The Borough of Conshohocken initiated a traffic study to look ahead 10 years and take into consideration the active, proposed and potential developments during that period.  The developments include the various apartment complexes we have reported on, the hotel at West Elm and Fayette, the redevelopment of the Hale Pump property into a residential community, etc.  Here are a few observations and key facts from the presentation:

• If all the proposed developments (that are currently proposed) happen over the next 10 years, the traffic in Conshohocken and West Conshohocken will get much worse
• If Conshohocken and West Conshohocken do not work together on this project the issues will continue on both sides of the river
• The Matsonford and Front Street (23) intersection is a major problem and enhances the problems at other intersections
• If the Boroughs make the basic improvements suggested by the traffic study over the next 10 years, the traffic situation will not get better, it will stay the same (if all the developments are approved)
  • The basic improvement involved upgrading 12-16 intersections, in Conshohocken and West Conshohocken, to adaptive traffic light systems.  Adaptive systems talk to one another, and even talk to the regional rail signaling, to move traffic as efficiently as possible
    • The cost is about $50,000 per intersection
  • Another suggested improvement was widening the base of the bridge on the West Conshy side to create two left turning lanes onto 23.  This would move more cars off the bridge in hopes of not leaving cars stuck in the intersection trying to turn left when the light changes.
• After the presentation was completed, we asked the traffic engineer who is overseeing the study, which proposed development will have the most dramatic impact on traffic.  He stated that it is the proposal to build the hotel and new office tower at West Elm/West 1st and Fayette
  • Part of this project involves the Borough of Conshohocken selling land to the developer to build the hotel
• The proposed Wawa at East 11th and Fayette was not included in the study according to the traffic engineer conducting the study because it was felt it was not going to happen
• The traffic engineer conducting the study looked at the temporary entrance onto 476 near IKEA that existed years ago, but found there is not space to build a permanent entry way
• The effort to improve the situation is going to take Conshohocken, West Conshohocken, other neighboring municipalities, SEPTA, PennDOT, the county and the commonwealth all working together
• Funding will need to be secured by the Boroughs from the state to make the improvements

This presentation will also be made at an upcoming meeting of West Conshohocken’s Borough Council.  Councilman Joe Boxman stated that it would be at the March 11th meeting.  We will remind you closer to the date.

You can download the entire study by clicking here.