Better Location

Let's Make Things Better For All!!!

As one can see from the graphic above, a reconfigured rail yard just east of the Dillerville Rd. overpass makes a much better and more logical location than the proposed location behind the Lancaster Post Office, beside well established residential neighborhoods.

The better location would be on part of the existing eastern portion of the Dillerville yard. It offers a very similarly sized foot print as the proposed location. It is adjacent to the remaining Armstrong Industries complex. A reconfigured Dillerville yard east of Dillerville Road would need no pollution clean-up thereby saving tax monies needed to clean the proposed site - a former municipal dump which may contain asbestos from years of Armstrong use. This plan also decreases the size and therefore the cost of necessary reclamation of the vacated portions of the old yard to prepare the area for recreational use after 100 plus years of railroad activity.

Norfolk Southern will not have to pay for the additional expense of building a private use bridge over the Harrisburg Pike beside the existing railroad overpass. The Dillerville yard will still be getting much needed layout improvements and Norfolk Southern still achieves their desire for growth and increased capacity. Elimination of bridge construction would cause less public inconvenience on Harrisburg Pike, an already congested roadway.

In a recent article it was stated that the proposed yard would allow longer trains to be built. We submit that the location next to Armstrong would allow even longer trains to be built without significant, and possible increased, blockage of the existing rail crossings on Farmingdale Road, Good Drive, and Rohrerstown Road.

It appears from the drawings of the revitalization plan that the only item lost using our plan is what appears to be one lacrosse practice field. As for any mitigation actions for sound and/or light, I'm sure Mr. Fry would agree that the same mitigation efforts he is proposing for our neighborhoods would also be sufficient for the College's newly built campus.

Lancaster General Hospital's plans would not be affected in any way. Benefits for the city would not be affected in any way. The streets would still be reconnected and the over-all property values in the area will still be increased thereby giving a much needed boost to the city's tax base. Also, more property (12 acres) will remain industrial City taxable property if the Dillerville yard location is utilized; it will not be lost to non-profit status.

It certainly appears that this very worth-while project to revitalize the Northwest area of the city can easily move forward with a slight modification to the proposed plans. It can be achieved with out loss of any principal goals and objectives AND in a way that does NOT endanger our neighborhoods.

Two last thoughts. One, the proposed location behind the post office is very close to Long's Park and will have a negative impact on the cultural activities that the Long's Park Summer Concert Series brings to Lancaster, not to mention just a nice afternoon picnic. Two, High Industries is proposing to construct a high-end, city-like, outdoor atmosphere shopping center in the field directly adjacent to the proposed rail road. How can these two concepts possibly be considered complimentary?

We ask all to please consider our proposal of a better location for the rail yard and support us, as we will support you when the tables are turned, and speak to or write to our community leaders and insist that this modification be made as part of the plan moving forward.

Thank You.

TRRAAC