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Why would you build a four-lane expressway that ends at Route 896? US 30 between 896 and the bypass to the west is congested enough with all the outlet and tourist traffic.
Along with Lancaster County and the Federal Highway Administration, we have identified the logical termini (or endings) for this transportation improvement project. We have again established that the section of roadway under study is in most urgent need of improvement, due to congestion and concerns for safety. Eventually, sections of US 30 to the east and west of the study area will require improvement, but not in the same timeframe as this project.
The five-lane section to the west of the study area, from PA 896 to the US 30 bypass, was built in the late 1980’s. It still functions adequately. But seeing the long-term future need for improvement, Lancaster County has included a study of that section of US 30 in the update of its long-range transportation plan. This is the first step to getting funding for a new transportation study.
Preliminary traffic forecasts for the 2030 design year show that improvement for the Route 30 Corridor Improvement Study will not cause the sections of US 30 to the west or east of the project termini to fail. However, we will continue to study these termini issues and reevaluate the situation when detailed traffic forecasts become available later this year.
Remember that the relocation or expressway alternative is only one of the alternatives being considered. Also being considered are the Transportation Systems Management and the Five-Lane Widening alternatives that would improve US 30 between PA 41 and PA 896.