Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
CHESTER VALLEY TRAIL IMPROVEMENT UNVEILED
Township and County officials celebrated the completion of two projects Wednesday to make traveling on foot or bicycle in Exton safer and more convenient. They are the Route 100 multi-modal trail extension between Exton station and the Chester Valley Trail and signal upgrades and crossing improvements to the Chester Valley Trail where it crosses Route 100.
While approved as two separate projects by the two governments independently, officials implemented them together to save money and prevent traffic inconvenience.
“Here is a good example of how inter-agency coordination really panned out,” said Ted Otteni, West Whiteland Director of Public works. “It reduced the overwork, it reduced the conflict and the inconvenience to our motorists and pedestrians here in Exton.”
State Senator Andrew Dinniman, D-19th, of West Whiteland, said some credit for the train station extension project had to be given to developer Steven Wolfson, owner of Main Street at Exton, who put up half the money, $340,000, for the train station project.
Total cost for both projects was $1.4 million including $375,000 from a state multimodal grant secured by Dinniman and more than $75,000
from the Township for the train station project. Chester County Commissioners secured $390,000 in grant funding through PennDOT and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission for the Route 100 Crossing.
Wolfson thanked officials for the improvements.
“We’re very excited about the project,” said Wolfson. “The Township Manager did a great job persuading me to be a partner here. It wasn’t on our radar, but clearly you put it on our radar and we are appreciative.”
“From the very beginnings of the train station, we wanted to make sure each of the five stations in Chester County was integrated somehow with the economic vitality of each region. It was quite clear that here in Exton, we needed to get a path from the train station to Main Street at Exton and then further into other areas,” said Dinniman. “Finally we will be able to integrate the township into the station.”
“It’s always good to be here doing something positive for the economic development of the county when we’re doing something that is also positive in terms of the environment. I congratulate the Township Supervisors and their leadership,” Dinniman said.
Chester County Commissioners Chair Marian Moskowitz noted the last time she had been to a public event was the ribbon cutting for the Exton Train station project in March.
“We’re really excited to be here today. The last time I publicly noticed plans for this extension and how great it would be for county residents and commuters was when we helped cut the ribbon at the Exton Train Station on March 2. Little did we realize how much our lives would change in just a few short weeks,” said Moskowitz. “So this this inperson, socially-distanced ribbon cutting is very welcome. Not just because it is one of our first non-virtual events, which is really nice, but because it is an important, convenient, safe connection to where so many live, shop and work, now linked to mass transit.”
Chester County Commissioners Vice Chair Josh Maxwell noted that the Chester Valley trail increased property values of nearby homes $20,000 and the COVID-19 pandemic had shown how valuable the trail system is to residents.
“In comparison to April of 2019, trail use was up in April of this year by 65 percent on the Chester Valley Trail and up 83 percent on the Schuylkill River Trail,” said Maxwell. “Those figures show the true value of trails.”
Commissioner Michelle Kichline noted the addition of eight ADA curb ramps, pedestrian lighting, drainage modifications, signage and restriping from the trail project.
“Trail extensions like this require a lot of planning, not just for the logistics of the project, but also to focus on the safety of everyone using the trail,” Kichline said. “The changes made across the Route 100 portion of the extension stitch together a connection that keeps everyone who is walking and cycling on the trail safe as they navigate this busy crossing.”
Bicyclist Mike Broennle of East Goshen, who arrived on his recumbent bike, was thrilled about the project. He is a member of the Friends of the Chester Valley Trails. “We’ve been waiting for this a long time. With all this traffic, this is a big improvement,” Broennle said.
The train station project widens the sidewalks to eight feet along Route 100 in front of Main Street at Exton and continuing under the Route 30 overpass. Crosswalks are on Route 100 and the Route 30 ramp, next to the train station. Traffic signals are timed to enhance the safety of those crossing.
“Many people have asked when we will get a pedestrian bridge over Route 100 and we still hope to see that someday, but meanwhile these improvements make it much safer to walk and bike from Exton Train Station,” said Theresa Santalucia, West Whiteland Township’s Board of Supervisor Vice Chair.
As part of the same contract, Chester County made a straight pathway for the
Chester Valley Trail crossing at Route 100. Instead of the confusing threepart crossing over Commerce Drive, Route 100, and back again over Commerce Drive, trail users now can safely walk or bike straight across Route 100.
Funding for the path came from a multi-modal transportation grant through the PA Department of Community and Economic Development with the help of Dinniman, a contribution from the Wolfson Group, which owns Main Street at Exton, and Township funds. Chester County’s Route 100 trail crossing was funded by a Pennsylvania Automated Red-Light Enforcement Transportation Enhancements Grant and a Regional Trails grant from the William Penn Foundation that is administered by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission.