PA 23 Environmental Impact Statement

Services Provided: Agricultural Resource Identification and Evaluation, Socioeconomic Studies, Community Impact Assessment, Indirect and Cumulative Effects, Public Outreach, Old Order Coordination, Traffic Engineering, and Visual Assessment.

Construction Cost: $100-150 M (depending on alternative selected)

Project Approach: The project involves the design of transportation improvements to 14 miles of PA 23 from Blue Ball to Lancaster City, through the heart of Lancaster County prime farmland. One of the unique features of the study area is the predominance of Old Order Amish and Mennonite communities. Due to the hesitation of the Old Order Community, ORA developed a special Pubic Outreach program to allow the community to participate in a manner in keeping with their beliefs. The program focused on small group meetings, one on one interviews, and other opportunities for private conversations.

Highlights:

• Conducted interviews with approximately 80 farmers in the study area, with the majority of the farmers belonging to the Old Order Community
• Developed Old Order Code of Conduct and Calendar for the project team
• Conducted kitchen table and small group meetings with the Old Order Amish and Mennonite to obtain information on farming, community issues and historic resource data
• Developed an Old Order non-motorized access map
• Arranged for and participate in local events such as produce auctions
• Identified farmland and community avoidance and minimization alternatives
• Development and maintenance of project website
• Develop project newsletters and community surveys
• Crash analysis, O/D study, traffic modeling
• Participation in public and agency meetings