Socioeconomic Environment
		In the early 1950s, the study area for the Woodhaven Road/PA 63 Project was still very rural. Agriculture dominated the local economy. Once the post-World War II building boom began, many industrial parks were constructed in the area. These businesses and industries were attracted by convenient railroad and highway accessibility, and spurred by zoning changes and the desire to locate industry away from Center City Philadelphia for defense reasons. Many families chose to relocate in this area, which offered tremendous employment opportunities. The development of housing accelerated, and as a result, the population within the study area doubled between 1960 and 1970. Today, communities within the study area are comprised primarily of single-family detached residences with a mix of twin homes and low-rise apartments. Multi-family housing is largely concentrated along Byberry Road and Bustleton Avenue. To the east of the CSX tracks, Bennett Industrial Park contains manufacturing plants, food production facilities, and distribution and storage facilities. Bustleton Avenue is the major commercial corridor of the study area, and it includes shopping centers, strip malls, auto service centers, and small neighborhood shops. The study area's population falls within Lower Moreland Township and School District, Lower Southampton Township and Neshaminy School District, Upper Southampton Township and Centennial School District, the Somerton Community, and the School District of Philadelphia. These communities are adjacent to Bryn Athyn and Upper Moreland Township in Montgomery County and Bensalem in Bucks County. Smaller neighborhood and municipal groups exist within these communities, which may have similar concerns regarding roadway improvements. Other neighborhood and community groups are located along and adjacent to County Line Road (Hamptontowne Community), Byberry Road (Forest Station and Stonebridge Apartments) and Philmont Avenue (Hampton Gardens). Open space, while present, is limited in the study area. Somerton Woods in the City of Philadelphia and Shalom Memorial Park in Montgomery County are the largest open space resources available to the community. However, several local parks and playgrounds as well as two cemetery properties are open to the public. As each build alternative is developed for the Woodhaven Road Project, efforts are made to avoid or minimize impacts to the social environment.