FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
State Rep. Steven J. Santarsiero D-Bucks www.pahouse.com/santarsiero

Santarsiero brings constituent concerns to bridge commission hearing

HARRISBURG, Jan. 22 – State Rep. Steven J. Santarsiero, D-Bucks, this week testified at a hearing of the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission on plans for a $310 million reconstruction of the Scudder Falls Bridge connecting Lower Makefield Township in Pennsylvania with Ewing Township in New Jersey.

Santarsiero addressed three issues of concern to many constituents in the Newtown-Yardley area: the impact tolling will have on motorists and nearby neighborhoods; the need to close gaps in the plan for sound barriers; and the impact 20 acres of new roadway will have on storm water runoff for Lower Makefield Township and Yardley Borough.

He requested the commission put each of these items on its Feb. 22 commission meeting agenda to discuss them in public.

Santarsiero said, first and foremost, he opposes the commission's proposal to toll the Scudder Falls Bridge crossing without an impact study assessing the full affect it would have on motorists and area residents. In particular, Santarsiero requested a study to include the impact tolling would have on:

· Traffic patterns on the bridge and on I-95 leading to the bridge in both directions;

· Nearby Delaware River crossings, such as the Washington Crossing and Trenton Makes bridges, which motorists might use as alternatives to the Scudder Falls Bridge;

· Nearby collector and arterial roads;

· Residential areas near each potential alternative crossing.

Further, he requested an assessment of the proposed fees and projected revenues generated by them.

"So many of my constituents in the Newtown-Yardley area utilize the Scudder Falls Bridge every day, and I think there are so many factors that need to be considered before making a decision about tolling this bridge – factors such as traffic patterns on I-95 leading to the bridge and the impact on nearby residential routes," Santarsiero said.

Santarsiero thanked the commission for working with him and his colleagues when he was a Lower Makefield Township supervisor to include several miles of sound barriers in the bridge plan. The current plan addresses most of the neighborhoods in Lower Makefield Township along I-95 where the sound is already a nuisance and will only increase as the roadway widens and traffic volume increases. He reiterated his request from 2008 to expand the sound barriers plan to protect all of the neighborhoods along I-95 in Lower Makefield Township.

"We are all grateful for the commission's commitment to build the full-height sound barriers and we believe the expansion of the sound barrier footprint just a bit more will improve the quality of life for several neighborhoods at a minimal cost to the project," Santarsiero said.

Lastly, Santarsiero asked the commission to work closely with Lower Makefield Township and Yardley Borough on the impact storm water runoff from the expanded roadway will have in those municipalities.

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