DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Finding [29 Pa.B. 4393] Delaware County
Philadelphia CountyPursuant to the provisions of 71 P. S. Section 2002(b), the Secretary of Transportation makes the following written finding:
The Department of Transportation plans to construct improvements to Interstate 95 (I-95) and S.R. 0291(PA 291) and participate in construction improvements to the Philadelphia International Airport in Tinicum Township, Delaware County and the City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County.
Philadelphia International Airport is located on the north shore of the Delaware River in the southeastern corner of Pennsylvania approximately 6 miles southwest of Philadelphia's central business district. Philadelphia International Airport is owned and operated by the City of Philadelphia, Division of Aviation and is the principle commercial service airport in the region serving both domestic and foreign carriers.
I-95 provides the primary access to Philadelphia International Airport with direct connections to other regional expressways such as I-76 to the north and I-476 to the south of the airport. Airport access for I-95 southbound traffic is via a direct ramp connection while access for I-95 northbound traffic is from exit 10 to PA 291 through two at grade signalized intersections.
The project's purpose is to expand the airport's terminal and roadway elements to accommodate current and projected levels of passenger and vehicular activity. The proposed action has three principle components that include a new international terminal building complex, Terminal One, a new commuter terminal building complex, Terminal F, and two new ramps to improve vehicular access from I-95, Alternative B-4 Modified.
The preferred alternative locates Terminal One west of existing Terminal A and Terminal F north of existing Terminal E since they follow the existing pier geometry, do not require relocation of any off-airport businesses, and do not require construction of a people mover system. Alternative B-4 Modified is the construction of a new I-95 northbound exit ramp to be merged with the I-95 southbound exiting traffic for direct access to the airport. The existing ramp to the northbound collector-distributor road will be removed and replaced to the east to separate this traffic from airport bound traffic. Ramp A from PA 291 will be removed and replaced with a direct access from PA 291 located to the west of International Plaza Driveway. Existing Departures Ramp L will be removed and replaced by Ramp LL that will pass under the SEPTA Airport High Speed Line, cross over I-95 and PA 291 and descend to the Philadelphia International Airport departures roadway. An overheight vehicle exit will be constructed from Ramp LL to allow overheight vehicles to exit the departures roadway system without entering secure airport property.
I have considered the environmental, economic, social, and other effects of the proposed project as enumerated in Section 2002 of the Administrative Code, and have concluded that there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the project as designed, and all reasonable steps have been taken to minimize such effect.
No adverse environmental effect is likely to result from the construction of this project.
BRADLEY L. MALLORY,
Secretary[Pa.B. Doc. No. 99-1335. Filed for public inspection August 13, 1999, 9:00 a.m.]
