SEE...The Difference!

Stell Environmental Enterprises, Inc.

Project Description

West 38^th Street serves as primary access to eastern and western neighborhoods and major attractions in Glenwood Park, such as the Erie Zoo, Joseph P. Martin Golf Course, Glenwood YMCA, Hungarian Monument, Erie Horseshoe Courts, and Cochran Ice Arena.  In November 2004, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Engineering District 1-0 reopened the $17.8 million West 38^th Street realignment project to traffic.

 

The project provided many interesting challenges to the environmental and design team due to the various land uses within the corridor.  Within this very urban project setting, almost every environmental category was investigated in detail from wetlands, floodplains, and streams, to noise, displacements, cultural resources, and hazardous waste.  The project impacted Mill Creek, four displacements, two hazardous waste sites, over two acres of wooded habitat, and specifically Glenwood Park, requiring the project to undergo extensive Section 4(f) and 6(f) evaluations.

 

Community interest for this project was passionate and outreach activities included eight interactive Community Advisory Committee meetings, three public meetings, a project website, and more than 24 Special Purpose Meetings.  Working closely with the community and developing partnerships with the local stakeholders, PennDOT and the project team implemented a context sensitive approach, consistent with the park surroundings to the project design, to make the project a better fit for the community.  This intense community input was acknowledged with the creative use of a stained form lined finish placed onto the abutments and wingwalls of the box culverts along Mill Creek.  This finish incorporated the existing colors of rocks found throughout the park.  Decorative lampposts, brick pavers, powder-coated guiderail, black-painted traffic signal poles, modular block retaining wall on landscaped embankment slopes, a watering system to maintain plantings, and special oil and gas separating inlets to prevent pollutants from reaching adjacent Mill Creek were specified for the project.

 

The successful project outcome was the result of close coordination between PennDOT, the City of Erie, the Federal Highway Administration, local residents, public officials, and area businesses.  Landscaping features, sidewalks, and decorative lighting do not often give the impression of a “right-sized” project; however, PennDOT’s District 1-0 District Executive commented that the West 38^th Street project is an excellent example of properly “right-sizing” a project.

 

 

SEE project experience may include experience of SEE staff and associates.

City of Erie,

Pennsylvania

West 38^th Street Realignment Project, Level 2 CEE and Section 4(f) and 6(f) Evaluations, City of Erie, Pennsylvania.

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