Planning commission asks BCPC to reframe transportation chapter, add Perkasie and funding options for bike lanes

At an April 4 work session, BCPC staff reviewed the Transportation chapter of East Rockhill’s draft comprehensive plan and the Planning Commission asked the county planning commission to reframe the chapter around regional transportation and nearby growth.

Christian Regosch of BCPC led the Transportation‑chapter review. The Commission requested that the text explicitly include Perkasie among large nearby developments and that the chapter cite the BCPC Route 113 and Route 663 study, which commissioners said the township still uses. Commissioner Dave Nyman also asked that the plan reflect the recent renaming of Schwenkmill Road to West Schwenkmill Road to avoid confusion with neighboring addresses.

Commissioners and staff discussed funding mechanisms for establishing bike lanes across the township. BCPC staff and members referenced the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) and possible grant programs as funding sources for bicycle infrastructure. Mike Roedig (BCPC staff) and the Commission also discussed adding stronger implementation language in the plan to guide future projects.

The Commission raised implementation concerns beyond active‑transportation. Members asked that recommended airport growth be tempered by protections for nearby residential neighbors and requested an explicit recommendation to continue development of the township trail system.

BCPC staff said they would revise the chapter to reflect the Commission’s requests — adding the Route 113/663 citation, correcting the Schwenkmill Road name, broadening regional language, and listing potential funding sources for bike facilities — and return the updated text in a later draft. The work session concluded with no formal vote on the chapter; the meeting adjourned at approximately 8:50 p.m.