By William Kenny
Times Staff Writer
In 50 years since the inception of plans to build a highway connecting Interstate 95 with points in Montgomery County and beyond, countless proposals have come and gone with little, if any, consensus support.
U.S. Rep. Joe Hoeffel, who is in his fifth year in Congress and his first year representing parts of Northeast Philadelphia, last week announced that he thinks he has the long-sought solution to the Woodhaven Road debate.
The plan would give Woodhaven Extension advocates their highway and spare property owners in the Northeast and Montgomery County from losing their homes and businesses to make room for new roads, at least temporarily.
Hoeffel favors a two-phase plan that would build the new Woodhaven Road immediately and postpone proposed widening of other streets.
The plan has been endorsed by Leo Bagley, the chief transportation official for the Montgomery County Planning Commission, said Hoeffel, an Abington Township resident.
“(Bagley) has suggested a two-stage implementation for the plan with the understanding that the second stage may never be needed,” Hoeffel said.
The plan mimics the existing “Bustleton Avenue Alternative Modified” presented by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation in its Draft Environmental Impact Statement, released last month — except for the two-phase aspect.
PennDOT projects two residential and 28 business “relocations” in the Bustleton Modified plan, as well as an annual loss of $129,566 in local and state tax revenues from those properties. The estimated cost of the project is $114.3 million, the PennDOT report states.
In addition to extending Woodhaven Road as a four-lane limited access expressway from Evans Street to Bustleton Avenue, then as a two-lane city street from Bustleton to Philmont Avenue, Phase One of Hoeffel’s plan would include intersection improvements throughout the project area.
“I view this as the garden hose strategy,” the congressman said. “A garden hose will back up if there’s a kink. It’s the same thing with roads. An intersection is a kink.”
Adding turning lanes and improving traffic sequencing at intersections could remove the kinks.
The second phase, if deemed necessary, would widen streets including Bustleton Avenue, Byberry Road and County Line Road, and would extend Northeast Avenue from Rennard Street to Byberry Road.
“It’s based on the theory that those are the most disruptive (measures) to property owners,” Hoeffel said. “And if those disruptions can be avoided, all the better.”
The congressman offered no specific timetable for a traffic study following the first phase.
Mary Jane Hazell, president of the Somerton Civic Association, opposes a two-phase plan, as long as it could result in residential and commercial evictions by the state.
“We just want Woodhaven Road, and that’s it,” said Hazell. “All we want is a city street to go through to Montgomery County. That’s all. I don’t want to be part of anything that widens (roads) or demolishes property.”
The state already owns the property required for the Woodhaven Road portion of the plan. Yet, the recently released PennDOT study indicates that the Woodhaven Extension alone would not suit transportation needs of the future. The state projected traffic up to the year 2026 for its report.
Hoeffel said he spoke to community leaders in Montgomery County about his endorsement of the two-phase plan but got no definitive feedback.
“They have questions about it,” Hoeffel said. “I’m sure it will come up (at the June 19 meeting).”
The Tri-County Coalition, a civic group of mostly Montgomery County and Bucks County residents, will meet at Lower Moreland High School, 555 Red Lion Road, at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 19.
PennDOT will host a two-part hearing next Tuesday and Thursday to hear public testimony on the Woodhaven Road Project proposals detailed in the DEIS.
The first session will be at the Pennsylvania National Guard Armory from 2 to 10 p.m. The latter hearing will be at Lower Moreland High School from 2 to 10 p.m. ••
Reporter William Kenny can be reached at 215-354-3031 or bkenny@phillynews.com