Passed unanimously 11-29-2000 (with one abstention) by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council Board of Directors. There was a lively discussion and nearly unanimous support for PEC playing an active role in support of transportation alternatives that will be "least intrusive" and "to ensure that sprawl development is not the unintended consequence of highway infrastructure investment."
From Patrick Starr

Whereas, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council favors the protection and enhancement of Pennsylvania’s natural and rural resources, especially its rich agricultural soils and historic rural villages; and

Whereas, one of the primary goals of the Federal Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century is to ensure that transportation-related activities are designed to strengthen cultural, aesthetic and environmental aspects of the Nation’s intermodal transportation system; and

Whereas, recent reforms to the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code contained in Acts 66 and 67 provide for enhanced inter-municipal cooperation to manage development and the protection of natural and heritage resources; and

Whereas, Governor Ridge has issued an Executive Order directing all state agencies, programs, policies and regulations to support local planning efforts and sound land use; and

Whereas, this Executive Order was based upon the formal recommendations of the Pennsylvania 21st Century Environment Commission, which identified land use as the most pressing environmental problem facing the Commonwealth; and

Whereas, significant state and federal funding for conservation of rural and natural resources should be brought to bear in a coordinated fashion with land use planning and transportation investments to ensure that sprawl development is not the unintended consequence of highway infrastructure investment; and

Whereas, transportation infrastructure directly affects regional development patterns, and highway extensions or capacity increases have historically adversely impacted rural resources; and

Whereas, PEC, in accordance with necessary improvements to protect human safety, supports the careful coordination of land use policies with transportation infrastructure investments, and specifically encourages land-use impact consideration as part of highway Environmental Impact Statements; and

Whereas, PEC encourages the careful consideration of these enhanced planning techniques along any highway investment corridor consistent with local, county and regional comprehensive plans , including design features (turn lanes, wider shoulders, signalization, etc..) and intelligent transportation technologies (ITT’s) that are "least intrusive" to enhance flow and meet transportation objectives; and

Therefore, let it be resolved that the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council fully supports the actions and precedent of the PA Department of Transportation, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission and County of Chester to perform a "land use impact analysis" on the Route 41 Corridor in southwestern Chester County;

And furthermore, let it be resolved that the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council directs staff to actively support the creation of a transportation investment strategy for Route 41 in accordance with the above said principles.