Major Investment Study / Draft Environmental Impact Statement   5. Affected Environment and Consequences     5.12 Parklands And Recreation-Related Resources

5.12 PARKLANDS AND RECREATION-RELATED RESOURCES

5.12.1 REGULATORY SETTING

• "Section 4(f),"49 U.S.C. 303, Department of Transportation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665) 
• "Section 6(f)," Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965, 16 U.S.C. 4601-8(f) (3), (Public Law 88-578) 
• "Section 8(d),"National Trails System Act as codified at Title 16, United States Code, Section 1247(d) 
• "Section 10906 - INTERSTATE COMMERCE - Offering abandoned rail properties for sale for public purposes," (Public Law 95-473, Oct.17, 1978, 92 Stat. 1406.)

• There is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use of such land, and, 
• The proposed action includes all possible planning to minimize harm to the property.

5.12.2 METHODOLOGY

5.12.3 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES (IMPACTS), MITIGATION AND 4(f)

5.12.3.1 SUMMARY OF RESOURCE INVENTORY

5.12.3.2 PROXIMITY OF RESOURCES TO SVM ALIGNMENT AND PROPOSED STATION SITES

5.12.3.3 REGIONAL RECREATION-RELATED INITIATIVES

Schuylkill Heritage Region - The Schuylkill River is designated as a Pennsylvania Heritage Region under the Heritage Parks Program of the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PADCNR). The program seeks to stimulate regional economies by capitalizing on recreation and industrial heritage to attract tourism. Historic rail corridors are considered prime resources for heritage regions. The Schuylkill River Greenway is the local administering agency for the Schuylkill Heritage Region, and directs state funding toward priority projects. The Greenway organization may provide assistance in some aspects of joint development in a new Schuylkill Valley Metro system.

Montgomery County Greenway - In 1999, Montgomery County began a "Greenway" study along its portion of the Schuylkill River. The project is funded by PADCNR as an environmental planning tool, to protect natural areas and redevelop former industrial areas along the Schuylkill River in Montgomery County. The study recognizes the new regional rail transit project as an integral part of this emerging urban greenway. Potential exists for future partnerships that protect remaining resources for recreation and economic development. These may include mitigation areas, and joint development.

5.12.3.4 IMPACTS ANALYSIS AND MITIGATION OPTIONS

There are no parkland and recreational related impacts associated with the No-Build and TSM Alternatives.

Build Alternatives

Impacts to recreation-related resources were identified and considered separately for each alignment alternative and station area. Resources that may be impacted directly by the alignment footprint are identified in Table 5.12-1[PDF]. In Table 5.12-2, potential impacts at station areas are characterized as "direct" or "indirect." Impacts are also classified as "positive" or "negative," - positive if the impact enhances or improves a recreational facility or access to the facility and negative if the facility or facility is diminished. 

Alignment Segments

Potential direct impacts from the proposed alignments are identified in Table 5.12-1[PDF].

Berks County Conservancy Property (Resource # 101) - The proposed project footprint impacts one parcel owned by the Berks County Conservancy in Exeter Township. The land currently serves as conservation land. Twenty-one percent of the total property area is directly affected. Mitigation options include compensation to the owner and/or replacement of the impacted area with an alternative area of financial, environmental and functional value. This action may be considered a 4(f) impact. During preliminary engineering, footprint modifications may result in a lessening of impact to this resource.

Riverfront Park (160) - The proposed project footprint impacts this parcel owned by Lower Pottsgrove on less than one-tenth of one percent of the total property area. The impact area extends approximately 12 feet into the northwest corner of the property. This action would be considered a 4(f) impact. The potential impact may be eliminated during preliminary engineering refinement of the project footprint or with the use of special grading or retaining structures. This parcel is currently undeveloped. Future plans for this site include a boat launch and picnic area. The opportunity also exists to develop an access road, trail linkage or other facilities in conjunction with SVM development.

Heuser Park (250) - Similar to Riverfront Park in Lower Pottsgrove, the proposed SVM footprint (build alternative footprint and TSM) impacts this Upper Merion-owned parcel by a fraction of a percentage of the total property area. These impacts are limited to the northern sloped areas of the property and are not foreseen to have significant impacts upon the park facilities. The proposed action would be considered a 4(f) impact. If impacts cannot be avoided by footprint refinement as part of preliminary engineering, access improvements, landscape treatments, or facility development are options for mitigation.

Richards Lane Park (202) - This half-acre park, owned by the Borough of Phoenixville, contains a basketball court and other recreation-related facilities. The proposed SVM footprint impacts this park parcel only within a steep slope area, and is not expected to affect any park facilities directly. The proposed action would be considered a 4(f) impact. If impacts cannot be avoided by footprint refinement as part of preliminary engineering, commensurate park improvements are options for mitigation.

Valley Forge National Historic Park (NHP) (252) - Valley Forge NHP is an outstandingly significant cultural, historical, and recreational resource within southeastern Pennsylvania and the nation. The project team met with officials from the National Park Service to discuss the potential impacts and possible mitigation strategies. An operational simulation was performed to establish whether all build alternatives would be feasible, should only one additional track be built for the SVM through VFNHP so as to minimize direct impacts to the park. The single track approach was found to be feasible. Consequently, all or nearly all of the footprint required would be within the Norfolk Southern property traversing the park. (Note: mapping information and conceptual engineering available for this DEIS are not sufficient to make a determination as to whether or not SVM will have any direct impacts on VFNHP property. Such a determination will be made as part of preliminary engineering.)

In addition to any limited direct impacts to VFNHP construction activities, even if confined to Norfolk Southern property, any increased rail operations would likely constitute an indirect "constructive use" impact. Naturalized landscape treatments may help mitigate the impact visually from the river side. The option also exists for VFNHP to share SVM parking facilities on off-peak periods at the proposed Port Kennedy station nearby. This option was discussed between SEPTA and VFNHP during the course of the DEIS process. Another potential mitigation measure that would serve both parties is the development of a linkage trail under US Route 422 from the Port Kennedy Station to the extant 19^th Century railroad station within the park.

Impacts to the National Park will be held to an absolute minimum, and the National Park Service would be involved throughout all aspects of the project development. No significant "constructive use" impact is envisioned under the proposed actions. A 4(f) report will be required for this resource.

Proposed Schuylkill River Trail - This proposed trail would be an extension of the existing Schuylkill River Trail (SRT). The two places where the trail may be impacted by the proposed footprint occur between Mont Clare and the proposed SVM station at Oaks, and along a relatively short section west of the proposed Phoenixville SVM station (see Table 5.12-1[PDF]). Mitigation for these sections of trail could be accomplished by trail realignment and/or improvements as part of the proposed action.

Stonecliffe Recreation Area (55) - Stonecliffe Recreation Area in Reading is the downstream-most element of a continuous system of parks that parallel Tulpehocken Creek to and around Blue Marsh Reservoir, eight miles to the west. Stonecliffe Recreation Area includes ballfields and trails. The Belt Line bridge, which will require widening for a second track, crosses over the trail. The crossing may be considered a constructive use of the parkland, and subject to 4(f) requirements.

Proposed Thun Trail - The Thun Trail is the extension of the Schuylkill River Trail through Berks County. This proposed trail section parallels the proposed SVM alignment to the south for slightly over a mile in the area of the proposed Douglassville SVM station. The proposed project footprint may impact portions of the proposed trail in this location. Possible mitigation could include a pedestrian linkage between the trail and station and/or by improving an extant pedestrian underpass to the west of the proposed station site. Mitigation for these sections of trail could be accomplished by trail realignment and/or improvements a part of the proposed action.

Station Areas 

Potential direct impacts from the proposed station developments are identified in Table 5.12-2.

Lower Pottsgrove - The station area proposed for Lower Pottsgrove does not impact recreation-related resources, but an alternative site proposed by project planners may qualify as a 4(f) impact, depending upon final site selection in preliminary engineering. Recreation Resource #160 is identified as the proposed Riverfront Park in the Lower Pottsgrove Township Open Space and Recreation Plan of 1993. A new rail transit park-and-ride station might avoid impacting Riverfront Park if it is located to the west of the park site. The township plan identifies a proposed rail-trail development of bridge "H" over the Schuylkill River that will link Chester County to Montgomery County. A scenic trail is proposed along the river's edge within Lower Pottsgrove, and would run through Riverfront Park. Linking this trail directly to a new rail station would be considered as a positive impact.

Norristown - A separate planning study is currently underway to develop a new structured parking facility adjacent to the existing SEPTA Transportation Center in Norristown. The existing Schuylkill River Trail alignment runs in this vicinity and co-exists as a sidewalk, directly adjacent to the Norristown Transportation Center. The proposed new rail alignment through Norristown may impact the alignment of the Trail in this location. This development may be a 4(f) impact. Mitigation would include re-alignment of the trail in this location to accommodate new rail service as a compatible component of the regional intermodal transportation system. Trail improvements would be ADA-compliant, and should be equivalent or better than the existing facilities. Improvements should meet current AASHTO standards for bike facility design. Bike parking should be provided at this station. Coordination between station development and parking structure development is required.

Philadelphia Zoo - The station location proposed for Alternatives 1D, 1E, 5E, and 5ET impacts an existing parking area of the Philadelphia Zoo (Recreation Resource #356). Fairmount Park Commission owns the Zoo property. The proposed alignments would eliminate a percentage of the existing parking spaces. The Fairmount Park Commission has indicated support for the SVM project. This action would be considered a 4(f) impact. Additional study may be required to determine how many of the lost spaces might be mitigated by visitors arriving via a new rail transit alternative. Upgrading the appearance and lighting of Girard Avenue under the Amtrak bridge - between the parking lot and the Zoo - would make the new transit stop more "user-friendly."

Other recreation related impacts that may results from proposed actions include the following:

• The pedestrian environment near the entrance to the Philadelphia Zoo may be improved. 
• The new service to the Zoo will provide an alternate mode of transportation to the resource and help reduce the demand to increase parking. 
• Trail linkages may be possible at 21 of the potential 41 station sites. Refer to Exhibit 5.12-1 Regional Recreation Related Resources [PDF]. 
• A pedestrian / bike trail linkage is possible from Port Kennedy directly into Valley Forge National Historic Park. 
• The potential exists for Valley Forge National Historic Park to share parking, shuttle, and visitor facilities at a new Port Kennedy station. 
• A grade-separated pedestrian crossing could be constructed at the Pottstown station that would create a direct linkage to the Borough Riverfront Park.

5.12.4 MITIGATION

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