You may have heard that many large-scale transportation improvement projects in Pennsylvania were "reevaluated" a few years ago. Some of the reasons for the reevaluation of these larger projects included funding constraints as well as an increasing awareness of community concerns regarding local impacts.

In Bucks and Montgomery Counties, the Route 202 project was successfully "re-designed" from a four-lane expressway to a two-lane parkway with extensive landscaping and recreational amenities. Residents in adjacent neighborhoods were included in the re-design process, and the result is a road design that reflects the needs and desires of the local residents. Construction is expected to begin later this year.

The design and scale of Community Connections would provide an attractive travel route in a park-like setting. The lower speed design and smaller scale of roadways -- with accommodations for bicycles and pedestrians -- would be compatible with this setting.

The proposed transportation facilities would use only a small portion of the existing PennDOT right-of-way. This provides an opportunity to turn this unused land into a community asset. Walking paths through this landscaped area could provide residents opportunities for exercise and relaxation.