§ 123-29. Street classifications.

Every street, road or highway within the Township shall be classified as one of the following and shall be subject to the requirements contained in this article for that classification:

A. 

Classifications.

(1) 

Primary arterials.

(a) 

Limited access (expressways).

(b) 

Semicontrolled access highways.

[1] 

Urban.

[2] 

Rural.

(2) 

Secondary arterials.

(a) 

Collectors.

(b) 

Feeders.

(3) 

Residential streets.

(4) 

Cul-de-sac streets.

(5) 

Marginal access streets.

(6) 

Performance streets.

(a) 

Residential access streets.

(b) 

Residential subcollector streets.

(c) 

Residential collector streets.

(d) 

Marginal access streets.

B. 

Primary arterials. Primary arterials are the major highways which carry high volumes of through traffic [generally over 10,000 average daily trips (ADT)] and which deny or restrict access to adjacent properties. Primary arterials are classified as follows:

(1) 

Limited access highways deny access from adjacent properties and provide access only at a limited number of grade-separated interchanges. This classification of highway is not governed by this Part 1 because of its characteristics and the fact that only such agencies as the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation or Turnpike Commission would construct and/or operate such roads. Only the Pottstown Expressway fits into this classification, and no additional limited access highways are anticipated in the Township.

(2) 

Semicontrolled access highways restrict direct access from adjacent properties as much as is reasonably possible and encourage the use of other streets intersecting the highway or the use of marginal access streets to provide access. Grade level intersections will be spaced at large enough intervals to facilitate the safe and convenient flow of traffic. Semicontrolled access highways are further classified as urban or rural, and they carry high traffic volumes (over 10,000 ADT) for both local and intercommunity trips. Ridge Pike, Germantown Pike, Trooper Road (part), Egypt Road and Route 363 (Park Avenue) within Lower Providence fall into this category. Semicontrolled access highways shall be further classified according to their function as follows:

(a) 

Urban semicontrolled access highways generally carry high volumes of commercial, industrial or residential traffic from adjacent land uses, including shopping centers and industrial parks. This classification applies to highways where the majority of the adjacent frontage is developed.

(b) 

Rural semicontrolled access highways carry high volumes of through traffic, and the adjacent land uses include low-density residential or agricultural uses and recreation areas. The portions of Ridge Pike and Germantown Road crossing Evansburg State Park fall into this category.

C. 

Secondary arterials. Secondary arterials are those streets or highways which collect, carry and feed medium volumes of traffic (generally under 10,000 ADT) and connect areas within and adjacent to the Township. Secondary arterials shall be further classified as follows:

(1) 

Collectors serve to connect primary arterials with lesser classified streets and distribute traffic throughout the Township and adjacent areas.

(2) 

Feeders serve to connect collectors and/or higher road classifications with residential streets and/or neighborhoods within the Township. The right-of-way or cartway width for feeder streets is lower than for collectors because they carry less traffic generally and they are intended to carry very little commercial or truck traffic.

D. 

Residential streets. Residential streets are those streets which carry low volumes of traffic and which are used to provide access to residential properties and connect with other residential streets and streets of a higher classification.

E. 

Cul-de-sac streets. Cul-de-sac streets are those streets with one end open for vehicular access and the other end terminating in a vehicular turnaround. Cul-de-sac streets shall comply with the provisions of § 123-30A.

F. 

Marginal access streets. Marginal access streets are streets parallel and adjacent to an arterial street which provide access to abutting properties and separation from through traffic. They serve to reduce the number of access points which intersect the larger road, thereby increasing the efficiency and safety of traffic flow along the major road while providing access to abutting development. Marginal access streets shall comply with the provisions of § 123-30B.

G. 

Performance streets. Performance streets are residential streets which form a hierarchy of residential streets based on the anticipated average daily trips (ADT) to be generated by residential development fronting on the streets. All developments proposing to use performance streets shall contain 100 dwelling units or more to utilize all three levels of streets, including residential access streets, residential subcollector streets and residential collector streets. Performance streets may only be used in a residential development upon approval of the Board of Supervisors and shall comply with the provisions of § 123-30C. Performance streets are classified as follows:

(1) 

Residential access street. This is the lowest order street in the hierarchy. It is intended to carry the least amount of traffic at the lowest speed. It will provide the safest and most desirable environment for a residential neighborhood.

(2) 

Residential subcollector street. This is the middle order street in the hierarchy. A residential subcollector is a frontage street which provides access to abutting properties and which may also conduct traffic from residential access streets that intersect it.

(3) 

Residential collector street. This is the highest order of street in the hierarchy. It is designed to carry residential traffic to secondary streets at higher speeds.

(4) 

Marginal access street. This street is the same as the marginal access street in Subsection F, except that is used as a performance street serving exclusively residential properties.