Philadelphia

[Tonytone]

Look at this.

http://www.drpa.org/pdfs/55survey_altpa1.pdf?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app

https://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/10/27/philadelphia-selects-waterfront-transit-alignment/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app

https://i1.wp.com/www.thetransportpolitic.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/existing-plans-for-transit-network.jpg?resize=966,1024&ssl=1&utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app

A trolley at the waterfront will be indeed a improvement.


iPhone

[qguy]

Look at this.

http://www.drpa.org/pdfs/55survey_altpa1.pdf?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app

https://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/10/27/philadelphia-selects-waterfront-transit-alignment/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app

https://i1.wp.com/www.thetransportpolitic.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/existing-plans-for-transit-network.jpg?resize=966,1024&ssl=1&utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app

A trolley at the waterfront will be indeed a improvement.


iPhone

It would be great, but that's old news from 2009. Since then, that proposal has disappeared like a rock dropped in a river. It's not likely to happen.

[Verlanka]

Look at this.

http://www.drpa.org/pdfs/55survey_altpa1.pdf?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app

https://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/10/27/philadelphia-selects-waterfront-transit-alignment/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app

https://i1.wp.com/www.thetransportpolitic.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/existing-plans-for-transit-network.jpg?resize=966,1024&ssl=1&utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app

A trolley at the waterfront will be indeed a improvement.


iPhone

It would be great, but that's old news from 2009. Since then, that proposal has disappeared like a rock dropped in a river. It's not likely to happen.

Then why am I hearing about it for the first time?

[jeffandnicole]

A trolley at the waterfront will be indeed a improvement.

In what way?

As pointed out, these articles and proposals were done in or before 2009. 

What also didn't exist before 2009:  Uber & Lyft.

Transportation is a different animal today.  People can pay $2.50 to jump on a subway or bus, yet many prefer the door-to-door service of rideshare.  That's even taking into consideration the cost is, at the absolute minimum, 3 times greater for one person.  However if you're with a group of friends, the overall cost may not be much higher, and much more convenient.

Then why am I hearing about it for the first time?

Maybe you didn't follow the news back then?  I don't think we can answer that question for you - there are a ton of news references to the various Delaware Ave projects thru the years, including this one.  Heck, Tony managed to pull up 3 of them alone.

[Tonytone]

Thank you J&N ive been learning how to forum, check these side by side photos out of philly 

1964


1970



Now





iPhone

[Beltway]

https://www.penndot.gov/RegionalOffices/district-6/pages/details.aspx?newsid=4340
Start of Construction to Rehabilitate I-76 Viaducts in Philadelphia and Montgomery Counties
03/22/2019

King of Prussia, PA — The Wolf Administration announced today that construction will begin Thursday night, April 4, on a project to rehabilitate two Interstate 76 (Schuylkill Expressway) viaducts, including the 6,120-foot-long structure between Interstate 676 and University Avenue in Center City Philadelphia and a 345-foot-long structure over Route 23 and Arrowmink Creek in West Conshohocken Borough, Montgomery County.

"Pennsylvania's ongoing bridge inspection program has been closely monitoring these heavily-used, 60-plus year-old structures to ensure that they continue to function as designed,"  Governor Tom Wolf said. "Their analysis of the hundreds of structural components that comprise each viaduct points to the need to address the inevitable deterioration now so as to safely handle the demands of tens of thousands of motorists who use the Schuylkill Expressway each day."

The two-year project will require numerous overnight single lane closures and full closures in one direction at a time, as well as a limited number of weekend daytime single lane closures or full overnight closures on either the eastbound or westbound expressway in Center City.

For the first two weeks of construction, the contractor will be working on Thursday through Sunday nights on both the eastbound side and westbound side of I-76 in Philadelphia to clear work zone drainage inlets, complete surveying activities, and perform other preliminary work items prior to the start of repairs on the eastbound side of the viaduct that will continue through the end of 2019.

Under this project, PennDOT will rehabilitate the 289-span Center City Philadelphia viaduct and the three-span Montgomery County bridge over the 2019 and 2020 construction seasons by repairing or replacing the concrete decks' expansion joints; repairing deteriorated sections of their concrete decks; rehabilitating numerous piers, columns and other sub-structure components; repairing the viaducts' drainage systems; and repaving the decks with a concrete overlay.

Repairs to the eastbound side of the Center City viaduct are scheduled to be completed in 2019. Repairs to the westbound side of the Center City viaduct will finish in 2020. 

Repairs to the structure in West Conshohocken Borough are expected to begin in May or June 2019 and will be completed by November 2019. These repairs will be done using single lane overnight closures seven days a week between 9:00 PM and 5:00 AM. 

During repairs to the Center City structure, one side of the expressway at a time will be reduced to a single lane or closed completely overnight. In addition, one side of the expressway at a time will be reduced to a single lane during weekend daytime hours a minimum of 10 times eastbound (in 2019) and 10 times westbound (2020) on non-holiday and select weekends. 

For information about the project, including each week's planned lane restrictions and/or closings, visit www.I76viaduct.com.
. . . . .

The University Avenue Viaduct was redecked in the mid-1970s, the reinforced concrete bridge was demolished and replaced.  Has there been another deck replacement since then?

[jeffandnicole]

The Center City viaduct will no doubt be the worst inconvenience and headache for everyone - there isn't even a shoulder along most of it to assist with pushing people over during lane closures.  The workers will have absolutely no margin of safety in this area, except during full closures.  The congestion on those weekends with lane closures will be chaotic as well.  The best move will be to take 95 to 676 and cross over that way, even though 676 is still jammed its full length between 76 and 95 many weekends as well.

[Beltway]

https://i76viaduct.com/project-information/

The 6,120 foot-long Center City structure consists of 289 spans (the distance between support piers) of reinforced concrete pavement slabs.  It was built in 1958.  The bridge in Conshohocken, built in the early 1960s, consists of two spans of reinforced concrete pavement slabs.  Both viaducts were significantly rehabilitated in 1985 during PennDOT's Schuylkill Expressway Reconstruction Project.

While the current rehabilitation project does not include replacement of either structure's concrete deck – a lengthy demolition and reconstruction process that would create significant travel impacts across the region – PennDOT is making a number of significant repairs to the decks and structural components of these important structures. 
. . . . .

The Schuylkill Expressway/I-76 in the Center City project area carries 130,000 vehicles a day (Average Daily Traffic) on two lanes in each direction.

[[Shameful!  -- SMS]]
. . . . .

https://i76viaduct.com/

With this project, PennDOT is extending the life of the structures by:
-- Repairing the decks' expansion joints;
-- Repairing deteriorated sections of the concrete decks;
-- Repairing components of the sub-structures;
-- Repairing the viaducts' drainage systems; and
-- Repaving the Center City viaduct with a concrete overlay.

[goobnav]

https://i76viaduct.com/project-information/

The 6,120 foot-long Center City structure consists of 289 spans (the distance between support piers) of reinforced concrete pavement slabs.  It was built in 1958.  The bridge in Conshohocken, built in the early 1960s, consists of two spans of reinforced concrete pavement slabs.  Both viaducts were significantly rehabilitated in 1985 during PennDOT's Schuylkill Expressway Reconstruction Project.

While the current rehabilitation project does not include replacement of either structure's concrete deck – a lengthy demolition and reconstruction process that would create significant travel impacts across the region – PennDOT is making a number of significant repairs to the decks and structural components of these important structures. 
. . . . .

The Schuylkill Expressway/I-76 in the Center City project area carries 130,000 vehicles a day (Average Daily Traffic) on two lanes in each direction.

[[Shameful!  -- SMS]]
. . . . .

https://i76viaduct.com/

With this project, PennDOT is extending the life of the structures by:
-- Repairing the decks' expansion joints;
-- Repairing deteriorated sections of the concrete decks;
-- Repairing components of the sub-structures;
-- Repairing the viaducts' drainage systems; and
-- Repaving the Center City viaduct with a concrete overlay.

No PennDot, see I-81 in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area.  Deferred maintenance is the way in PA. 

[Tonytone]

A trolley at the waterfront will be indeed a improvement.

In what way?

As pointed out, these articles and proposals were done in or before 2009. 

What also didn't exist before 2009:  Uber & Lyft.

Transportation is a different animal today.  People can pay $2.50 to jump on a subway or bus, yet many prefer the door-to-door service of rideshare.  That's even taking into consideration the cost is, at the absolute minimum, 3 times greater for one person.  However if you're with a group of friends, the overall cost may not be much higher, and much more convenient.

Then why am I hearing about it for the first time?

Maybe you didn't follow the news back then?  I don't think we can answer that question for you - there are a ton of news references to the various Delaware Ave projects thru the years, including this one.  Heck, Tony managed to pull up 3 of them alone.

If they create this Trolley at the riverfront we will see another area of Philly start to boom. Traffic is always dead around the shopping center with the Ikea. So whatever happens on the water wide with all the old warehouses will be interesting.

Also this would fill in gaps in the light rail system. It would connect to spring garden station & in the future it will probably connect to the stadiums. This will hopefully kill car traffic around the Port Penn area.


Uber & Lyft are beneficial. There are Pros & Cons to it aswell just like everything else, but most people would have no problem hopping on mass transit if it is cheaper & easier to use thus service. People like walking in cities more than driving.


iPhone

[PHLBOS]

If they create this Trolley at the riverfront we will see another area of Philly start to boom.

Starting? You clearly haven't been along Columbus Blvd. as of late.  There's been some sizable development in the Penns Landing area.

Traffic is always dead around the shopping center with the Ikea. So whatever happens on the water wide with all the old warehouses will be interesting.

Many of those old warehouses & the surrounding lots are still in active use.  If one looks via the various GSVs; there's plenty of parked cars in those lots.  As towards why that lower-stretch of Columbus Blvd. is dead traffic-wise.  It's largely because most if not all of the through-traffic in the area uses I-95.  If such were to close due to either an accident or construction project; trust me, Columbus Blvd. (which turns into Pattison Ave.) would see a surge of traffic.  Keep in mind that Columbus Blvd. (then known as Delaware Ave.) was the main north-south artery along the Delaware prior to I-95 being built and was likely sized with such in mind back then.

Also this would fill in gaps in the light rail system. It would connect to spring garden station & in the future it will probably connect to the stadiums. This will hopefully kill car traffic around the Port Penn area.

Do keep in mind that such would be run by SEPTA; which has a checkered history with the city particularly when it comes to work-stoppage-related strikes (more strikes than any other transit agency in the nation) and not really being up to the challenge as of late when it comes to large scale events (2018 Eagles parade, 2016 DNC Convention, 2015 Papal Visit, 2008 Phillies parade) taking place.

Uber & Lyft are beneficial. There are Pros & Cons to it aswell just like everything else, but most people would have no problem hopping on mass transit if it is cheaper & easier to use thus service.

See above.  Mass transit, SEPTA being the case for Greater Philadelphia, operates via a hub-and-spoke model.  In contrast, taxis & ride-sharing service like Uber & Lyft operate in a point-to-point manner.  Meaning if one's destination from one's origin involves multiple transfers via transit; ride-sharing services wins hands-down... especially if people travel in groups (families for example).

People like walking in cities more than driving.

Provided that everything is within reasonable proximity to each other.  I somehow don't see one walking from Ikea to the Sugarhouse Casino (some 3-1/2 miles one-way) out of necessity.

[ixnay]

https://kywnewsradio.radio.com/articles/news/work-has-begun-202-route-1-penndot-says-theyre-far-done

From the article:

The following are projects PennDOT has planned:

Currently under construction:

US-1 corridor improvement in Bucks County ($97.3 million)

US-30 Intelligent Transportation Systems in Chester County ($5.8 million)

Route-252 bridge replacement over Springton Reservior in Delaware County ($12.8 million)

US-202 widening and intersection improvements in Montgomery County ($55.5 million)

US-1 Wayne Junction viaduct rehabilitation in Philadelphia ($88.4 million)

Future Projects expected to begin this year:

Route-309 corridor improvements in Bucks County ($70 million)

Humeville Ave over CSX tracks bridge replacement in Bucks County ($4.7 million)

Lenape Road over Brandywine Creek bridge restoration in Chester County ($5 million)

Bridge Street over Amtrak bridge replacement in Chester County ($6 million)

Darby Paoli Road over Darby Creek bridge replacement in Delaware County ($3.8 million)

McDade Boulevard intersection improvements in Delaware County ($6 million)

Route-309 intersection improvements in Montgomery County ($7.5 million)

US-202 widening and intersection improvements in Montgomery County ($61.5 million)

I-76 viaducts rehabilitation in Philadelphia and Montgomery Counties ($39.7 million)

[I inserted spacing between the lines for greater clarity.]

Notice the lack of details as to specific segments.  For example, does anyone on this site know the location of the 202 improvements in Montco?  I assume they are on the wagon path between Norristown and Montgomeryville.

ixnay

[jemacedo9]

https://kywnewsradio.radio.com/articles/news/work-has-begun-202-route-1-penndot-says-theyre-far-done

From the article:

The following are projects PennDOT has planned:

Currently under construction:

US-1 corridor improvement in Bucks County ($97.3 million)

US-30 Intelligent Transportation Systems in Chester County ($5.8 million)

Route-252 bridge replacement over Springton Reservior in Delaware County ($12.8 million)

US-202 widening and intersection improvements in Montgomery County ($55.5 million)

US-1 Wayne Junction viaduct rehabilitation in Philadelphia ($88.4 million)

Future Projects expected to begin this year:

Route-309 corridor improvements in Bucks County ($70 million)

Humeville Ave over CSX tracks bridge replacement in Bucks County ($4.7 million)

Lenape Road over Brandywine Creek bridge restoration in Chester County ($5 million)

Bridge Street over Amtrak bridge replacement in Chester County ($6 million)

Darby Paoli Road over Darby Creek bridge replacement in Delaware County ($3.8 million)

McDade Boulevard intersection improvements in Delaware County ($6 million)

Route-309 intersection improvements in Montgomery County ($7.5 million)

US-202 widening and intersection improvements in Montgomery County ($61.5 million)

I-76 viaducts rehabilitation in Philadelphia and Montgomery Counties ($39.7 million)

[I inserted spacing between the lines for greater clarity.]

Notice the lack of details as to specific segments.  For example, does anyone on this site know the location of the 202 improvements in Montco?  I assume they are on the wagon path between Norristown and Montgomeryville.

ixnay

Yes...they are starting a multi-year widening on US 202 between Norristown and Montgomeryville.

Note that they are also starting on reconstructing, modernizing, and partial widening US 1 in Bucks County.

And the US 30 ITS project is in advance of the upcoming reconstruction, modernizing, and partial widening of the US 30 freeway.

[PHLBOS]

https://kywnewsradio.radio.com/articles/news/work-has-begun-202-route-1-penndot-says-theyre-far-done
From the article:

Future Projects expected to begin this year:
...
McDade Boulevard intersection improvements in Delaware County ($6 million)

Two things/issues here:
1.  It's MacDade Boulevard not McDade.  Whoever typed that must either be very new to the area.

2.  Which intersection is getting the improvements?  Since the word intersection was used as opposed to the plural intersections; one has to assume upon reading the above that only one intersection will be worked on.  MacDade Blvd. is about 7 miles long between the Philly and Chester borders.  Could PennDOT be any more vague?

[ekt8750]

https://kywnewsradio.radio.com/articles/news/work-has-begun-202-route-1-penndot-says-theyre-far-done
From the article:

Future Projects expected to begin this year:
...
McDade Boulevard intersection improvements in Delaware County ($6 million)

Two things/issues here:
1.  It's MacDade Boulevard not McDade.  Whoever typed that must either be very new to the area.

2.  Which intersection is getting the improvements?  Since the word intersection was used as opposed to the plural intersections; one has to assume upon reading the above that only one intersection will be worked on.  MacDade Blvd. is about 7 miles long between the Philly and Chester borders.  Could PennDOT be any more vague?

"Intersections improvements" would be grammatically incorrect. "Intersection" has to be singular no matter how many they're actually referring to. My guess is, if it were only one intersection, they would have specifically listed it.

[ixnay]

Two things/issues here:
1.  It's MacDade Boulevard not McDade.  Whoever typed that must either be very new to the area.

2.  Which intersection is getting the improvements?  Since the word intersection was used as opposed to the plural intersections; one has to assume upon reading the above that only one intersection will be worked on.  MacDade Blvd. is about 7 miles long between the Philly and Chester borders.  Could PennDOT be any more vague?

Or else whoever typed it must have grown up in NePA, home of this late congressman.  Iykwim.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_M._McDade

ixnay

[Beltway]

US-202 widening and intersection improvements in Montgomery County ($55.5 million)

Notice the lack of details as to specific segments.  For example, does anyone on this site know the location of the 202 improvements in Montco?  I assume they are on the wagon path between Norristown and Montgomeryville.

This project site?  Are they widening it to 4 thru lanes thruout?

https://www.us202.com/us-202-600

[jemacedo9]

US-202 widening and intersection improvements in Montgomery County ($55.5 million)

Notice the lack of details as to specific segments.  For example, does anyone on this site know the location of the 202 improvements in Montco?  I assume they are on the wagon path between Norristown and Montgomeryville.

This project site?  Are they widening it to 4 thru lanes thruout?

https://www.us202.com/us-202-600

Yes and yes.  4 lanes and in some cases an added TWLTL.

[Beltway]

US-202 widening and intersection improvements in Montgomery County ($55.5 million)

Notice the lack of details as to specific segments.  For example, does anyone on this site know the location of the 202 improvements in Montco?  I assume they are on the wagon path between Norristown and Montgomeryville.

This project site?  Are they widening it to 4 thru lanes thruout?
https://www.us202.com/us-202-600

Yes and yes.  4 lanes and in some cases an added TWLTL.

That will definitely be an improvement, resulting in effectively 4 lanes or more on US-202 all the way thru Norristown as well as to the new US-202 parkway segment at Montgomeryville.

[PHLBOS]

https://kywnewsradio.radio.com/articles/news/work-has-begun-202-route-1-penndot-says-theyre-far-done
From the article:

Future Projects expected to begin this year:
...
McDade Boulevard intersection improvements in Delaware County ($6 million)

Two things/issues here:
1.  It's MacDade Boulevard not McDade.  Whoever typed that must either be very new to the area.

2.  Which intersection is getting the improvements?  Since the word intersection was used as opposed to the plural intersections; one has to assume upon reading the above that only one intersection will be worked on.  MacDade Blvd. is about 7 miles long between the Philly and Chester borders.  Could PennDOT be any more vague?

"Intersections improvements" would be grammatically incorrect. "Intersection" has to be singular no matter how many they're actually referring to.

A better way of phrasing such if indeed more than one intersection is being worked on would've been Improvements to intersections.

My guess is, if it were only one intersection, they would have specifically listed it.

Do keep in mind that we're talking about PennDOT here. 

[ekt8750]

My guess is, if it were only one intersection, they would have specifically listed it.

Do keep in mind that we're talking about PennDOT here. 

Touche

[Alps]

US-202 widening and intersection improvements in Montgomery County ($55.5 million)

Notice the lack of details as to specific segments.  For example, does anyone on this site know the location of the 202 improvements in Montco?  I assume they are on the wagon path between Norristown and Montgomeryville.

This project site?  Are they widening it to 4 thru lanes thruout?
https://www.us202.com/us-202-600

Yes and yes.  4 lanes and in some cases an added TWLTL.

That will definitely be an improvement, resulting in effectively 4 lanes or more on US-202 all the way thru Norristown as well as to the new US-202 parkway segment at Montgomeryville.

Would be nice if they could connect all that to the freeway in NJ.

[Beltway]

That will definitely be an improvement, resulting in effectively 4 lanes or more on US-202 all the way thru Norristown as well as to the new US-202 parkway segment at Montgomeryville.

Would be nice if they could connect all that to the freeway in NJ.

That was the original plan in the 1970s, build a US-202 Expressway all the way between Valley Forge and NJ.

[PHLBOS]

That will definitely be an improvement, resulting in effectively 4 lanes or more on US-202 all the way thru Norristown as well as to the new US-202 parkway segment at Montgomeryville.

Would be nice if they could connect all that to the freeway in NJ.

That was the original plan in the 1970s, build a US-202 Expressway all the way between Valley Forge and NJ.

IIRC, one ultimate plan but likely not to be fulfilled would've been to have all of US 202 in PA be an Expressway.  Such a plan would've made US 202 an outer belt expressway around Philadelphia similar to what I-495 in MA is with respect to Boston.

[Roadsguy]

That will definitely be an improvement, resulting in effectively 4 lanes or more on US-202 all the way thru Norristown as well as to the new US-202 parkway segment at Montgomeryville.

Would be nice if they could connect all that to the freeway in NJ.

That was the original plan in the 1970s, build a US-202 Expressway all the way between Valley Forge and NJ.

IIRC, one ultimate plan but likely not to be fulfilled would've been to have all of US 202 in PA be an Expressway.  Such a plan would've made US 202 an outer belt expressway around Philadelphia similar to what I-495 in MA is with respect to Boston.

Philadelphia and NYC together with I-287. The expressway would've continued south from West Chester and ended at I-95, probably at the existing I-95/US 202 interchange in Wilmington. The expressway would've been what the cancelled DE 141 expressway would've ended at.

Apparently PennDOT still had plans to extend the expressway south to near the state line as late as the late '90s or early '00s, but obviously this was cancelled. I also saw a study for six-laning US 202 between US 1 and the start of the expressway, including SPUIs at US 1 and PA 926, but I have no idea how actively this is still being planned.