February 7, 2008 Issue                                       

©2007 The Chestnut Hill Local

Commentary: Germantown Avenue Follies
by JIM FOSTER

Continuing construction has closed Germantown Avenue from Gowen Avenue to Cresheim Valley Drive. Detours are being used for buses and cars, making life for commuters and nearby businesses difficult. (Photo by Erin Vertreace. )

Having trouble commuting between the Hill and the rest of Northwest Philadelphia? Does that rerouting of all traffic via Stenton Avenue cause near gridlock at key travel times and even in the middle of the day drastically change your ability to access what were once very routine destinations? How about those of you who use public transit that can’t come even close to former stops?

I would like to take this opportunity to say, “I told you so.”

After attending community meetings that were strategically held next to holiday weekends to minimize attendance, I wrote an extensive commentary that was published, making the case that in this community, with almost no adjacent access arteries, closing Germantown Avenue completely was going to create a logistical nightmare and impact residents, commuters and businesses significantly.

I suggested that only a half-and-half approach, with one lane of traffic kept flowing each way, made sense, given the normal traffic patterns in these communities and the no-option geography. No one in the community or political class made that a priority demand on PennDOT, so residents allowed themselves to be massaged with empty promises of subsidies and assurance that there would be minimal impact. It just has not worked out that way.

Now to those who stated that half-and-half and continuous traffic flow cannot be done, I offer this: PennDOT had no trouble keeping Route 309 fully operational while carrying on the most massive reconstruction one could imagine that included bridges, access roads and major lane realignment — and it still is ongoing. I can tell you from personal experience of living in this city for the past 65 years, that I have witnessed major repairs to streets with Belgian blocks and streetcar tracks where contractors not only kept traffic running, but kept streetcars running as well while the job was done.

Once again the bureaucrats dial out the citizen in this top-down, no-option city and state in which we reside and do what is easiest and cheapest for them and their cozy contractors. Of course, it will cost more to do it in the manner that puts the citizen first, but who left that highway to disintegrate to the degree that it did by doing no serious maintenance for 25-30 years? That would be the city, the state and SEPTA.

Now they use mainly federal dollars to clean up their mess, but put politicians and bureaucrats in charge who give us “take it or do without” answers. No matter how you slice it, it is our money that pays that bill, and our convenience should be a priority concern.

Those who could have redirected this process and stopped the planning until a comprehensive community-focused revision was worked out were Eighth District Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller, State Representative Cherelle Parker and State Senator Leanna Washington.

What did they do? Patronize the public and do what they were told — nothing — the same thing they always do.

Jim Foster is a Mt. Airy businessman and a board member of the Chestnut Hill Community Association.