Highway Improvement Costs Weighed By Hatboro

HATBORO / HORSHAM TOWNSHIP, PA —Horsham Township is in. But Hatboro officials want to think about it.

At its last meeting, the Horsham Township Council unanimously approved contributing $10,000 annually to join the Eastern Montco Interchanges Group.

The group consists of five towns that will work together to push for improvements and construction of interchanges along the Pennsylvania Turnpike and road projects around those Montgomery County interchanges.

The group includes Horsham Township, Hatboro, Upper Dublin Township, Abington Township, and Upper Moreland Township.

The group works to push the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to follow through on plans to upgrade and build turnpike interchanges in Montgomery County, including Willow Grove, Fort Washington, Virginia Drive, and Welsh Road, which has yet to be constructed.

Each town would contribute at least three years of funding at $10,000 a year with a maximum of seven years. Horsham Township approved $70,000 in funding.

But Hatboro so far is a holdout.

At its committee meeting on Jan. 9, the Hatboro Borough Council heard a presentation from Matthew J. Edmond, assistant director of transportation and long-range planning for the Montgomery Planning Commission.

Edmond said that in 2015, a study examined Montgomery County's turnpike interchanges for improvements and for office park revitalization.

A coalition was created to have all municipalities in that region working together to address the stretch of highway.

"All of the municipalities involved have been working separately," Edmond said. "We want one voice together. That's where we're headed."

Edmond noted that Horsham Township stands to gain a lot from the Welsh Road interchange and is also making plans for Blair Mill Road.

Meanwhile, Upper Dublin Township has a project for Dreshertown Road.

The group allows municipalities to share information and better coordinate their road projects.

Edmond said the strategy is to:

• Fund improvements to surrounding roads to lower the turnpike investment.
• Work with elected officials and developers to spur the turnpike to build interchanges.
• Put interchanges in the capital project.
• Towns build or improve roads around the interchanges.

Edmond said the funding would assist with hiring a consultant, updating interchange costs, updating mapping, sequencing implementation, technical assistance, grant application and advocacy with the state and the turnpike.

He said Hatboro would be able to improve its pedestrian system.

"You guys aren't next to an interchange, but this impacts you," Edmond said. "You might not have as much interest as the townships."

Edmond said he'd work with Borough Manager Diane Hegele to ensure that Hatboro would "get some value out of it" for the borough's participation and funding commitment to the interchange group.

Edmond said Upper Moreland Township signed on in November and Upper Dublin Township in December. Horsham Township did at its Jan. 11 meeting.

All participants are required to commit at least three years of funding, which would amount to $30,000 for Hatboro.

Councilman Alex Myers told Edmond that while other municipalities have interchanges, Hatboro is also smaller than the townships.

Council Vice President Dave Stockton wondered why Hatboro's cost is the same as Horsham Township and Upper Dublin Township.

Councilwoman Nicole McMenamin asked if Hatboro could back out of the agreement if the borough didn't feel it was getting any value from being a member of the group.

Hegele said she asked Edmond to provide a presentation about the group and that it was up to the council to decide whether it wanted to enter into a memorandum of understanding.

Council President George Bollendorf said the proposal for the funding would be considered by the borough's finance committee.

Hegele said the council would address the matter at its February meeting.