpose of the Plan These top priorities, developed during Steering Committee meetings, are conveyed in the recommendations of the US 15 Smart Transportation Corridor Improvement Plan: East Buffalo Township and Lewisburg Borough, together with their partners, Union County and PennDOT, initiated a 13-month- • Reduce traffic congestion, specifically along the central long study of the US 15 corridor. Called the US 15 Smart portion of the corridor Transportation Corridor Improvement Plan, its purpose is to develop • Address safety at intersections a comprehensive framework and vision that integrates the analysis of both land use and transportation issues along the 2.5-mile-long • Provide safe bicycle and pedestrian access across and along corridor. The Plan focuses on improving mobility, safety, circulation, US 15 and quality of life. It also makes recommendations that balance • Resolve the Buffalo Valley Rail-Trail crossing of US 15 future traffic capacity demands within the context of existing and future land use conditions, community vision, and multi-modal • Recommend aesthetic improvements along the US 15 travel options. The goal of the Plan is to develop efficient, functional corridor concepts and designs for the corridor that are compatible with the • Create a gateway on the US 15 corridor for the Lewisburg community. Downtown

With a new Comprehensive Plan in place, Union County successfully • Recommend land use and zoning consistency between received funding for this Plan from PennDOT’s competitive Lewisburg Borough and East Buffalo Township Pennsylvania Community Transportation Initiative (PCTI). This initiative focuses on “smart transportation”, which develops plans for building great communities that link transportation investments with land use planning and decision-making. Recommendations that come from PennDOT’s “smart transportation” initiative advance the livability and sustainability of Pennsylvania communities.

US 15 Smart Transportation Corridor Improvement Plan Page 2 284 INHOLDING INHOLDING 14 WYOMING STATE FOREST 487 GAMELAND 75 154

190 Laporte 184 GAMELAND 134 GAMELAND 133 Eagles Mere

15 GAMELAND 13 SULLIVAN 414 TIADAGHTON GAMELAND 114 GAMELAND 298 STATE FOREST 287 87 GAMELAND 13/57 973 220 864 INHOLDING Picture Rocks Salladasburg LYCOMING TIADAGHTON STATE 239 FOREST WILLIAMSPORT 118 664 Montoursville Williamsport 2014 180 Hughesville South SPROUL Williamsport STATE 147 Setting FOREST Jersey GAMELAND 126 Muncy Benton Shore 654 442 Avis 554 54 Montgomery 150 42 Stillwater US 15 is a major north-south arterial through central Pennsylvania

GAMELAND in Union County, just west of the Susquehanna River. It is a critical LOCK 44 226 220 GAMELAND 252 HAVEN Millville 487 part of the region’s transportation system, as it links the Lewisburg 254 GAMELAND 55 To: Pittsburgh & Turbotville 44 State College area with Harrisburg to the south and I-80 to the north (Figure 1.1 Watsontown COLUMBIA Orangeville

CLINTON INHOLDING 80 McEwensville WYOMING STATE FOREST To: Philadelphia Regional Location Map). 15 Washingtonville 80 477 2002 MONTOUR Loganton 11 GAMELAND 80 The Plan’s analysis of the 2.5-mile-long US 15 corridor is bounded 295 Milton 80 BLOOMSBURG 880 339 by Beagle Club Road to the south and William Penn Drive to the 405 642 192 780 north. The US 15 corridor is located in East Buffalo Township and

147 GAMELAND 115 Danville Riverside Catawissa GAMELAND 58 BALD EAGLE STATE FOREST PROJECT LOCATION Lewisburg Borough. In the approximate center of the study area, Lewisburg UNION 192 Bucknell University’s campus spans both sides of US 15 (Figure 1.2

CENTRE Mifflinburg 11 Corridor Area). The Township and Borough have a long history of 45 GAMELAND 193 Hartleton Northumberland 487 working together as one community. New 304 GAMELAND 201 Berlin Snydertown 54 Sunbury 42 204 SUNBURY 61 • East Buffalo Township, a second class township, has WEISER STATE FOREST approximately 6,700 residents. US 15 is primarily located NORTHUMBERLAND Marion Centralia Heights Mount along the eastern portion of the township and acts as a Selinsgrove 890 GAMELAND 165 522 SHAMOKIN Kulpmont Carmel Shamokin GAMELAND 188 Middleburg Ashland boundary between East Buffalo Township and Lewisburg 901 INHOLDING Freeburg Borough. GAMELAND 212 Gordon Beavertown SNYDER GAMELAND 84 GAMELAND 233 • Lewisburg Borough is approximately 1.5 square miles MIFFLIN 15 TUSCARORA STATE FOREST 104 with approximately 5,700 residents. As the county seat of McClure Herndon 125 GAMELAND 132 522 Union County, Lewisburg is the primary commercial center 35 147 225 GAMELAND 194 of the area and has the greatest density of persons in all of GAMELAND 107 SCHUYLKILL Pillow Tremont Union County. The northern section of the study area is in GAMELAND 229 209 25 WEISER Lewisburg Borough. 235 Gratz STATE GAMELAND 258 FOREST Berrysburg GAMELAND 264 JUNIATA Tower City Williamstown • Bucknell University is a private liberal arts university 333 17 Liverpool 81 Mifflintown Lykens Thompsontown Pine primarily located in East Buffalo Township. Its campus is 450 GAMELAND 171 DAUPHIN Grove Millerstown 209 Elizabethville GAMELAND 160 35 34 Millersburg 443 acres and 89% of its 3,500 undergraduate students live on Port WEISER GAMELAND 210 Royal PERRY STATE FOREST 501 22 GAMELAND 211 campus. 11 LEBANON GAM ELAND 80 To: Harrisburg 325 75 GAMELAND 254 BERKS 74 Newport 849 GAMELAND 281 Halifax GAMELAND 88 78 645 New 72 Buffalo US 15 Corridor Study REGIONAL LOCATION

0 2 41 FigureUS 15 1.1:Smart Regional Transportation Location CorridorMap Improvement Plan Miles Page 3

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T T P ST T L T shopping and services tucked along the Susquehanna River. S ET N e L ARK P I w M L W R A OMIS ST i S LO s U G b A S C u A r L E T g Y S 1 E S 1 W & 1 S T T R A 2 S B H Y Y S D 2 VE T u A L 7 0 N D O H S T ff T D C T NG A H R a I T SH E T l 45 H A S O o W H N N R R S T T S O C O R r T O There are many characteristics of the US 15 corridor. In the southern R e D e E D AVE R k S M DAM A S A A L S R S Y 1 C S R 1 C 4 S U end, it cuts through a more rural environment with very little 1 5 R T 1 T 6 T 1 H IN 7 T E 8 H A AK T V R H N T S E H S S D H T N S T S L T S business frontage. Traveling further north in East Buffalo Township, T M N E T AVE Y L V ON G A FERS E JEF I S S E S V U R R A O O 19 D D many roads intersect US 15, and it gently transforms into a suburban O D H TH FIEL M T N E S VE S D T A HEIM 1 corridor with commercial activity clustered at intersections or set JEFFERSON AVE 3 T

H R S N D T L S S I back from US 15’s right-of-way. As US 15 cuts through Bucknell N N L C MONRO E L E AVE I N E D E K H W T C R W R MADISON AVE U I S E S Y B T S T W Y I T N E University’s campus and becomes the division between East Buffalo B M D S U A R T A R R T VERN D T E T C S H B K T S E R A H H W BRO N A

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B U E N L E T N L N S Y T H U BE E R AB B L R CIR R L E AE A L MCR N D E L I C O N S G M M H D O W S R K W LN E U The study consisted of four major phases: Identifying Opportunities,

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US 15 Corridor Study BASE MAP Legend Study Corridor 0 600300 US 15 Smart Transportation Corridor Improvement Plan Feet Page 4 Figure 1.2: Corridor Area Municipal Boundary

Source: Union County, McCormick Taylor. Stakeholder Engagement of four alternative themes and a matrix to compare features Focus Groups & Interview Activities between the themes. Many SC members, as well as other residents and business operators • July 21, 2011: SC members reviewed an updated set of The US 15 Smart Transportation Corridor Improvement Plan provided along the corridor, took part in five focus group and interview alternative themes, including graphics to illustrate various a variety of methods to engage key stakeholders and residents in activities on March 1, 2011 to inform land use and transportation median options and cross sections. the planning process. components of the Plan. • September 15, 2011: This meeting was held prior to • Business and Frontage Property Group: discussions Steering Committee Public Meeting #2, where SC members reviewed the public meeting presentation for final feedback. centered on the physical condition of US 15 and how it is a negative impact to Lewisburg’s historic business district and The planning process was primarily guided by a Steering Committee • October 20, 2011: SC members reviewed the latest Corridor amenities. Inconsistent building frontages along US 15 are (SC), consisting of representatives from the two municipalities (East Improvement Framework and five corridor system plans. a result of different zoning regulations between Lewisburg Buffalo Township and Lewisburg Borough), Union County, SEDA- They also provided the project team with feedback about Borough and East Buffalo Township, and because many COG Rural Planning Organization, Bucknell University, PennDOT the structure of the Final Report. properties were developed before either municipality had District 3-0, Lewisburg School District, Lewisburg Area Recreation zoning regulations. Authority, and local businesses. The SC provided valuable feedback • February 23, 2012: SC members provided the project team and guidance to the Project Team, as they met regularly throughout with feedback to the draft of the Final Report. • Transportation, Traffic, Bike and Pedestrian Groups: the development of the Plan: discussions identified traffic speed and large amounts of traffic make pedestrian and bicycle crossing the corridor • January 26, 2011: SC members met the consultant team, difficult, and US 15 was a barrier between communities. learned about the purpose of the Plan and their role, Recommendations for urban design interventions, such as reviewed the proposed work program, and discussed a landscaped medians and sidewalks, could provide order to series of base maps illustrating existing conditions of the the corridor. corridor. SC members also participated in an activity to identify problems, concerns, or issues that the plan could • Land Use, Zoning, and Community Character Group: address. discussions centered around lack of connectivity between alternate travel routes for bicycle, pedestrians, and vehicles • March 17, 2011: SC members reviewed the focus group make circulation in the area very difficult and primarily auto- synthesis, existing traffic data, preliminary analysis maps, oriented. and identified goals and objectives of the plan. • Bucknell University Group: discussions identified the • May 19, 2011: This meeting was held prior to Public University’s priority to reconfigure the intersection of Moore Meeting #1, where SC members reviewed the public Avenue and US 15 to include a more perpendicular geometry. meeting presentation for final feedback. Concerns about maintenance of landscaped medians were • June 16, 2011: During this meeting, SC members discussed also voiced. the feedback from Public Meeting #1, including the public • Municipal Officials Group: discussions revolved around meeting activity. SC members also reviewed the initial set pending or proposed development ideas, including the former Pennsylvania House Furniture parcel, East Buffalo Township municipal complex, and a regional police structure.

US 15 Smart Transportation Corridor Improvement Plan Page 5 Public Meetings The strongest themes that emerged from the Image Exercise are for vehicular turning onto cross streets contributing to included: vehicular and non-vehicular conflicts. For the US 15 Smart Transportation Corridor Improvement Plan, two • Poor appearance of the whole route that includes blighted public meetings were held. • The need for bicycle improvements and pedestrian improvements along US 15 and the connecting streets. The properties, reflecting poor land use planning, and ability to cross US 15 while walking and biking is critical. development standards. The first public meeting was held on May 19, 2011. Over 50 people attended the meeting representing a mix of residents from East • A variety of materials and/or textures (for crosswalks, • A general loss of the historic character of the community. Buffalo Township, Lewisburg Borough, SC members, local business turning lanes, medians, and bike lanes) should be used to owners, media representatives, and elected officials. The meeting create clear visual cues that there are multiple modes of started with a one-hour open house, followed by a half-hour transportation along the corridor. presentation with a question and answer session, and concluded • Improvements need to trigger the driver that they with another hour of the open house. are entering a community, and that US 15 is not just a throughway. During the open house, over a dozen photo images, depicting various street scenes, building styles, pedestrian activity, varying Written comments were also collected during the first public lane widths, and parking accommodation were on display. meeting. The majority of respondents at the event indicated that Participants were encouraged to provide feedback about what they they live or operate a business immediately adjacent or near to US liked and disliked about each image. 15; and used the route, at a minimum, several times a week with the majority of respondents using the route several times a day. For the ‘short or local’ trips around the immediate US 15 route area, half the respondents indicated that they used an auto and half used a bicycle, walked, or jogged.

In expressing their concerns with the current conditions along US 15, the responses fell into the following six areas:

• High vehicular traffic volumes (including many heavy trucks) with frequent speeding, and the associated noise. • A corridor of vehicular activity that is generally hostile to and less safe for pedestrians and bicyclists. • Poor, if any, landscaping along the route. • Too few vehicular and pedestrian crossings; and where they are allowed, they present issues of safety and convenience for pedestrians, cyclists, and joggers. These same locations

US 15 Smart Transportation Corridor Improvement Plan Page 6 The second public meeting was held on September 15, 2011. The third and final public meeting was held on March 22, 2012, after Goals of the Plan The evening was divided into a half-hour presentation, where the release of the draft plan report. participants provided feedback to the Project Team and SC about the features included in the draft recommended concepts. During Feedback gathered during the first few SC meetings and the open house, participants and Project Team members discussed Project Website Focus Groups was synthesized into 8 Goals of the US 15 Smart concerns or support for specific features and traffic analysis, and Transportation Corridor Improvement Plan: For the duration of the project, Union County maintained a project were provided an opportunity to submit written comments related website, http://www.unioncountypa.org/residents/government/ to the draft recommended concepts. county/route15_corridor/. Meeting summaries and announcements 1. Enhance visual quality of corridor were posted regularly on the website, and it was a great resource for • Homogenize zoning Written comments collected during the second public meeting spreading the word about the project. centered around desired improvements to the corridor and general • Gateway comments related to implementation: • Design guidelines – Boulevard design • Pedestrian access and safety are the most important • Control access (PA 192-North) considerations. • Greening the corridor • Bicycle access needed for safe travel to the shopping centers/around the area in general. • Complete Bucknell Gateway project • Improved signage/need for signage to direct people to the • Add greenery to the corridor Lewisburg/downtown/rail trail/area businesses. • Ensure the south end emerges as an attractive portion • Crosswalks/signals improvement needed. • Street sign ordinance/regulations needed. 2. Facilitate safe pedestrian crossing of US 15 corridor/ Improve pedestrian access through the community network • Green medians/buffer zones need to be easy/low • Complete rail-trail crossing of US 15 maintenance. • Improve pedestrian accommodation at existing signals • Lighting and Greening of the corridor is a great idea. • Implement/infill sidewalks on US 15 • Priority is to move the US 15 traffic and not create attractions that will cause congestion. • Provide sidewalks, crosswalks & refuges • Implementation time/costs was questioned for the concepts • Reduce conflicts with turning traffic presented. • Provide contextual clues to motorists • Costs and funding to implement recommendations will be a major challenge, such as the traffic signal system.

US 15 Smart Transportation Corridor Improvement Plan Page 7 3. Opportunities for development and redevelopment 8. Enhance the mixed-use character of the corridor • Accommodate all modes of travel – The area includes • Identify strategic parcels along corridor • Provide for additional commercial development and add state highways, local road networks, and the Buffalo Valley residential, office and community functions Rail Trail. The plan integrates land use and transportation • Establish Redevelopment Authority to assist with small and examines balanced alternatives that improve the safety, parcels • Encourage mixed-use on major/large parcels access, travel time, and quality-of-experience of each of these modes of travel. Providing modal choice for residents • Consider form-based code is a hallmark of the plan. Pennsylvania’s Smart Transportation Policies 4. Enhance community identity • Plan and design within the context – A future vision for the corridor must be responsive to the corridor’s unique In setting out a unified framework and vision for future • Improve wayfinding – signage (local & regional) attributes and character. The potential transportation and transportation and land use, the US 15 Smart Transportation Corridor land use strategies for the US 15 corridor were developed • Cohesive design standard/character Improvement Plan was developed based on a smart future for the with this context in mind. • Network/community connections corridor, one in which there is a good balance among mobility, safety, economic viability, and quality of life. A successful corridor • Look beyond level-of-service – Before commitments are results when planning, design, and development solutions integrate made for significant capacity investments, implications 5. Manage vehicular traffic congestion/ accommodate all transportation, visual quality, community livability, and economic of both land use and transportation changes to the area modes in corridor factors so that the results work in a synergistic way. A corridor that need to be examined. Ultimately, the construction of the • Access management is well balanced will offer good mobility and access but, above all, it Central Susquehanna Valley Throughway (CSVT) could will be sustainable over the long term. bring regional expressway network improvements, offering • Network expansions/connections significant benefits for the US 15 corridor and adjacent • Traffic calming Some of the smart transportation principles that are germane to the communities. The US 15 Smart Transportation Corridor Improvement Plan looked well beyond a capacity-based • Multi-modal opportunities US 15 Smart Transportation Corridor Improvement Plan are described below. performance measure and included an integration of land • Provide opportunities for pedestrians and cyclists to move use and multi-modal transportation opportunities. along both sides of the corridor • Leverage and preserve existing investments – This plan considered ways to maximize the utility of existing roadway • Enhance local network – Improved cross streets investments and expand transportation alternatives in the and parallel roads will help local residents reach local 6. Map implementation corridor so that these investments continue to serve in destinations, including schools, shopping, recreation, and • Phased plan an efficient manner. The plan also considered reinvesting jobs more easily in the future. Recognizing the high cost of in already-developed areas. The viability of existing new roads and new capacity, the plan considered ways to • Key Stakeholders/implementers communities depends on their ability to remain competitive enhance the local street network in a cost-effective way. • Opportunities for pilot/demo projects in a changing economy. At the same time, redevelopment, • High value/price ratio – The US 15 corridor includes infill development, and development that is mixed can connections to important tourist, cultural, educational, increase trip generation in the pedestrian and bicycle 7. Improve operating efficiency of corridor and recreational destinations in East Buffalo Township modes, potentially reducing traffic congestion and offering and Lewisburg Borough. By planning for sustainable • Coordinate traffic signals a lifestyle that is healthy and efficient in an era of high transportation investments in the area, we leverage these • Enact access management regulations energy costs. investments and improve the value of all community assets.

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