NEWS INFORMATION FROM

THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED
City of Harrisburg
King City Government Center
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1678
Telephone: 717.255.3040

FOR IMMEDIATE USE
5 January 2004

PUBLIC MEETINGS SET ON HARRISBURG SOUTHERN GATEWAY PROJECT; CONCEPTS, INCLUDING 3rd STREET EXTENSION, TO BE DISCUSSED

Harrisburg, PA—Mayor Stephen R. Reed today announced that two public open houses are scheduled to gather the public’s input on design concepts for the Harrisburg Southern Gateway Project, which includes the potential extension of South 3rd Street. Open houses are Thursday, January 15 between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the Atrium of Strawberry Square and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Market Square, Presbyterian Church, 20 South 2nd Street,

Design concepts will be unveiled for a dramatic expansion of the city’s Central Business District to the south, toward the Interstate-83 interchange, and would reduce traffic congestion and enhance safety, while opening up currently inaccessible, vacant land for new development.

The Southern Gateway concepts include the potential extension of South 3rd Street to the I-83 on- and off-ramps to allow for additional access into the downtown and offer an additional egress. Currently, the area has only one way in—Second Street—and one way out—Front Street, both of which are congested.

“The increase of traffic in the future could simply overwhelm our downtown unless we improve the southern entrance,” said Mayor Reed.

The Southern Gateway project was commissioned by the Mayor and has been in the research stages for two years, and project planners and engineers now are offering two basic concepts for public review and comment to address the problems.

The public meetings, which will be in an open house format, will help explain the scope of the project and provide citizens with an opportunity to review the alternatives that have been developed. The public’s input is both welcomed and encouraged and will be crucial in developing any final alternative design.

“The Southern Gateway Project is essential to the downtown’s future,” said Mayor Reed. “Commuters, residents and business operators are very familiar with the extreme congestion that can form on Harrisburg’s south side from I-83, especially during morning and evening peak traffic periods.”

“By creating a new entryway into the downtown area, we can reduce congestion, save time and money for businesses and their workers, and expand the city’s tax base, all at the same time.”

The Mayor noted that the project would also open for development and higher uses various areas that now are largely vacant, underutilized or blighted. Project consultants estimate that, with improved access, an additional three million square feet of office and other space could be developed in the southern portion of the city.

“This is a very significant economic development initiative,” said the Mayor. “Right now, Harrisburg’s Central Business District is largely landlocked and unable to accommodate substantial additional future growth. Changing the way traffic flows can also open additional acres for development, providing substantial additional tax and other revenues from the businesses and workers who could be located there.”

The Harrisburg Southern Gateway project area lays between the 2nd Street interchange of I-83 north to Walnut Street and between the Susquehanna River and the Amtrak railroad lines, although traffic issues well beyond that area were included in the research to date.

Reed said project research led to the two basic design concepts that will be offered for the public’s consideration. Both include:

• Adding a way in and out of Harrisburg at I-83 by extending 3rd Street in a way that minimizes existing road and rail line street impact;
• An extension of the city street grid to the south;
• An extension of Vine Street across 2nd Street to 3rd Street; and
• A connection of 3rd Street to Paxton Street.

In both concepts, Front and 2nd Streets remain one-way, while 3rd Street would carry two-way traffic. Concept A channels traffic primarily through signalized intersections, a plan expected to have more of a traffic calming effect and create more of a city grid. Concept B features more free-flow traffic conditions, which might move traffic more efficiently.

The Mayor encouraged those interested to attend one of the two public open houses to provide officials with their opinions on the project.

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