by zebrasepta
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is planning a major traffic pattern change to Interstate 76, the area expressway that leaves commuters dealing with bottlenecks nearly all day and recently had two of its intersections named among the worst in the nation.http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia ... press.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
"We're looking at a number of options to enhance mobility and travel along Interstate 76," Blaum said. "We're ... [looking] to improve safety using technology and other tools."
Possible options are still being considered as part of the study — and nothing is finalized — but some are more easily implemented than others, said Lou Belmont, PennDOT district traffic engineer, who said there is a "two-pronged plan" in place.
PennDOT will be working with SEPTA for the initiative.
"The great example of where we can have the most impact is at the Conshohocken station," Richards said during the Economic Conference.
If drivers are stuck leading into the "Conshohocken curve," there would now be messaging indicating when the next train is coming into the Conshohocken station for the Manayunk/Norristown Regional Rail line.
"You can either sit in your car for 50 minutes to get downtown, or you can hop off and get on the train and be in Philadelphia in 25 minutes," Richards said. "This is going to be a huge game changer. It's fantastic for I-76, the region and how we get around."
"We're ready to go," GM Jeff Knueppel said Thursday. "We have had Conshohocken in our capital plan for a while. We've been looking at some options, but we are ready to go."
SEPTA is "excited to work on something in Conshohocken," Knueppel said.