Finding Lackawanna County [34 Pa.B. 6729] Under section 2002 of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § 512(b)), the Deputy Secretary for Highway Administration makes the following written finding:
The Department of Transportation (Department) plans to construct SR 6247, Section 000, The Valley View Business Park Highway, a new roadway that will traverse the Valley View Business Park in Lackawanna County.
The purpose of this roadway project is to provide access to the Valley View Business Park and to serve as a collector between SR 0247 and SR 1012 and preserve the functional hierarchy of the highway system. The proposed SR 6247 will support regional and local planning and economic development initiatives proposed for the area.
The proposed action is to construct a new two-lane roadway providing access from State Route 247 (SR 0247) in Jessup Borough to Salem Road (SR 1012) in Archibald Borough in Lackawanna County. Alternative A2, the preferred alternative, begins on SR 0247 south of the SR 0247 interchange with SR 0006, traverses the Valley View Business Park property, crosses SR 0006, then utilizes an existing roadway within the PEI Power Park that intersects with SR 1012 north of the SR 1012 interchange with SR 0006 in Archibald Borough. Alternative A2 also includes an interchange with SR 0006. The proposed design of SR 6247 is to have a pavement width of 24 feet with 10 foot wide shoulders and a posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour. Intersection improvements including turn lanes and signals will be required at SR 0247, SR 1012 and ramps to SR 0006.
Alternatives were evaluated through an Environmental Assessment as required by the National Environmental Policy Act and Section 2002 of Act 120. Alternative A2 has been identified as the alternative that satisfies the needs associated with this project and generates the least impact to the social, cultural, and natural environment in the study area. The Alternative A2 alignment has the least impacts for Jessup and Archibald Boroughs by reducing the widening required along SR 0247 and SR 1012. It also maximizes positive improvements to support local and regional economic development initiatives by providing better access to the project area. It provides a direct interchange with SR 0006, the Robert P. Casey Highway, improving direct access, enhancing employment opportunities, and aiding economic development. This alternative would also be most compatible with local and regional planning.
Alternative A2 will impact the Dolph Sunnyside Industrial District, a Section 2002 resource eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, it has been determined that the construction of Alternative A2 will have an adverse effect on this Section 2002 resource. The effects will be mitigated through mitigation commitments detailed in an executed Memorandum of Agreement between the Federal Highway Administration and the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Officer and concurred with by the Department.
The Deputy Secretary has considered the environmental, economic, social, and other effects of the proposed project as enumerated in section 2002 of The Administrative Code and has concluded that there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the project as designed, and all reasonable steps have been taken to minimize the effect.
GARY L. HOFFMAN, P. E.,
Deputy Secretary for Highway Administration[Pa.B. Doc. No. 04-2259. Filed for public inspection December 17, 2004, 9:00 a.m.]
