March 21, 2023
2023-03-21T16:30:00
Ross Elementary School Gymnasium
840 N Queen Street
Lancaster, PA 17603
Lancaster Train Station Small Area Plan Public Open House
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
hare your thoughts on the draft plan for the future of the area surrounding the Lancaster train station! The goal of this plan is to develop a planning and placemaking strategy, coordinated with Lancaster County Planning, the City of Lancaster, and Manheim Township. It includes a vision for the area and identifies ways that public, private, and non-profit stakeholders can work together to encourage sustainable economic development along with safe and accessible transportation options.
Plan Purpose
The Lancaster Amtrak station is the second busiest Amtrak station in Pennsylvania and 21st busiest in the United States. Yet, there is untapped potential in the neighborhoods surrounding the train station.
Since the early 20th century, the land surrounding the train station hasn’t been used in a way that takes advantage of passenger rail service. In addition, the areas large, highway-sized signs and lighting, high traffic volume and high-speed streets, and limited crosswalks, sidewalks, and trees, are unfriendly to cyclists and pedestrians.
With the construction of a large surface parking lot off Keller Avenue by PennDOT and the forthcoming pedestrian bridge across the tracks to connect to it, there’s a renewed sense of urgency to put the tools in place to redevelop the area as a gateway community with a combination of mixed land uses, high density housing, and bike and pedestrian friendly accommodations.
Plan Vision
“The Lancaster Train Station Area will be a cohesive and well-designed urban gateway neighborhood, safely connecting all transportation modes and attractive to a diverse mix of residents, housing and businesses that is compatible with and supportive of increased transit ridership.”
Learn More!
The draft plan is in its final stages of preparation and will be released to the public on March 16th, prior to the public open house. Please check back on the 16th to view the draft plan as well as the proposed site design concept.
Public Open House
Join us at the public open house anytime from 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM on Tuesday, March 21st in the gymnasium of Ross Elementary School at 840 N Queen St, Lancaster, PA 17603. We’ll have full copies of the draft plan, large boards with the site design concept and other visuals, and comment forms for your input. Staff from the Lancaster County Planning Department as well as the consulting team will be in attendance to answer questions and record your comments.