Connecting to Trails in Delaware County

On-road access to the selected trailheads was first examined at a high level using DVRPC’s regional Level of Traffic Stress (LTS) data. LTS is a road classification scheme based on the estimated comfort of cyclists in mixed traffic roadways. DVRPC’s LTS assignment is based on the number of lanes, effective vehicle speed, and the presence and type of bicycle facility on the road segment. Divided highways and major arterials are often higher stress (LTS 3 and 4), while local, residential streets often present the lowest stress (LTS 1 and 2). Trails and off-road paths are considered non-stressful in this analysis.

Phase 1: Install shared lanes along Lenni Road and New Road in Aston to provide connections to three additional low-stress areas and a more direct low-stress route to and from the northernmost trailhead at Lenni Road.

Phase 2: The second phase relies on the completion of the extension of the Chester Creek Trail southward to Bridgewater Road. This extension, along with a few additional on-road facility improvements, has the potential to expand the low-stress network east towards Ridley Creek and south into Chester and Trainer, connecting to over 200 additional destinations. Phase 2 improvements are as follows:

• Shared lanes are marked along New Road, Mount Road, Red Hill Road, and Convent Road, connecting the northern trailhead through Neumann University to Fisher Corners.
• Bicycle lanes are striped along Concord Road from Tryens Road to Tuscany Road.
• Shared lanes are marked from the middle of the trail head along Mt. Alverno Road and Old Pennell Road, providing wayfinding to the residential and commercial areas north and south of the trail.
• At the intersection of Mt. Alverno Road and Old Pennell Road, a combination of shared lane painted signage and street paint to tighten vehicle turns is suggested to help cyclists safely navigate through the intersection and access the trailhead nearby.
• Further study is needed to determine which type of facility would safely carry cyclists along Bridgewater Road, as highlighted by the gray lines. These lines represent narrow roadways with relatively high volumes and speeds, but provide a critical connection between the future southern trailhead, Upland County Park, and Main Street in Upland. It is recommended to begin this additional study, exploring the potential feasibility of shoulder widening to create space for on-road facilities, before the trail extension to Bridgewater Road is complete to ensure safe connections from the start.

Phase 3 improvements aim to provide additional wayfinding and connections through residential and commercial areas in Aston Township. Recommendations include:

• Shared lanes along Crystle Road and Pancoast Avenue.
• Bicycle lanes along Wellington Road, Donnelly Avenue, Shubrook Lane, Weir Road, Lamp Post Lane, and Tuscany Road.
• A mix of shared lanes and bicycle lanes, depending on the available space, is suggested along Cherry Tree Road to create a more complete low-stress bicycle network.
• Enhancing safety for cyclists along PA-452, through the center of Aston Township allows for a more direct connection to the Chester Creek Trail. However, given the narrow cross section, high volumes, and numerous driveways, additional study is needed to determine the best way to get cyclists through this area.

1. Concord Road
2. Lenni Road
3. Weir Road

Concord Road is an arterial road in Delaware County spanning from Baltimore Pike in Glen Mills to the Delaware Expressway in Chester. The proposed network includes Concord Road from Tryens Road to Tuscany Road, a key portion of the corridor with adequate shoulder width for bike lanes (7ft in each direction). Designated bike lanes provide cyclists with separate space away from vehicular traffic and increase drivers' awareness of cyclists on the road.

Lenni Road is a relatively low-stress road adjacent to the northernmost trailhead of the Chester Creek Trail. Due to the relatively low volumes and speeds along this road, the proposed network aims to connect trail users to nearby Neumann University via shared lanes. Shared lane pavement markings and signage should be used for wayfinding along this stretch of the network. Despite low traffic speeds and volumes along the corridor, visibility is limited due to sharp turns. For this reason, additional signs to make drivers aware of bike riders are also recommended.

Upon completion of the bridge project, Phase 1 recommendations emphasize wayfinding to help cyclists find the most direct, low-stress route over Chester Creek Pike and the Swarthmore Avenue Bridge into Ridley Park. Recommendations include:

• Residential shared lanes along 2nd Avenue and Darby Road;
• Bike lanes on Swarthmore Avenue south of Chester Pike to designate space for cyclists as vehicle volumes increase; and
• Protected bike lanes north of Chester Pike, due to even higher traffic volumes.

Phase 2 recommendations extend cyclists' reach further into Prospect Park and Norwood. While in the same connected low-stress area, wayfinding is recommended to assist with navigation. Recommendations include:

• Shared lanes throughout the proposed network guide users into Prospect Park by way of Darby Crescent Road, Summit Avenue, and Washington Avenue. Shared lanes and wayfinding are suggested along many of the roads throughout the network, taking advantage of the low-stress nature of roads in the area and local school zone which further enforce low-speed conditions necessary for shared lanes.
• The recommended shared lanes diverge at Summit Avenue, continuing north on Summit Avenue connecting riders to a location a couple blocks shy of SEPTA R2 - Prospect Park Transit Station, and east on Delaware Avenue, Seneca Avenue to School Lane near Norward Elementary School, and borough park.
• Along Delmar Drive, bike lanes are recommended to accommodate higher vehicle speeds and volumes.

Phase 3 aims to create a more complete on-road network, connecting a large area within the same low-stress island. Recommendations include:

• Bike lanes along E. Ridley Avenue and shared lanes along 13th Avenue, Amosland Road, and Trites Avenue, extending connections to nearby parks in Prospect Park.
• Users are guided north of the train tracks, terminating near the eastern end of Cobbs Creek. As the bicycle network becomes less direct, wayfinding becomes increasingly necessary to guide bike lane riders along South Avenue and then onto the shared lanes of Ridgewater Avenue and Elmwood Avenue.
• A suggested connection with Darby and Cobbs Creek Network is created through shared lanes largely on Elmwood Avenue, Poplar Street, and 6th Street.
• In anticipation of a potential southern John Heinz Trail connection in Tinicum Township, bike lanes are recommended along 4th Avenue, Jenson Avenue, and Seneca Street, except in front of Tinicum Elementary School on Seneca Street, where shared lanes are proposed.

1. Swarthmore Ave Bridge

In an effort to remain consistent with the recommendations of the Eastern DelCo study, DVRPC suggests connections that expand upon the proposed DelCo network with connections to additional trailheads, and provides ideas about how to address certain challenging intersections.

The bicycle network proposed in the Eastern DelCo study connects to most of the focus trailheads along the Cobbs Creek Trail. This section outlines proposed connections to the two southernmost trailheads, which were not included in the Eastern DelCo study.

1. Church Lane/South 70th Street in Philadelphia
2. Main Street/Woodland Avenue on the border of Darby and Colwyn Boroughs in Philadelphia
3. Pembroke Avenue
4. Bishop Avenue

To avoid a narrow bridge at the South 65th Street trailhead, this concept suggests extending the recommended facilities along Church Lane south to South 70th Street.

Expanding on-road access to the southernmost trailhead along the existing portion of the Cobbs Creek Trail allows for the most direct connection between the trail and the on-road network recommended near the John Heinz Wildlife Refuge.

On the border of Upper Darby Township and East Lansdowne, the Eastern DelCo study recommends a bicycle route along Pembroke Avenue, connecting to existing bicycle lanes along Church Road near the Fernwood cemetery. This complex, narrow intersection presents some design challenges, which were explored in the concept plan.