Is Your Street On the List? Public Comments Sought for Transportation Study in Berks

Make your neighborhood better for walking and biking. Speak at a public meeting, Write and submit a comment, Fax or email the Berks County Planning Commission -- and ask that all of our streets be built for everyone, whether young or old, motorist or bicyclist, walker or wheelchair user, bus rider or shopkeeper.

Too many of our streets are designed only for speeding cars, or worse, creeping traffic jams.
Now, in communities across the county, a movement is growing to complete the streets. Residents are asking planners and engineers to build road networks that are safer, more livable, and welcoming to everyone. The first stage is being completed now -- as the Berks County Planning Commission drafts a new Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan. Make sure you thank our transportation authority for their work and efforts to make our streets better for all users.

Then, ask that we work together to do more by extending walking and bicycling into the overall transportation plan: Instituting a complete streets policy ensures that transportation planners and engineers consistently design and operate the entire roadway with all users in mind - including bicyclists, public transportation vehicles and riders, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities.

Here's how:

The Reading Area Transportation Study (RATS) Coordinating Committee has prepared planning documents that list various roadway, public transit, and off-road transportation projects and planning efforts in Berks County.

This announcement is designed to give citizens, local governments and interested organizations an opportunity to comment on the Draft TIP, Draft Long Range Transportation Plan Update, Draft Air Quality Conformity Analysis and Draft Benefits and Burdens Analysis.

Two (2) Public Meetings to take comments on the Draft TIP, Long Range Transportation Plan Update, Draft Air Quality Conformity Analysis and Draft Benefits and Burdens Analysis will be held:
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
7:00 p.m.
Berks County Agricultural Center
1238 County Welfare Rd., Leesport, PA

Thursday, July 1, 2010
4:00 p.m.
Berks County Planning Commission
633 Court Street, 14th Floor, Reading, PA

Please submit written comments to:
Mr. Alan D. Piper, Transportation Planner,
Berks County Planning Commission
633 Court St. – 14th Floor, Reading, PA 19601

Comments will be accepted beginning Monday, June 7, 2010 through the close of business on Friday, July 9, 2010.

Comments may be faxed to (610) 478-6316
email to planning@countyofberks.com.

A copy of the Draft TIP, Draft Long Range Transportation Plan Update, Draft Air Quality Conformity Analysis and Draft Benefits and Burdens Analysis is available for public review on the Berks County Planning Commission’s web page at www.co.berks.pa.us/planning and at the following locations:

Berks Co. Planning Commission BARTA Executive Offices PENNDOT Dist. 5-0
633 Court St – 14th Floor 1700 North 11th Street 1002 Hamilton Street
Reading, PA 19601 Reading, PA 19604 Allentown, PA 18101