The following was taken and adapted from the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia post announcing their support for the continuous ramp proposal.
Ed note - As the BCGP states below, a continuous ramp does make the most sense from a transportation perspective since most pedestrians and cyclists will continue to destinations east of the bridge. Why make them go in the wrong direction?
On Tuesday, The Delaware River Port Authority help a
public meeting
for the proposed Ben Franklin Bridge Walkway Ramp. The
meeting facilitators presented the proposed alternatives for the
design of the ramp and offered an opportunity for the public to comment.
Of the three proposed designs alternatives, the Bicycle Coalition
urges the DRPA Board to select the single continuous ramp, aka "Alternative 2."
This option calls for a single continuous ramp that follows the slope
of the bridge and widens a section of the existing walkways that narrows
down to 5 feet as it approaches the existing stair tower.
 |
| A westward view of the preferred Ben Franklin Bridge ramp in Camden. |
A continuous ramp that does not switch back and improves the existing
narrow section of the walkway would maximize user convenience, allow for
continuous eastbound travel to downtown Camden and points beyond, and
further enhance transportation options for pedestrians, bicyclists and
wheelchair users without busting the project’s budget. Once completed,
the ramp will be a centerpiece of
The Circuit
regional trail network and will connect to existing and planned street
improvement and trail projects on both sides of the Delaware River.
If you could not make the meeting please email your comments on the project to bikeramp@drpa.org. Comment forms are available here
for download and may be mailed to Delaware River Port Authority,
Customer Service, One Port Center, 2 Riverside Drive, P.O. BOX 1949,
Camden, NJ 08101.
After the jump you can see the three ramp designs being proposed.
