Project Need: Traffic and Pedestrian Safety
		No direct or accurate method is available to predict safety conditions in future years. However, along arterial roadways and at intersections traffic safety generally deteriorates and the number of crashes increase as delays and congestion increase. Therefore, it can be expected that the number of crashes in the study area will increase between now and design year 2026 if no transportation improvements are made. The No Build Alternative does not satisfy the project need for improving traffic safety. Because delays would be much shorter under any build alternative, and because the build alternatives would be designed according to current design standards, improved traffic and pedestrian safety conditions can be expected for all of the proposed build alternatives. From a community standpoint, the potential for crashes involving pedestrians may increase with the Byberry Upgrade Alternative. Under this alternative, Byberry Road would be widened to a five-lane cross-section, with up to seven lanes at the intersection with Bustleton Avenue. This alternative would also carry a higher traffic volume on Byberry Road than the No Build Alternative. While adequate pedestrian time would be allocated at traffic signals and vehicle delays would be relatively short, this still may not be acceptable to many local residents. Due to this concern, the Byberry Road Upgrade Alternative only partially satisfies the project need for traffic safety. The Byberry Upgrade Alternative, Bustleton Avenue Alternative, and Bustleton Avenue Alternative Modified involve widening Bustleton Avenue to six through lanes (in addition to turn lanes) between Trevose Road and the Woodhaven Extension. In order to provide sufficient green time for Bustleton Avenue through traffic and a safe crossing for pedestrians, features such as refuge islands or a pedestrian overpass will be evaluated as part of the final design process. When compared to design year (2026) conditions for the No Build Alternative, the Woodhaven Extension Alternative and Bustleton Avenue Alternative Modified are projected to draw about 43 percent of the traffic off Byberry Road in the dense residential/business area between Philmont Avenue and Bustleton Avenue. In addition, these alternatives would draw 62 percent of the traffic off Byberry Road east of Bustleton Avenue when compared to the No Build Alternative. As a result, these two alternatives would potentially improve both vehicular and pedestrian safety. The Bustleton Avenue Alternative, however, is projected to draw traffic only from the section of Byberry Road east of Bustleton Avenue. In addition, this alternative is expected to increase traffic on Byberry Road west of Bustleton Avenue. Of the five alternatives studied, the Woodhaven Extension Alternative and the Bustleton Avenue Alternative Modified best satisfy the project need of improving overall traffic and pedestrian safety.