Finding [26 Pa.B. 949] Dauphin County Under the provisions of section 2002(b) of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § 512(b)), the Secretary of Transportation makes the following written finding:
The Department of Transportation plans to construct State Route 0022, Section 002 in Dauphin County.
The project consists of the construction of a new four-lane Limited Access highway, which would pass through Dauphin Borough between Canal Street and the ConRail railroad tracks, and then follow existing U. S. 22/322 in Middle Paxton Township. From this point, U. S. 22/322 would be four lanes with a median barrier for approximately 4 miles to the existing four-lane section of U. S. 22/322 (from the proposed PA 225 interchange to the proposed PA 325 interchange). This project would also include the relocation of a 0.8 mile, two-lane section of PA 225, along with a new interchange between U. S. 22/322 and relocated PA 225. A 0.4 mile section of existing PA 225 would be widened from two to three lanes from South Road to Usztics Lane.
The project requires the acquisition of land from two historic properties (the Corson property, 1.1 acres, and the Dauphin Water Works, 0.3 acre) and the Dauphin-Middle Paxton Community Park (3.0 acres). The effects on these resources will be minimal, and the Department will include the following measures to minimize harm to the properties:
Corson Property--The effects to the property, due to the acquisition and resloping of the property adjacent to U. S. 22/322, will be minimized through the use of landscaping. The landscaping will be consistent with existing vegetation and will be designed in consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).
Dauphin Water Works--The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) shall ensure that the recordation of any contributing element on the property, that is the sluice gate, will be conducted in consultation with the SHPO prior to its demolition. The FHWA shall contact the National Park Service (NPS), Historic American Building Survey/Historic American Engineering Record (HABS/HAER) Division, to determine what level and kind of recordation is required. Unless otherwise agreed to by NPS, FHWA shall ensure that all documentation shall be completed and accepted by HABS/HAER prior to demolition, and that copies of this documentation are provided to the SHPO.
Dauphin-Middle Paxton Community Park--In designing the alignment for the relocated section of PA 225, the main goal was to provide a new highway section which would meet the transportation needs and satisfy engineering design criteria while minimizing impacts to the Dauphin-Middle Paxton Community Park. The alignment of PA 225 was designed as close to the property line of the park as possible to minimize bisecting park property while still meeting the engineering design standards. PennDOT will work closely with the Dauphin-Middle Paxton Joint Authority to minimize impacts to the park during construction of relocated PA 225. In accordance with section 6(f) of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act and 36 CFR 59, the conversion of section 6(f) lands will be replaced at equal monetary value. Replacement land for the park property will be acquired from the Dauphin-Middle Paxton Fire Company.
The environmental, economic and other effects of the project have been considered as enumerated in section 2002, subsection 18(b) of The Administrative Code of 1929 and it is concluded that there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the project as designed, and all reasonable steps have been taken to minimize such effects.
No adverse environmental effect is likely to result from the reconstruction of this section of highway.
BRADLEY L. MALLORY,
Secretary[Pa.B. Doc. No. 96-305. Filed for public inspection March 1, 1996, 9:00 a.m.]
