BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA August 18, 2010 10-C.295 ADOPTING AMENDMENTS TO THE COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PENNSYLVANIA MUNICIPALITIES PLANNING CODE On motion of Mr. Hoeffel, seconded by Mr. Castor, it was unanimously adopted that WHEREAS, the Montgomery County Planning Commission prepared the current comprehen- sive plan for the county, which was adopted by the Board of County Commissioners in 2005, and the Planning Commission has the duty of preparing amendments to the comprehensive plan for Montgomery County; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission has prepared minor amendments to the county com- prehensive plan in accordance with Sections 209.1 and 301 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, with a more significant update expected in 2015; and WHEREAS, the plan consists of eight volumes, with five volumes being amended, including the Vision Plan, the Community Facilities Plan, the Land Use Plan, the Transportation Plan, and the Water Resources Plan; and WHEREAS, as part of the preparation of these comprehensive plan amendments, the Planning Commission held a public meeting to solicit public comments on the amendments; met with municipalities for the same purpose; sent the draft plans to all municipalities and school districts within the county as well as all abutting counties, municipalities, and school districts; and considered the comments received and incorporated appropriate revisions into the plans; and, WHEREAS, by resolution dated June 9, 2010, the Planning Commission has certified that it has prepared plan amendments consistent with the requirements of the planning code and has recommended that the Board of Commissioners hold a public hearing to consider adoption of the plan amendments; and WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners on August 18, 2010 held a public hearing in ac- cordance with Section 302 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code; and WHEREAS, the Board recognizes that it is essential for the health, safety and welfare of all county residents for Montgomery County to have an up-to-date set of coordinated policies to guide the county’s physical development, preserve its natural and cultural resources, and make optimum use of its financial resources; and WHEREAS, the Board recognizes the need for the county comprehensive plan to serve as a basis for intracounty cooperation and coordination among the 62 townships and boroughs, 23 school districts, numerous special-purpose authorities, boards, and commissions; and WHEREAS, the county comprehensive plan will continue to serve as a policy guide for all units of Montgomery County government; and WHEREAS, the county comprehensive plan will continue to present a comprehensive set of county plans, goals, and policies for the use and guidance of regional, state, and federal agencies. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of County Commissioners of Montgomery County hereby accepts and adopts as official county policy, in accordance with Section 302 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, the following amend- ments to the comprehensive plan for Montgomery County, containing 8 volumes and titled Shaping Our Future – A Comprehensive Plan for Montgomery County, • in the first volume, a 118-page document titledVision Plan, a revised Growth and Pres- ervation Plan map, a revised list and map of major transportation projects, a revised expanded public transportation facilities map, and a revised sewer service map; • in the second volume, a 168-page document titled Community Facilities Plan, a revised Existing and Future Sewer Service Areas map, and a revised Existing and Future Public Water Service map; • in the third volume, a 174-page document titled Land Use Plan, a revised Growth and Preservation Plan map, and a revised Future Land Use map; • in the fourth volume, a 234-page document titled Transportation Plan, a revised Transportation Improvement Program maps, a revised First Priority Level Proposed Transportation Projects map, a revised Second Priority Level Proposed Transportation Projects map, a revised Third Priority Level Proposed Transportation Projects map, a revised Potential Expanded Public Transportation Facilities map, and revised lists of proposed projects; • and in the fifth volume, an 86-page document titled Water Resources Plan, a revised Existing and Future Public Water Service map; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Planning Commission is hereby directed to continue to refine, maintain, and update its plans as necessary to ensure that the policies of the comprehensive plan are fully supported, maintained, and implemented in a reasonable and up–to–date manner, and to conduct new studies and prepare new plans that may become necessary as Montgomery County continues to change and face new issues; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Planning Commission is hereby directed to transmit an accurate copy of these amendments and a copy of this resolution to the governing body of each municipality in Montgomery County, and to appropriate county de- partments and agencies to ensure compliance with Sections 303, 304, 305, and 306 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, and to other appropriate municipal, regional, state, and federal agencies. Highways Figure 49 TR ANS I T PR OJECTS : TR ANSPO R TAT I ON IMP R OVEMENT PR OG R AM (FY2011-2014) 131 Public Transit Chapter Seven 132 Public Transit of service of existing bus routes and adding more bus routes is also needed, particularly as the population ages and increases and as more reverse commuting from Philadelphia takes place. Improvements to transit systems also need to take into consideration the surrounding human, historic, cultural, and natural environment. Rail Service Improving existing rail lines and building new rail lines will help to relieve traffic congestion in Montgomery County. Currently, a number of rail improvement and study projects are underway in the county, as shown in Figure 49 and described in the Appendix. For the long term, four new potential rail lines or extensions of rail lines should be construct- ed, as shown in Figure 50. The increasing population density in some of the older suburbs combined with the total population increase in the newer suburbs is creating the potential for expanded public transit service in the future. • The Schuylkill Valley Metro, which would extend from Philadelphia to Reading, could have a profound impact on traffic in the Route 422 corridor. Figure 50 POTENTIAL EX P ANDED PUBLIC TRANS P ORTATION FACILITIES Figure 50 is current as of 2010. The above text is from 2005. 133 Chapter Seven • The proposed Cross County Metro, which will parallel the Pennsylvania Turnpike through Montgomery County and Route 202 in Chester County, would connect the railroad lines spread- ing out from Philadelphia in spokes. • The Stony Creek/Quakertown rail line, which will reestablish an important mass transit link between Norristown, the North Penn Area, Doylestown, Quakertown, and the Lehigh Valley, could help alleviate traffic in the U.S. 202 cor- ridor and on Route 309 through Bucks County. • The Route 100 light rail line extension to the King of Prussia area, which will connect King of Prussia with the Main Line area and Phila- delphia, could help provide a vital connection between these major population and shopping centers within the County. In addition SEPTA should consider the following policies: • SEPTA should rename regional rail route numbers that curently have the same number. For example, there are two R5 lines - one from Lansdale and Doylestown to Center City, the other from Thorndale and Paoli to Center City. This causes confusion and mistakes by riders who get on trains headed the wrong direction. Naming one branch R5-A and the other R5-B may be a solution. • Speed and efficiency of regional rail trains should be increased by exploring the elimination of lesser used stops, particularly for express or peak hour trains, and investigating new technol- ogy such as improved engines, fuels, tracks, and traction systems • In addition, the feasibility of more frequent service using faster, smaller trains should be ex- plored as an alternative to crowded, long, slower moving trains and less frequent service. • The use of electronic fare cards for regional rail service should be studied and implemented if practical. • Current SEPTA regional rail service standards should be studied and reevaluated. This may result in improved and more efficient service. 134 Highways Figure 61 Bri DGE AND HI G H WAY PR OJECTS : TR ANSPO R TAT I ON IMP R OVEMENT PR OG R AM (FY2011-2014) 171 Highways Chapter Eight 172 Highways Figure 62 Fir ST Pri O ri TY LEVEL PR OPOSED TR ANSPO R TAT I ON PR OJECTS 173 Highways Chapter Eight 174 Highways Figure 63 SECOND Pri O ri TY LEVEL PR OPOSED TR ANSPO R TAT I ON PR OJECTS 175 Highways Chapter Eight 176 Highways Figure 64 Thir D Pri O ri TY LEVEL PR OPOSED TR ANSPO R TAT I ON PR OJECTS 177 Highways Chapter Eight 178 Proposed Projects ProposedAppendices Projects Transportation Improvement Projects - Bridge and Highway MPMS# Project Name Project Description Municipalities Horsham Twp. 15769 Limekiln Pike Bridge Bridge replacement/removal over Skippack Creek. Montgomery Twp. Replace the existing bridge over the east branch of the Perkiomen Creek with a wider two-lane bridge, relocating it to tie in to the 15793 Salfordville Road Bridge Groffs Mill Rd. intersection. Lower Salford Twp. 15992 Rockland Avenue Bridge Removal Replace existing structure with pedestrian bridge. Narberth Bor. PA 29 Bridge over 16085 Hosensack Creek Bridge replacement over Hosensack Creek. Upper Hanover Twp. PA 29 Gravel Pike Bridge 16086 over Perkiomen Creek Bridge replacement over Perkiomen Creek. Upper Hanover Twp. Replace the existing bridge over the east branch of the Perkiomen Franconia Twp. 16099 Camp Road Bridge Creek and make a minor horizontal realignment to the S-curve. Salford Twp. Replace the Tookany Creek Parkway bridge over the tributary of the 16150 Tookany Parkway Bridge Tookany Creek.