Finding Chester County [33 Pa.B. 2135] Under 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 (Department) plans to construct improvements to PA Route 52 in Pennsbury and Kennett Townships, Chester County.
The purpose of the PA Route 52 Improvement Project is to provide improved traffic operations and safety in the roadway corridor area that is consistent with master planning and socioeconomic characteristics. The proposed action involves the relocation of PA Route 52 from its intersection with PA Route 926 to a new intersection with U. S. Route 1. The new roadway will be a two-lane, rural major collector, as is its current functional classification, with 12-foot wide lanes and 8-foot wide shoulders. The relocation of PA Route 52 will begin at a new jughandle intersection with U. S. Route 1, proceed north, shifting toward and then paralleling the Longwood Gardens eastern property line and end at a realigned intersection with PA Route 926. The improvements to the PA Route 926 intersection include realignment to reduce the intersection skew and widening for right and left turn lanes. The PA Route 52 south leg and U. S. Route 1 intersection in Hamorton Village will also be improved under this action. U. S. Route 1 northbound will be widened to accommodate a separate right turn lane for traffic traveling to PA Route 52 southbound. Northbound PA Route 52 will be widened to provide an additional left turn lane for traffic traveling to U. S. Route 1 southbound.
The proposed relocation of a portion of PA Route 52 and associated improvements to U. S. Route 1 will require the use of land from two Section 2002 resources, the Longwood Gardens Historic District and the Hamorton Historic District, which have been determined eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The effect of this project on the two historic resources will be mitigated by measures stipulated in an executed Memorandum of Agreement between the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office and the Federal Highway Administration and concurred by the Department, Longwood Gardens, Inc. and the Chester County Heritage Preservation Coordinator.
The Secretary has considered the environmental, economic, social and other effects of the proposed project as enumerated in section 2002 of The Administrative Code of 1929 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 effects.
No adverse environmental effect is likely to result from the construction of this project.
ALLEN D. BIEHLER, P. E.,
Secretary[Pa.B. Doc. No. 03-792. Filed for public inspection April 25, 2003, 9:00 a.m.]
