CPR In Your Neighborhood

"This new approach to project planning and development expands the department's requirements for engaging local and planning partners by requiring collaboration with stakeholders before project scopes are developed. PennDOT Connects aims to transform capital and maintenance project development by ensuring that community collaboration happens early, and that each project is considered in a holistic way for opportunities to improve safety, mobility, access, and environmental outcomes for all modes and local contexts." PennDOT Connects Policy Statement

The full list of potential or completed neighborhood improvements appears below. Click a tab to read more about the improvement. Please remember that anything not yet fully designed or under construction is an opportunity for public input.

COMPLETED 2017

CPR: Lighting

The wall of underpasses of the seven bridges reconstructed as part of the CP2 project have new lighting and decorative “formliner” treatments. Lighting concepts developed in cooperation with the Philadelphia Streets Department will include LED (Light Emitting Diode) fixtures mounted in a manner that casts a brighter, more consistent quality of light for both vehicles and pedestrians. The underpasses are at Bleigh Avenue, Cottman Avenue, Princeton Avenue, New State Road, Longshore Avenue, Unruh Avenue and Magee Avenue.

IN DESIGN

CPR: Open Space

The map below shows potential uses for areas underneath I-95 in the vicinity of the Cottman Avenue Interchange Improvement Project.

In the vicinity of the interchange area, there are eight parcels that will become open space once PennDOT completes the transportation improvements associated with the reconstruction of I-95. The parcels will be used in the following manner:

Parcel 1, approximately 1.8 acres, is expected to be redeveloped. Until then, the parcel will be fenced and maintained by PennDOT.
Parcel 2, approximately 0.5 acre, will be reserved as community open space. PennDOT will provide a decorative wrought iron fence with a gate, and the community will determine how to use the land. A maintenance agreement with PennDOT will be required.
Parcel 3, approximately 0.2 acre, will also be community open space. PennDOT will provide the fencing between this parcel and the properties facing State Road and plant low-maintenance native species on the lot. PennDOT is looking for a community partner to be responsible for ongoing maintenance.
Parcels 4 through 8 total approximately 3.5 acres and will remain under PennDOT ownership. These areas will be landscaped, and PennDOT is exploring with the Philadelphia Water Department whether any of these parcels can be used for additional stormwater management.

Seven bridges were reconstructed as part of this project. As a result, the underpasses at New State Road and Bleigh Avenue, Cottman Avenue, Princeton Avenue, Longshore Avenue, Unruh Avenue and Magee Avenue have new lighting and ornamental formliner wall treatments (below). In cooperation with the Philadelphia Streets Department, the new lighting fixtures will be LED and mounted in a manner that casts a brighter, more consistent quality of light for both vehicles and pedestrians. The formliner designs were discussed at two public meetings in 2010.

IN DESIGN

CPR: Landscaping

Parcel 2

No vegetation is planned for Parcel 2. PennDOT will install a decorative fence along the perimeter of the lot. The community will ultimately decide how it wants to use this space.

Parcel 3

Parcel 3 will have grass and a few planting areas abutting parcels where there is enough depth. The plantings used will be Adirondack maples, rhododendrons, rose shrubs, and buffalo junipers. The trees used will be Paperback Maples and Columnar Norway Maples. There will be a vinyl coated chain link fence along the perimeter of the existing residential parcels.

Parcels 4-8 (Stormwater Management Areas)

The areas for stormwater management will be a mixture of grass and planting areas designed to aid in the filtration of rainwater. Most of the plantings will be low-profile, moisture-tolerant shrubs and plants such as junipers, rose shrubs, and myrtles. In some areas, Paperback Maple trees also will be used.

In addition to these open spaces, PennDOT will be planting approximately 70 trees of three varieties along Princeton Avenue. These trees were selected from the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department’s Recommended Shade Tree List and include the Paperback Maple, Japanese Lilac, and Hedge Maple.