$600K Federal Study Of Sumneytown, Germantown Pikes Will Seek 'Alternatives'

WHITEMARSH TOWNSHIP, PA — The federal government is funding a massive investment into a study of Germantown Pike and Sumneytown Pike in an effort to reduce congestion in one of the region's most gridlocked areas.

The $600,000 study will aim to give officials a better idea of how to approach the future of transportation improvements and safety, particularly given the area's growing population and worsening traffic.

Specifically, the study will look at a potential alternative to the road and its feasibility, identify environmental impacts, and look at potential costs and timing.

The ultimate goal is an improvement of safety and access and a reduction in traffic.

The funding comes from the federal Build Grant Program, which supports some of the nation's largest and most important transportation projects. Projects are selected for funding based on long-term growth potential and impacts on safety, access, and sustainability, among other factors. It's the same program that is funding the $25 million investment in Pottstown area railroads.

The study will focus on a "multimodal" future for area roadways, meaning roads that safely accommodate several types of transportation, ranging from personal vehicles and public transit to biking and pedestrian access.

Both Germantown Pike and Sumneytown Pike are owned by Montgomery County. The study will identify which projects to move forward in partnership with the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission.