By Richard L. Gaw
Staff Writer

The New Garden Township Board of Supervisors approved Resolution No. 2025-012 that gives approval to a roadway sufficiency report recently submitted and presented at their June 16 meeting, in order to comply with the Pennsylvania Municipalities Code’s Act 209.

The act permits townships and municipalities in the Commonwealth to assess transportation fees to developers who are constructing new residential developments and are used for costs associated with a township’s adopted capital improvements plan.

The vote came moments after a roadway sufficiency analysis that was presented by John Yurick, senior project manager for Exton-based Bowman Consulting Group, Ltd. – summarizing a report that Bowman submitted to the township on May 14. 

Compliant with Act 209’s requirement to provide a long-term transportation planning analysis of the township, Yurick gave a ten-year overview of what the report recommended should be the township’s top transportation priorities from now through 2035. Bowman’s analysis focused on three components of transportation: existing traffic, development traffic and conducted traffic counts. It evaluated peak traffic counts at 26 intersections throughout a seven square-mile service area along Route 1, Baltimore Pike and Route 41, as well as Kaolin Road, Hillendale Road, Starr Road, Newark Road, West Cypress Street, Southwood Road and the Kennett Middle School driveway. 

“The analysis helps us track what transportation improvements are needed to serve future development and also identifies pre-development needs in the township,” Yurick said. “From that study, we figure out how much those improvements cost and determine who is responsible for them based on the laws of Act 209 legislation, as well as determine the township’s responsibility.”

Five traffic trouble spots in township

The analysis of these intersections revealed that of the 26 intersections, 21 are operating a acceptable levels during the peak weekday afternoon commute times. However, the study determined that the following intersections are not functioning at optimal levels: Baltimore Pike and Chambers Road; Route 41 and New Garden Road; Route 41 and Starr Road/Brittany Drive; Route 41 and Sunny Dell Road; and Route 41 and Sharp Road.

As part of the analysis, Bowman gave a snapshot of PennDOT’s existing and future transportation improvement plans, which include the following proposed projects that are slated to be completed by 2035, at a projected price tag of $25.7 million: Install roundabouts at eastbound and westbound ramps at Newark Road and Route 1; modify traffic signal timings and install turn lanes at Baltimore Pike and Newark Road; and install a traffic signal and provide a westbound turn lane at Route 41 and Sunny Dell Road. The analysis also projected that the township will be responsible for $2.25 million of the costs associated with the proposed projects.

Using a calculation formula, Bowman determined that an impact fee for future developers, based on projected future development capital improvement costs ($12.5 million) divided by the number of projected peak hour vehicle trips generated by residents in new developments (3,394) – will be $3,682 per new trip. 

Township Manager Christopher Himes said the impact fee is intended to reduce traffic burdens on the township. 

“This report gives recommendations to the board to study areas where the township will likely get development and shift the township’s financial burden to the developer,” he said. “Our job is to deflect those costs [to the township] as much as possible.”

The entire roadway sufficiency report will be available for review on the township’s website.

Fiscal year 2026 budget priorities

In other township business, Himes kicked off the first of what will be several presentations, workshops and work sessions that will determine the township’s 2026 budget, beginning on Aug. 25 with a “State of the Township” presentation.

Himes said that key priorities during the budget making process for the next fiscal year will focus on financial management; economic development; infrastructure investment; addressing the rising cost of public safety; achieving organizational excellence; enhancing community services; maintaining the township’s open space efforts; expanding the impact of the New Garden Flying Field; and improving the township’s approach to energy efficiency.

Himes said that determining the budget will also infuse recommendations and input from township resident surveys and township staff in what he called “a full ecosystem of budget priorities that develops a more comprehensively planned budget.”

In other news, the township will present a public hearing on June 25 beginning at 7 p.m. that will address updates to the township’s zoning ordinance and map.

The board also discussed the possibility of pursuing “No Solicitation” enforcement in township in an effort to curb the number of solicitors who advertise their business and services door to door throughout the township.

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email [email protected].