October 2002 October 2002 Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission The Bourse Building - 8th Floor 111 South Independence Mall East Philadelphia, PA 19106 www.dvrpc.org Created in 1965, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) is an interstate, intercounty and intercity agency that provides continuing, comprehensive and coordinated planning to shape a vision for the future growth of the Delaware Valley region. The region includes Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties as well as the City of Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania; and Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Mercer counties in New Jersey. DVRPC provides technical assistance and services; conducts high priority studies that respond to the requests and demands of member state and local governments; fosters cooperation among various constituents to forge a consensus on diverse regional issues; determines and meets the needs of the private sector; and practices public outreach efforts to promote two-way communication and public awareness of regional issues and the Commission. Our logo is adapted from the official DVRPC seal, and is designed as a stylized image of the Delaware Valley. The outer ring symbolizes the region as a whole while the diagonal bar signifies the Delaware River. The two adjoining crescents represent the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey. DVRPC is funded by a variety of funding sources including federal grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Pennsylvania and New Jersey departments of transportation, as well as by DVRPC's state and local member governments. The authors, however, are solely responsible for its findings and conclusions, which may not represent the official views or policies of the funding agencies. I-295/US 130 Riverfront Transportation Corridor Study Page i TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary..................................................................................................................... 1 SECTION I Introduction.................................................................................................................................... 3 Regional Background..................................................................................................................... 9 Demographics......................................................................................................................9 Land-use ............................................................................................................................14 Transportation ...................................................................................................................18 Traffic Volumes ................................................................................................................25 Redevelopment..................................................................................................................26 SECTION II Transit.........................................................................................................................................33 Needs and Deficiencies .....................................................................................................33 Recommended Transit Service Improvements..................................................................34 SECTION III Woodbury Bus Transfer Center Analysis .......................................................................................43 Alternatives Analysis...........................................................................................................43 Alternatives Summary.......................................................................................................61 Next Steps..........................................................................................................................62 Funding Options ...............................................................................................................63 SECTION IV Highway..................................................................................................................................... 67 I-295 Interchange 10 .........................................................................................................67 Existing Traffic Counts ......................................................................................67 Background Growth ...........................................................................................68 Needs and Deficiencies.............................................................................................73 Suggested Improvements.......................................................................................74 Center Square Road .......................................................................................................... 81 Needs and Deficiencies ........................................................................................ 81 Suggested Improvements .....................................................................................81 SECTION V Paulsboro Redevelopment..............................................................................................................85 Need and Deficiency ........................................................................................................85 Recommended Improvements ....................................................................................85 SECTION VI Conclusion.........................................................................................................................91 Page ii I-295/US 130 Riverfront Transportation Corridor Study TABLES 1. Population Change.............................................................................................................. 9 2. DVRPC Forecasted Population Change...............................................................................10 3. DVRPC Forecasted Employment Change.............................................................................13 4. Average Annual Unemployment Rate ..................................................................................13 5. Gloucester County Land Use.................................................................................................14 6. Housing Density....................................................................................................................17 7. Bus Transfer Center Alternative Matrix................................................................................61 LIST OF FIGURES 1. Regional Setting................................................................................................................5 2. Study Area Map................................................................................................................7 3. Population Change (1990-2000)........................................................................................11 4. 1995 Land Use.................................................................................................................15 5. Major Industrial Parks.....................................................................................................19 6. Transit Routes..................................................................................................................23 7. Traffic Volumes.............................................................................................................. 27 8. Paulsboro Redevelopment Site........................................................................................29 9a Transit Frequency (AM Peak)..........................................................................................35 9b Transit Frequency (PM Peak)..........................................................................................37 10. Proposed Bus Transfer Centers........................................................................................45 11. Red Bank Avenue Site.....................................................................................................47 12. Hunter Street Site.............................................................................................................51 13. Railroad Avenue Site.......................................................................................................55 14. South Barber Avenue Site................................................................................................59 15. Interchange 10 (Vicinity) ................................................................................................69 16. Interchange 10 (Traffic Movements)...............................................................................71 17. Interchange 10 (Conceptual Roadway Improvements)......................................................75 18. Interchange 10 (Conceptual Sign Improvements)...............................................................79 19. Conceptual Center Square Road Realignment....................................................................83 20. Consultant Preferred Alternative Paulsboro Redevelopment...........................................87 21. Paulsboro Truck Route....................................................................................................89 APPENDIX Traffic Counts...........................................................................................................................A-1 I-295/US 130 Riverfront