'What Are You Prepared To Do To Fix 422?'
State representatives asked for public input at an open forum on Tuesday.
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Hundreds of folks at a meeting on Tuesday agreed U.S. Route 422 is a dangerous, congested mess.
They also said there's no cheap or easy way to solve the route's problems and shot down the notion to toll the road as a way to generate revenue.
The 422 concerns were discussed at a public forum hosted by state representatives Mike Vereb, R-Montgomery County; Marcy Toepel, R-Montgomery County; Tom Quigley, R-Montgomery County and Warren Kampf, R-Chester and Montgomery counties. The event was held at Pope John Paul II High School in Royersford.
Prior to the forum, Kampf and Vereb discussed some of their concerns.
Kampf said he's lived in the 422 area since he was a baby.
"(422) has gotten progressively more crowded, especially at rush hour," he said. "I oppose tolling the roadway."
A proposal to toll 422 would cost area residents "substantial sums" of money, he said.
"It's like a form of double taxation," Kampf said.
Vereb said he can't imagine a "local road" being tolled.
"I think what all of us are concerned about ... the traffic is almost unbearable as it is going in toward Philadelphia," Vereb said. "It's a dangerous road. It's a four-lane main street ... It has people pretty upset."
Indeed.
During the forum, which lasted over two hours, some folks in the roughly 400-member audience at various times cheered, booed and yelled when certain ideas were raised.
"Doing nothing is not an option that I choose," said Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel. Folks in the crowd shouted in anger after his comment.
Quigley said tolling 422 is, "Another opportunity to cost (small business owners) money." People applauded that sentiment.
But mostly, the audience asked questions -- which they wrote on cards during the event -- that Vereb read aloud and the panel tried to answer.
Some of the possible remedies discussed included:
• Tolling could operate similar to the PA Turnpike E-ZPass system.
• Tolls could be spread out to allow free local travel, and/or lower tolls could be charged during weekend or off-peak hours.
• Tolls could raise roughly $60 million per year and increase over time.
• A new state gas tax could help pay for work needed on Route 422.
• The Norristown train line could be extended to the Reading and Philly areas in an effort to reduce car traffic. This could cost roughly $370 million.
• Of the estimated $750 million needed to improve 422, $243 million has been programmed into the state's Dept. of Transportation budget over the next eight years.
"There's not enough (PennDOT) money to fix 422," Hoeffel said.
No plan could be approved fast and easy, Toepel said and added several levels of government would have to sign off on a proposal.
"That's a slippery slope as well," she said of legislation needed to plan for the road's future.
After the forum, Upper Pottsgrove Township resident Susan Ziemba -- who brought her son Alex, 11, to the event -- discussed her concerns on the issue.
"The misappropriation of funds from PennDOT," she said and gave an example of "excessive" work the state has done to Maugers Mill Road in her neighborhood. "They're actually working there right now, tonight."
Ziemba said she wants 422 to be made safe and convenient, but not at additional cost to area residents.
"I want to see it fixed," she said. "But I do not want to see tolls."
Janice Kearney, a candidate for Montgomery County's Lower Providence Township board of supervisors, said tolling 422 would be a mistake.
"(Residents) are against this ... tolling, especially if it involves the rail option," she said.
Tuesday's open dialogue was a healthy way to address the issue, she said.
"I think this forum was fantastic," Kearney said. "It was definitely a step in the right direction."
Chuck Mattis
8:49 am on Wednesday, September 14, 2011
All the people who pay tolls on 422 will still have to pay taxes to fix other peoples' roads, which makes it un-fair taxation. When 202 and 309 needed large improvements, nobody forced toll booths on them. The governement never planned to keep 422 in good shape, because they realized they could push tolls on us at later time. BUT, the road was never designed for tolling, just local commuting. There is no proof that tolls or a train line will fix the traffic, and there is no proof that the toll money will make the road any safer. The governemnt took our taxes and still allowed 422 to crumble, how strong is their word now?
Mike Hays
12:14 pm on Wednesday, September 14, 2011
I support the plan, not because I feel like having less disposable income, but because I believe this region must support its own needs into the future.
There is a reason the CEO Council for Growth and leaders of the Chamber of Commerce support this proposal --- it's good for jobs, as well as economic opportunity between Reading and Philadelphia.
As for the true cost of your toll: Please remember the daily price cited often in the media ($2.65) is for a one-way trip from Berks County all the way to King of Prussia. Most of us don't drive that far along 422.
Between Township Line Road (Limerick) and the Route 29 off-ramp, the cost is 80 cents one-way, according to 422 plus. That's $1.60 a day or $8 for a working week. Can we really not afford this, or are we not thinking of our future? Shared responsibility - a curse word in this political climate - is more important than ever.
Disturbed at 422 tolling
2:09 pm on Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Mr. Hays,
Here is a rebuttal to your comments
1 - Where do you live? When I leave for work at 0530hrs every day I see a major amount of traffic from Route 100 all the way to 76/276/202. The only reason it backs up at Trooper is because of the on ramp right in front of the bridge, if this wasn't there it would be a lot better People do not know how to merge. So onto the costs... more people would be affected by this toll and have a hgher cost than you think for me it would cost 826.80 per year. Are you going to subsidize this?
2. It will not increase opportunities between Philly & Reading as the bidding could bring in people from outside the area. This does not mean that it will increase jobs in our area. If it is mandated that a company that is going to work on the road has to be from the area, there will be lawsuits contesting this. It is a lose lose situation.
3. You know why the Council for Growth & Chamber agree with it? Because they have to. It is all about the all mighty dollar. They have to come up with ideas on how to decrease the unemployment but they are not living in the real world. When 422 was being worked on From Egypt Rd to 202 it cause more issues than I would like to remember.
4. If you want to support the needs of the community why not start a manufacturing plant and higher local people for that? Manufacturing, not temporary road work is the way to increase the vitality of the area.
Sincerely
Perturbed at the notion to tollign 422.
Tracey
3:27 pm on Wednesday, September 14, 2011
The bottom line is that Ed Rendell promised to get a train up and running from Norristown to Pottstown/Reading. He made empty promises. If they would get a train running, I can guaranty that it would alleviate probably 70% of the traffic. I ride 422 and 76 five days a week and I hate it, but I do it because I have to. Tolling this road is not the answer to the problem. What ever happened to the Schuylkill Valley Metro???
Mike Hays
6:29 pm on Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Dear disturbed:
1). I live in Spring City, where I've commuted to Wayne and then Philadelphia since early 2009.
2) How do you figure more than $800 per year? If you traveled the length of 422, from Berks to KoP, for five days every single week - that would be $1383 per year. Where do you work?
3. I agree 100 % percent with your manufacturing plant point. We need to make things again. My point about jobs is not the road work, although that is a temporary boost. Companies are more likely to re-locate, or locate, to this area when there is a robust transportation network with several options, including rail. Plus, it opens up job opportunities for those who cannot afford a vehicle.
Pamela
8:01 am on Thursday, September 15, 2011
Please please please do not do another "study"! Do something!!
Teresa McMinn
2:35 pm on Thursday, September 22, 2011
PennDOT today announced lane restrictions scheduled for east and westbound Route 422 between the First Avenue and Oaks/Audubon exits in Upper Merion, Lower Providence, West Norriton and Upper Providence townships, Montgomery County. The restrictions will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sept. 26 through 30.