MORE TRAFFIC ON 15 GIVE ME A BREAK!

Pertaining to the traffic issues surrounding the South Mountain Commons project, the
Master Development brochure reads:

. . .WE DETERMINED ANOTHER CONCERN NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED - TRAFFIC AND SAFETY. GIVEN
THAT THE NEW DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE TRANSACTED BY RT. 74, SOUTH MOUNTAIN REAL ESTATE
ASSOCIATES COMMISSIONED A FULL TRAFFIC STUDY WITH TRANS ASSOCIATES.  AS PART OF THE
TRAFFIC STUDY, WE MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM PENNDOT, YORK COUNTY MPO, DILLSBURG
BORO AND CARROLL TOWNSHIP.  WE ALL AGREED THAT THE OVERALL GOAL WAS TO EVALUATE NOT
ONLY THE EXISTING TRAFFIC AND SAFETY ISSUES BUT ALSO DETERMINE ANY IMPACT ON THE AREA'S
FUTURE GROWTH.  IN JANUARY 2004, THE TRAFFIC STUDY WAS SUBMITTED TO PENNDOT.  APPROVAL
FOR THE RELOCATION OF RT. 74 AND OTHER TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS WAS GRANTED IN JULY 2004 TO
PROMOTE THE FUTURE GROWTH OF DILLSBURG AND CARROLL TOWNSHIP.

The traffic concerns of this project are the most complex aspect of South Mountain Real Estate
Associates development plan, in that the developer’s traffic impact study must mesh with the projected
improvements encompassed in the Route 15 Corridor Study and the Transportation Initiative of the
recently adopted Northern York Regional Comprehensive Plan.

Sadly, the South Mountain Commons Master Plan fails on both accounts. YCPC’S February 10, 2005
contains 65 negative comments pertaining to traffic issues within the shopping center development
and access to the shopping complex by way of public roadways.

Complicating the issue is the developer’s misleading overstatements in the traffic study that
accompanied the land development plan:  YCPC is quick to contradict the assertion that approval for
the relocation of Rt 74 and other traffic improvements was granted in July 2004:

(106) Township Officials should be aware that the configuration shown on the plan of the Route 74
extension location has not been approved by PennDOT. . .   Therefore, Township officials should not
grant final approval unless and until all required approvals and permits have been obtained from
PennDOT.

As for South Mountain Real Estate Associates’ discussions with PennDot and YAMPO, regarding the Rt
74 Realignment Plan, YCPC states:

(61) YAMPO met on February 8, 2005 to vote on this issue, however, the issue was tabled and is
scheduled to be discussed at a work session. It appears that the traffic impact study identifies this
proposal as occurring in 2010. There was no decision made by YAMPO on the this (sic) funding issue.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM GREG PENNY, PENNDOT, JANUARY 18, 2005:

“. . .There was a traffic impact study submitted by Lobar that was approved and returned by Penndot  in
July. We have heard nothing since. . . There is nothing before PennDot at this time to act on.”

It also appears that whatever study was submitted by South Mountain Commons Real Estate Associates
overstated the benefits of this traffic improvement plan in that the traffic impact study did not apply to
the proposed RT 74 realignment scenario being reviewed by YCPC:

(61) The Traffic Impact Study submitted for this project on January 26, 2004 and revised on June 9, 2004
is not applicable for the plan submitted. The traffic impact study identifies a proposed signalized
intersection at the access point for the Route 74 Extension onto US Route 15. The submitted plan dated
December 11, 2004 identifies a separated grade interchange at the intersection of PA Route 74 and US
Route 15 on some sheets. The plan and the traffic impact study should identify the same scenario.

Whatever benefits Dillsburg Borough may have anticipated discussing this project with South
Mountains Real Estate Associates seems to have been lost in the shuffle. The submitted traffic study
states a benefit of the proposed improvements for the region as increased left turn storage from US 15
to Baltimore St. which routinely backs into the southbound through lanes of US 15.

YCPC’s review quickly cautions: “This improvement is not listed anywhere else in the study. Who is
responsible for this project and what is the time line for implementation?”

They add further: ( 76) : The traffic impact study identifies acceptable levels of service ( D or above) for
all on site intersections. However, off site intersections, especially Baltimore Street will operate at
extremely poor levels of service under the 2015 Phase 1 Without PennDOT Project scenario.

YCPC and PennDot concur that the South Mountain Commons Land Development proposal has set
back the improvements to the Rt 15 corridor immeasurably:

CORRESPONDENCE FROM BARRY HOFFMAN,  P.E., PENNDOT, FEBRUARY 11, 2005:

(Pertaining to the US 15 Corridor Study, Regional Comprehensive Plan and land development adjacent
to Rt 74 and 15, Mr. Hoffman writes:)  “These were discussed at great length at the York Metropolitan
Planning Organization (MPO) Technical Committee meeting on February 8, 2005. The discussion drew
no conclusion other than a need to establish a working group of the committee to review the details
and report back to the committee in June 2005.”

Commenting on the Regional Comprehensive Plan, which South Mountains Real Estate Associates
purports to be in compliance with, Mr. Hoffman states, “The transportation component includes
concepts regarding the rerouting of Route 74 that are inconsistent with those developed as part of the
US 15 Corridor Study.”

The priority of South Mountain Real Estate Associates’ proposed improvements to facilitate their land
development plan must be viewed against the larger picture of the Rt 15 Corridor Study. As YCPC
points out, YAMPO also has two other projects programmed along the Route 15 corridor. The first
project is intersection improvements at S. Mountain Rd. Even with a proper traffic study and HOP
approved by PennDot and YCPC, design on the Rt 74/ 15 realignment will not begin until 2008.

Our conclusion is that the traffic component of the South Mountain Commons Master Plan is deficient
in three major areas:

1.        South Mountain Real Estate Associates has misrepresented the progress of their traffic
improvement plans to YCPC and Carroll Township.

2.        They have misrepresented the derived benefits in traffic flow and public safety in their
traffic studies.

3.        Their development plan has seriously impacted the progress of traffic improvement
along the Rt 15 corridor while PennDot and YAMPO await Carroll Township’s
decision on this development proposal.
Carroll Citizens for Sensible Growth
This study was done by Penn-Dot  to relocate Route 74 and US 15  
and by pass Dillsburg in 2001.
Complete US 15 Corridor Study Done in 2001

Long term 4 is closest to whats proposed now
Map of Proposed Penn Dot Plan Alternate Long Term 4
Most Super stores are designed to attract 11,000 customers per day.  The realignment of Rt 74 is specifically to accommodate this
development.  Penn DOT’s future Northern and Southern interchange plans for Carroll Township will be critical to manage the
increase in traffic to South Mt Commons.

Penn DOT's planning phases for northern and southern interchanges are scheduled in 2012 & 2020, respectively
while site development is projected within 3 to 5 years, according to Lobar Assoc. York County Planning
Commission cautioned our Regional Comprehensive Planning Committee that the interchanges would not be
completed until 2020 & 2027.  Penn DOT projects are funded 80% Federal and 20% State.
Traffic Concerns - Interchange for Dillsburg?
Northern York Comprehensive Plan and Relocating 74 and improvements to US15
Map of Proposed Plans
An Interchange For Dillsburg?
Link to article that explains traffic and trips Wal-Mart generates
For local communities one of the most salient issues surrounding a
proposed Wal-Mart is traffic. These people may have no ideological problem
with the retailer but they become quite distressed when their already
congested local roads are asked to accommodate the influx engendered by
200,000+ sq. ft. supercenters.