Construction Underway

UPDATE:
CONSTRUCTION RESUMES ON FIRST AVENUE LINEAR PARK!

Construction resumes on the multi-use pathway beginning at Moore Road and extending east on either side of First Avenue.  Based on guidelines issued by Governor Wolf, Pennsylvania Secretary of Health, and PennDOT, the project contractor has created a COVID-19 Safety Plan to protect the health and safety of their team and the public.  Construction workers will practice public health protocols, including:

• health screenings of all construction staff at the site;
• provide facemasks and gloves to be worn while on the job;
• provide handwashing stations and regularly sanitize equipment; and
• practice social distancing unless the safety of the public or workers require deviation.

Due to reduced traffic volume on First Avenue, restrictions on construction activities during rush hour periods have been suspended but the contractor will comply with Upper Merion’s noise ordinance.  Flaggers will be on site if lane closures are necessary.  We will monitor the traffic volume and revert to the original time-of-day restrictions if construction creates excessive impacts.

For more information, please e-mail Chris Basler at King of Prussia District: chris@kopbid.com

First Avenue Linear Park Bus Shelter Project

In addition to the multimodal path, King of Prussia District is partnering with Upper Merion Township and Montgomery County to install new solar panel bus shelters on First Avenue as part of the new Linear Park under construction. These new ADA compliant bus shelters will be installed on new concrete pads with benches, trash cans, and solar-powered lighting. This project is financed in part by Montgomery County through the Montco 2040 Implementation Grant Program.

Big improvements are coming to First Avenue! Over the next 6 months, a multi-use pathway will take shape beginning at Moore Road and extending east on either side of First Avenue.

Vibrant landscaping, accessible pathways and seating areas will be just a few of the notable features. Solar-powered pedestrian lighting, along with new trash receptacles will be included to provide a clean and safe environment for visitors year round.

The Linear Park design was developed by Ground Reconsidered with engineering provided by Pennoni in King of Prussia. Right of way clearance and public access easements were coordinated by legal firm Unruh Turner Burke & Frees.

After an extensive plan review and right-of-way clearance process, five PennDOT-approved construction firms submitted bids to construct the multimodal path on 9 parcels along First Avenue. Marino Corporation submitted the winning bid at just under $2.2M. Construction Inspection Services will be provided by engineering firm RK&K with offices on American Avenue in KOP.

Phase 1 of the Linear Park Project is managed by King of Prussia District and funded through PennDOT’s Multimodal Transportation Fund and the US Department of Transportation’s Transportation Infrastructure Investment Fund. Additional funding is provided by King of Prussia District and Montgomery County’s Montco 2040 Implementation grant program.

Construction will take place in two stages with minimal disruption to commuters on First Avenue.

• Flaggers will be on site if road lane closures are necessary.
• Construction activities are limited to temporary easement areas.
• Full-time Construction Inspector, RK&K, will be on-site during all construction activities.
• Construction activities at driveways off First Ave will be coordinated with property owners and key tenants and the Contractor & Construction Inspector will keep traffic flowing.
• Retaining wall construction
• Stage 1 – Improvements on North Side of First Ave.
• Stage 2 – Improvements on South Side of First Ave.
• Trees, shrubs, and perennials will be planted in the fall.
• King of Prussia District will send out regular project updates

DOCUMENTS

Phase 1 Construction & Phase 2 Planning
Right of Way Plans
Roadway Plans
Traffic Control Plans
Signing and Pavement Marking Plans
Landscaping Plans
Erosion and Sediment Pollution Control Plans

Questions or Comments?

Simply put, this infrastructure improvement provides a multimodal path for pedestrians and non-motorized transportation. The public trail on First Avenue will provide a safer and ADA compliant pathway for pedestrians that connects properties with frontage along the road. The project includes stormwater management improvements, pedestrian lighting, improved bus stop facilities, vibrant landscaping and trees, benches, bistro seating and Adirondack chairs. These enhancements and amenities will be open to the public and will improve pedestrian access and safety along First Avenue.

The Urban Land Institute’s report, The Case for Open Space: Why the Real Estate Industry Should Invest in Parks and Open Spaces, analyzed 30 open space projects across the country and found that developers that include open space in commercial projects, or support initiatives to create parks, benefit in a variety of ways. Public-private partnerships that create public open space, when combined with community-focused imagery rather than commercial branding, generates cooperation between residents, employees and business owners. With each open space success story, these three stakeholder groups will be able to collaborate and maintain bigger and better projects that benefit the larger community.

Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians now enjoy a safer experience in Moore Park KOP. This new infrastructure improvement, used around the country to create a more pedestrian-friendly roadway, has reduced travel lanes to one in each direction and added a safe center turn lane, bicycle lanes on both sides of the street and a signalized, accessible crosswalk midway between American Ave. and Moore Rd. The U.S. Department of Transportation found that road diets can reduce traffic accidents by an average of 29% by reducing conflict points when crossing multiple lanes, reducing vehicle speeds and providing designated lanes for cyclists. A portion of the funding was provided by grants received from PennDOT.

See the First Avenue & Moore Road ‘Road Diet’ & Pedestrian/Bicycle Improvement Feasibility Study here.

King of Prussia Rail is a proposal to extend the existing Norristown High Speed Line into the heart of King of Prussia’s employment core. King of Prussia Rail will provide a one-seat ride to King of Prussia from either 69th Street Transportation Center in Upper Darby, or from the Norristown Transportation Center. This transformative project will connect the three largest employment centers in the Philadelphia region – Center City, University City and King of Prussia – and will serve as a catalyst for economic development for the entire region. Among its many benefits, King of Prussia Rail will connect employers to a broader pool of employees, reduce commute times and emissions, and spur job growth. In January 2018, SEPTA’s Board voted to approve the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) as presented in the King of Prussia Rail Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) with the North/South design option. The LPA includes two station stops in Moore Park KOP.

Learn More & Endorse KOP RAIL

King of Prussia District and Montgomery County are leading an advocacy effort to install a slip ramp at the Valley Forge interchange that would enable westbound Turnpike motorists to exit the Pennsylvania Turnpike and enter directly into Moore Park KOP.

View Proposal Image