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Preliminary impacts of the alternatives have been determined and are offered for comparison purposes. The numbers are presented in ranges because slight shifts in the proposed roadway alignments (and widths) will cause a change in impacts.
These numbers represent a starting point. From here, our intent is to select alternatives for detailed study and work to reduce the potential impacts by minimizing the width of right-of-way needed.
Agricultural Resources
Under Pennsylvania Act 100, active agricultural lands cannot be condemned for transportation purposes without the approval of the Agricultural Lands Condemnation Approval Board (ALCAB). ALCAB’s role is to assure that all measures are taken to preserve productive farmland.
Within the study area, there are a number farmland protection techniques in place to help preserve productive farmland. These techniques include:
- Agricultural Zoning
- Agricultural Security Areas
- Preservation of Farmland through Conservation Easements
- Urban Growth Boundaries
Preliminary impacts of the alternatives have been determined and are offered for comparison purposes. The numbers are presented in ranges because slight shifts in the proposed roadway alignments (and widths) will cause a change in impacts.
These numbers represent a starting point. From here, our intent is to select alternatives for detailed study and work to reduce the potential impacts by minimizing the width of right-of-way needed.
Historic Resources
The National Historic Preservation Act was enacted to prevent unnecessary impacts to historic resources by federally supported actions. Section 106 of the Act requires Federal agencies to consider the effects on historic resources by avoiding or minimizing impacts when unavoidable.
Thus far, we have evaluated historic districts and historic structures for eligibility for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
Historic Structures:
- Three resources currently listed on the National Register: White Chimneys, Eshelman’s Mill Bridge and Herr’s Mill Bridge.
- Fifteen structures previously determined to be eligible.
Village Historic Districts:
- Two historic districts previously determined to be eligible: Gap and Paradise.
- Four Historic Districts are recommended eligible: Rising Sun, Slaymakertown, Kinzers, and Jacob Eshelman Mill
Rural Historic Districts:
Three rural historic districts are recommended eligible for the National Register: Mill Creek Tributary, Pequea North, Pequea South.
Preliminary impacts of the alternatives have been determined and are offered for comparison purposes. The numbers are presented in ranges because slight shifts in the proposed roadway alignments (and widths) will cause a change in impacts.
These numbers represent a starting point. From here, our intent is to select alternatives for detailed study and work to reduce the potential impacts by minimizing the width of right-of-way needed.
How will historic resources be protected?
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Natural and Socio-Economic Resources
The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) requires that federally-funded transportation projects follow a comprehensive planning process in which socioeconomic and environmental impacts are considered. For a project of this magnitude, NEPA mandates that an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) must be undertaken.
Measures have been taken during the development of preliminary alternatives to avoid sensitive environmental features. Further efforts will be undertaken during the evaluation of detailed alternatives to minimize and mitigate impacts to features such as:
Wetlands
- Background data and information on soils, topography and vegetation was gathered to determine possible wetland areas existing within the US Route 30 study area.
- Thirty-seven wetland areas have been identified within the study area.
Waterways
- Pequea Creek generally runs through the study area from northeast to southwest.
- Mill Creek flows southwest and parts of its watershed, including an unnamed tributary originating in Ronks, lie within the study area.
Preliminary impacts of the alternatives have been determined and are offered for comparison purposes. The numbers are presented in ranges because slight shifts in the proposed roadway alignments (and widths) will cause a change in impacts.
These numbers represent a starting point. From here, our intent is to select alternatives for detailed study and work to reduce the potential impacts by minimizing the width of right-of-way needed.
Comparison of Impacts
The No-Build Alternative would:
- Make no changes to the roadway.
- Have no impacts.
- Not meet project needs.
- Be a baseline for the comparison of impacts.
The Transportation System Management Alternative would:
- Add no additional roadway capacity.
- Have minimal impacts.
- Not adequately accommodate 2030 traffic volumes.
The Five Lane Widening would:
- Double the number of travel lanes.
- Affect the largest number of properties.
- Cause the greatest number of displacements.
- Affect the largest number of historic properties, and properties in village historic districts.
- Require less acreage in productive farmland than the relocation alternatives.
The relocation alternatives would:
- Triple the number of travel lanes within the corridor since the existing road would remain in use.
- Require the most right of way from productive farmland (particularly the North of Gap/South of Paradise Relocation Alternative).
Of the relocation alternatives:
- The Northern Relocation Alternative would require the least amount of right of way and affect the fewest number of properties.
- The South of Gap/North of Paradise Relocation Alternative would cause the largest number of displacements, especially of businesses.
Of the relocation alternatives:
- The two northern relocations would require land within an Agricultural Security Area and land under Agricultural easements.
- The Southern Relocation Alternative would have the least impact on historic resources.
- The two southern relocations would require the greatest amount of acreage from woodlands.
What happens when PENNDOT needs my property?
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