Public Given Several Options for a Willow Grove Train Station Relocation

Earlier this week, the Upper Moreland Revitalization Task Force and representatives of the Michael Baker Jr. Corporation, hosted a second of three public train station feasibility study meetings.

Approximately 75 people attended the public meeting, which was broken in two, hour-long evening sessions on Nov. 9.

Each session took place in the council room of the township building, and started off with a presentation by Ryan Furgerson, Baker transportation planner.

“The plan is really to promote project development,” Furgerson said during the presentation, explaining the reason for the feasibility study. “We’re at the very beginning stages of that.”

Furgerson’s presentation explained that ultimately any redevelopment of the Willow Grove Train Station, regardless if it is moved, will depend on the input and decisions of certain stakeholders, namely SEPTA, the township, private developers and township residents.

“It’s going to take all those parties to get something happening here,” Furgerson said. “So, the goal is to try and see if there is consensus.”

According to Furgerson, direct public input, such as those who came to the first and second train feasibility study meetings has significantly shaped the options that will be presented to stakeholders.

At the first meeting, held on June 23, only two options were presented: moving the train station one block south along Davisville Road or keep the station where it stands. However, due to public input, a third option was presented at the Nov. 9 meeting, which described a more northern location along Davisville Road.

Within each location, Ferguson presented two concepts on how development might occur.

Location A: South Davisville Block

According to Furgerson, this site was the original consideration for the Transportation and Community Development Initiative (TCDI) grant for a train station move. It’s ideal as a new location, as it would bring train users closer to the downtown area of Willow Grove, allowing more direct access to surrounding businesses and potential revitalization projects.

Some issues identified with this proposed site would be negotiating with existing businesses to use the land, and this area with a train station would provide for awkward development of future businesses. It would also impact Moreland Road with heavier traffic because of gate closures.

Concept A1

One of the more controversial developments suggested would be to close down Davisville Road around the train station site, which built off a 2007 traffic corridor study. This would give added space for bus transit and parking. At this site, as with other concepts presented, high-level platforms will also be installed for quicker access to the trains.

Concept A2

This site would not close off Davisville Road, but would include a 3-level parking garage.  There would be a bus/passenger drop off spot, and enhanced sidewalks for parallel parking along Davisville Road.

Location B: Current Location

One of the major concerns surrounding the train station is the need for more convenient parking. But, Fergurson said the current train station’s SEPTA lot isn’t being fully utilized, which would be a reason to keep the current location. Also, he noted that the cost benefit might be greater to keep the station where it stands, but doesn’t encourage more development.

Concept B1

With all concepts, the current train station has been recognized as a historic site, and will be preserved – most likely turn into a coffee house developed by a private developer.  A new station would be constructed. The parking area would be extended and have a 2-leveled  garage.

Concept B2

B2 has much the same concepts as B1, except more parking on the Davisville Road side, totaling 175 spaces.

Location C: North of  Existing Location

This is the location that is a direct result of public input. One of the major reasons for moving the train station was to find a way to alleviate the traffic at the already congested intersection of Davisville and York roads. According to Fergurson’s presentation, the weekday gate closure for train passing is over a total of two hours on any given weekday. A more northern location would provide greater separation from grade crossing, and some of the needed train station infrastructure improvements exist there, such as a dual track. As Davisville Road is a part of the revitalization area, a location here would help toward development. Issues surrounding this move would be the distance from downtown Willow grove, tryng to develop an area around Veterans Memorial Park and would provide a barrier to pedestrian movement.

Concept C1

A pedestrian underpass would be needed to be constructed from Memorial Park in order to access this site by foot. The parking lot facing Davisville Road would provide 255 total spaces.  

 

Concept C2

The reverse concept is presented here, where parking would be extended along Memorial Park Drive, as opposed to having them on Davisville Road. This site would also have a bus bay plaza.

Like the recent Revitalization Task Force Public Input Meeting, after the presentation, participants were able to go to each of the six concepts to ask questions with Baker staff and task force members, where they were able to give direct feedback.

“Doing two sessions brought out a greater cross section of residents,” Christine Caggiano, Baker Planning associate, said.

Caggiano added that she has been impressed by the commitment residents have shown with their participation at the feasibility meetings.

“I came to get ideas,” Mark Dawson, Hatboro resident, said. “It’s nice to exercise a little foresight.”

He said that the ideas presented at the feasibility study meetings would likely be the ones also presented when the Hatboro train station may undergo its own feasibility relocation study.

According to Caggiano, the final public feasibility study meeting will be more of an unveiling of a development proposal. Interested people can still provide input and receive more information by visiting www.willowgrovestation.com.

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The .pdf gallery above shows the each of the six concepts.