Cool Valley traffic study is planned
The Cool Valley project is back on the radar of the Redevelopment Authority of Washington County.
In a legal advertisement Friday, the redevelopment authority said it is seeking “proposals from qualified firm(s)” to conduct a traffic information study for the planned mixed-use development in Cecil Township.
Cool Valley covers 911 acres east of Interstate 79, straddling Morganza Road, and is near Southpointe.
Bill McGowen, executive director of the redevelopment authority, said later Friday a traffic study was conducted two years ago, but a new one was warranted.
“We want to get new traffic data and see what happens,” McGowen said, adding that the study would identify intersections that would necessitate highway occupancy permits.
He said the study would go to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Cecil Township for approval.
The deadline for proposals is 4:30 p.m. April 30.
In May 2010, principals of R&J Properties of Dublin, Ohio, announced their plans for Cool Valley, a mixed-use development that would have 3 million square feet of office and flex building space, an 1,800-unit residential development and retail attractions.
R&J officials said the development could create as many as 13,000 jobs upon build-out, projecting the project would take between eight and 10 years.
In August 2010, RACW’s board of directors authorized a public-private partnership between the authority and R&J properties for Cool Valley.
Site preparation was originally expected to begin on a portion of the development in the spring or summer of 2011, but to date, no work has been done.