The portion of US 202 between the Delaware River in Bucks County and the Schuylkill River in Montgomery County was envisioned by the Pennsylvania Department of Highways in 1964 as an outer-ring expressway through the Philadelphia region that would connect to expressways at either end. ________________________________________________________________________

While the plan for an outer-ring expressway never materialized, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) looked to improve the 59-mile long US 202 Corridor between the Delaware and New Jersey state lines. The corridor was divided into eight distinct regional highway sections. Some sections of US 202 had been through some degree of planning, and several had realized their original scope and scale. Plans for other sections were subsequently down-sized or abandoned due to community opposition, environmental impacts, and funding constraints. As the decade neared its completion, US 202’s eight regional sections evolved to fit the specific needs of the communities along its path.

For the section of US 202 from Montgomeryville to Doylestown (Section 700), communities along the proposed alignment supported an expressway or bypass concept and worked with developers and residents to reserve substantial right-of-way along the planned route.
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Options for relieving traffic congestion on US 202, Section 700 were examined through an Environmental Impact Statement process. Based on this analysis and public consultation, a four-lane expressway or bypass was chosen as the Locally Preferred Alternative for improving US 202 between Montgomeryville and Doylestown. The choice of this alternative generated significant opposition from communities located east of Doylestown, who were concerned about traffic and development impacts resulting from the expressway. This opposition led to lawsuits challenging the project, which were eventually decided in favor of allowing the project to proceed. PennDOT received final Environmental Impact Statement approval in August 1998. Final engineering design of a four-lane expressway began in November 1998.

The results of the computer modeling indicated that using the maximum traffic volumes/maximum speeds scenario produced sound levels that were 1-3 dBA (Leq) greater than a scenario with congested speeds/ traffic volumes with stop and go variables. Therefore, the former was used in the analysis to provide a conservative estimate of the future sound levels. Using this "worse than realistic worse-case scenario" provided the study team with the ability to be more cautious in identifying potential noise impacts (than with the congested conditions) and consider mitigation measures consistent with PennDOT guidance.
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With final design in progress for US 202, Section 700, there remained community support for and opposition against the planned bypass. Concurrently, Pennsylvania was experiencing a $6 billion shortfall for highway maintenance and improvement of existing roads. This funding shortfall resulted in the stoppage and re-evaluation of several major projects across the state.

April 2004: PennDOT Secretary Allen D. Biehler officially put the US 202, Section 700 project on hold; however, he ordered an immediate re-evaluation of Section 700, with the goal of developing a new solution that was affordable, reflected the context of the community, and would enhance mobility along its nearly nine-mile path. ________________________________________________________________________

February 2005: Following an intense period of work by both PennDOT and its consultant team, a new US 202 Parkway concept was presented to elected officials and municipal representatives within Section 700. Initial reaction to the proposed US 202 Parkway concept by municipal and elected officials was generally positive, but it was clear that additional consultation was necessary to refine the concept and move the plan forward.

April 2005: Secretary Biehler appointed the US 202 Section 700 Community Task Force, which was comprised of municipal representatives from within the study area; planners from the two counties and region; municipal, state and federal elected officials from the study area; and PennDOT. The goal of the Task Force was to work collaboratively, with the help of PennDOT’s consultant team, to further develop and refine the initial Parkway concept into one that all US 202, Section 700 Task Force members could support.

September 2005: The US 202, Section 700 Task Force presented a report for a Recommended Parkway Concept for public consideration and comment. That month the US 202, Section 700 Task Force unanimously approved the Parkway concept.

October-November 2005: PennDOT held three public open house meetings to present the US 202 Parkway concept to citizens in Montgomery and Bucks counties.

December 2005: PennDOT initiated the US Parkway project development process (environmental analysis, preliminary engineering and final design). ________________________________________________________________________

September 2006: A public open house was held to give citizens the opportunity to discuss and ask questions of the proposed design of the US 202, Section 700 Parkway project. The public input and comments received at the meeting were used to complete the Environmental Evaluation Report (EER). The Draft EER was made available for public review in December 2006. The EER described the existing social, economic, cultural and natural resources in the project area, the benefits and impacts of the Parkway project, and the Department’s commitment to mitigate impacts associated with the Parkway. ________________________________________________________________________

February 2007: PennDOT held a public hearing to provide the public with an opportunity to testify or provide written comments on the effects of the Parkway project. PennDOT used the testimony and comments to determine the course of further development for the project.

April 2007: The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania approved the EER, a major step in the process to move the Parkway forward.

May 2007: PennDOT received approval from American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) to relocate the US 202 designation from its current route to the Parkway. The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) also approved the addition of the Parkway to the National Highway System (NHS). PennDOT worked throughout the year to complete the final engineering plans for the Parkway, which was divided into three design and construction sections: Section 701, 711 and 721. ________________________________________________________________________

PennDOT obtained various permits and approvals in 2008 that were required for the project to obtain federal and state authorization to work throughout the project area.

September 2008: On September 27, 2008, PennDOT awarded the $31,725,653 contract to J.D. Eckman, Inc. to build the southern section of the Parkway (Section 701) between Route 63 (Welsh Road) and Route 463 (Horsham Road) in Montgomery Township, Montgomery County.

November 2008: PennDOT awarded a $2,723,599 contract to K.C. Construction Co. for the construction of a wetland mitigation site along the Little Neshaminy Creek near the intersection of County Line Road and Kansas Road in Warrington Township.

November 2008: PennDOT broke ground for the Route 202, Section 700 Project with the start of construction on Section 701, the stretch between Route 63 (Welsh Road) and Route 463 (Horsham Road).

December 2008: Construction starts to build the southern section (Section 701) of the Parkway.

December 2008: Construction starts to build 9.3 acres of new wetlands near the intersection of County Line Road and Kansas Road, and to enhance 2.4 acres of upland habitat, 31 acres of wetland preservation and 30.8 acres of upland preservation. ________________________________________________________________________

September 2009: On September 3, 2009, PennDOT awarded the $42,175,769 contract to James D. Morrissey, Inc. to build the northern section of the Parkway (Section 721) between Pickertown Road in Bucks County and Route 611 in Bucks County.

December 2009: On December 10, 2009, PennDOT awarded the $25,052,592 contract to Blooming Glen Contractors, Inc. to build the central section of the Parkway (Section 711) between Route 463 (Horsham Road) in Montgomery County and Pickertown Road in Bucks County. ________________________________________________________________________

January 2010: Construction starts to build the central (Section 711) and northern (Section 721) sections of the US 202 Parkway. ________________________________________________________________________

PennDOT, in coordination with the affected municipalities, evaluated the feasibility of incorporating roundabouts into the design of the Route 202 Parkway. Based on technical analysis and the requirement for community support of the concept, roundabouts at this time are not included in the Parkway design. PennDOT continues to support roundabouts as a potential option for an intersection improvement project when there is community support. ________________________________________________________________________