Hal Schirmer
Mon, 12 Aug 2002 19:01:15 -0700
Good news from the greater Northeast in Philly about a trail to finally connect from Penn Treaty Park up to the Delaware Canal.. Hal Schirmer http://www.newsgleaner.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=4989276&BRD=2340&PAG=461&dep t_id=488595&rfi=6 Hoeffel promises to fulfill Borski's Northeast transit projects By: David J. Foster / Staff Writer 08/08/2002 U.S. Rep. Joseph Hoeffel, left, tours the Frankford Transportation Center with U.S. Rep. Robert Borski, center, and SEPTA spokesperson Tom Nuxoll. (Photo by David J. Foster) As if punctuating his point, the bird stretched its white wings and glided into the trees. "It's an egret, an egret here at the mouth of the Pennypack," said James Donaghy, director of operations and landscape management for the Fairmount Park Commission. "We've found all kinds of wildlife here, from birds to fish," rare for an urban area. With access limited to Fairmount Park staff, the tidal pool south of Pennypack Street along the Delaware River has blossomed into an animal sanctuary. "Imagine if this was all connected by one trail," said U.S. Rep. Robert Borski (D-3). "People would come from all over to visit this place." "This can get done," said U.S. Rep. Joseph Hoeffel (D-13), watching the egret perch on a branch. "This can get done." Last week, Hoeffel committed himself to completing Borski's dream project of opening the Northeast's riverfront to bicycle, pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Borski and Hoeffel visited two of the key redevelopment sites in Borski's Third District, which was incorporated into Hoeffel's 13th District during reapportionment. Borski is retiring after 20 years in the House. For that reason Borski wanted Hoeffel to see the projects Borski, as a ranking member of the Transportation Committee, would have cultivated. Borski's retirement leaves Pennsylvania without a force for sending transportation dollars to the city. The entourage stopped first at the new Frankford Transportation Center now deep into construction at Frankford Avenue and Bridge Street. The $180 million undertaking, part of SEPTA's $650 million Frankford Elevated Reconstruction Project, was funded with an 80/20 formula. The federal government provided 80 percent of the money, state and local sources the remaining 20 percent. There is a proposal in Congress to change that formula to a 50/50 split, which Borski argued would make future transit projects in cash-strapped cities like Philadelphia difficult to fund. Under the proposal, the highway funding formula would remain at 80/20, which, Borski argued, would cause a funding shift in favor of roadways at the expense of mass transit. That, he said, would hurt urban areas like Philadelphia with decaying transit systems. "This is going to be a big battle," he said. Hoeffel sided with Borski. Though the old 13th District in Montgomery County has smaller mass transit systems, he wants "equal treatment for transit," he said. While the construction of the Frankford Transportation Center is well underway, Borski's dream project is still in the planning stages, and Hoeffel vowed to get it started. Once home to the city's factories and warehouses, the Delaware River waterfront from Port Richmond to Linden Avenue in the Far Northeast is dotted with broken and vacant properties, some owned by the government, some in private hands. Borski, who's enlisted Mayor Street, City Councilwoman Joan Krajewski (D-6) and State Rep. Michael McGeehan (D-173) in his cause, wants to connect the area with roadways and park trails along the riverfront to provide access to the Northeast's great untapped natural resource. "The Delaware has been cleaned up," Borski said. "Look, it's beautiful. People should see this." For $2 million, Fairmount Park believes it could build paths and a bridge over the creek to connect the recreational area near Rhawn Street to Pennypack Street near the tidal pool. The land is already owned by the city. But with Borski leaving, it will fall to the next congress member to find the transportation money to fund the project. "This is something government can do," Hoeffel said. "And once the infrastructure is built," private enterprise will follow. "Somebody will be here to sell hot dogs and bottled water." Next month, Borski and Hoeffel will travel to the southern end of the district to see how the riverfront project can be extended. "Nobody can replace Bob Borski," Hoeffel said. "You can't replace his 20 years of seniority. The success I've had in winning transportation dollars so far has been in large measure because of Bob's support. "Having said that, I will do everything I can to pick up the reins the best I can to win the money we need and make sure transit gets its far share." ŠNews Gleaner 2002 ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the Bicycle Coalition of the Delaware Valley list named "bike." To subscribe or unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>.