DVRPC is the Metropolitan Planning Organization serving Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties as well as the City of Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania plus Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Mercer counties in the State of New Jersey. In total, DVRPC covers eight counties in two states and the City of Philadelphia. The commission’s predecessor agency was the Penn-jersey Transportation Study during 1959-1964. DVRPC was created in 1965.
Funding
DVRPC is funded by a variety of funding sources including federal grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Pennsylvania and New Jersey departments of transportation, as well as by DVRPC’s state and local member governments. In short, DVRPC exists through taxpayer funds.
The region is required to retain DVRPC for regional planning purposes in order to receive federal funding for transportation projects. In turn, DVRPC is required to have a public participation plan that allows citizens to ACTIVELY participate in the regional planning process.
Building Highways & Sprawl
Under DVRPC's watch, the Delaware Valley has since expanded many of its highways, including PA-611, US-202, I-476, I-676,
US-309, and others. The leadership of DVRPC has allowed thousands of acres in our region to be overrun with new housing
developments. The 1990's was a period of time where entire townships in Bucks County, such as Warwick and Buckingham, were
transformed from small, quiet agricultural centers, to sprawling bedroom communities based on the "Happy Motoring" mentality.
Now in 2011, DVRPC aims to repeat the sprawl of Bucks County to the 422 corridor, by growing the crowded 422 expressway.
Loss of Rail Service
At the same time, the Delaware Valley has lost passenger rail service on the following lines: Bethlehem-Allentown-Philadelphia, Reading-Norristown-Philadelphia, Newtown-Fox Chase-Philadelphia, Ocean City-Philadelphia, Cape May-Philadelphia, West Chester-Media-Philadelphia, Ivy Ridge-Cynwyd-Philadelphia,DVRPC pushes projects such as "Bus Rapid Transit" between West Chester and 69th Street over rail service on the existing active West Chester Railroad, which is owned by SEPTA.
DVRPC Public Participation Task Force Member Biographies
Aissia Richardson - Uptown Development Corporation
Aissia Richardson is no stranger to DVRPC and their public involvement strategies. It was Ms. Richardson who initiated the shutdown of the RCC in January 2011 when she revoked voting rights from members of the public, following the approval of several policy resolutions calling on the region to invest in rail service and divest in highways and garages.
Miss Piggy
Ms. Richardson is also the subject of several right-to-know requests that are being litigated at the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, because DVRPC does not believe they are subject to Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know law. A decision from an en banc panel of justices is due in August 2011.
Elizabeth Walsh - Executive Director at Bucks County Workforce Investment Board, Inc.
Elizabeth Walsh is the executive director at the Bucks County Workfoce Investment Board, and primarily works with non-profit organization management.
James Hopkins - Client Partner - Biophama Transformation with HighPoint
Mr. Hopkins works in management consulting
Novella Starks Hinson- Public official, City of Camden
Mrs. Starks Hinson has more than 30 years of public service with the City of Camden where she initiated and directed a comprehensive Safe Haven After School Program, organized community and business participation for the City’s Master Plan, and has organized City-wide clean-ups and special events. She also has trained teachers, students, and parents in social development skills; and has published community news letters to inform Camden residents of various municipal government services available to them.
Marcine Pickron-Davis, Ph.D, Chief Community Engagement and Diversity Officer - City of Chester
Dr. Marcine Pickron-Davis serves as the Chief Community Engagement and Diversity Officer and reports directly to the President. She joined Widener University in October 2003. In this position, Dr. Pickron- Davis serves as the university liaison and the president’s delegate to build community relations and strategic partnerships with the city of Chester. A major priority of her work is to advance Widener’s institutional mission to contribute to the vitality and well-being of the metropolitan region. Dr. Pickron- Davis oversees the Office for Community Engagement and Diversity Initiatives which is responsible for fostering university and community partnerships with schools, business and civic leaders, and faith-based organizations; collaborates with and supports faculty engaged in service-learning and community-based research; broadens staff volunteerism in the community; and assists in the development of short and longterm strategies that address the social, economic, and educational needs of the local community
Andrew Seligsohn - Camden County
Director of civic engagement at Rutgers-Camden. Mr. Seligsohn seeks to promote civic learning into Rutgers courses to enhance students’ experiences in real-world settings, while also improving communities in need. Member, board of directors, Anchor House Inc.
Theresa Ziegler - Gloucester County Public Works, Planning Division
Director of civic engagement at Rutgers-Camden. Mr. Seligsohn seeks to promote civic learning into Rutgers courses to enhance students’ experiences in real-world settings, while also improving communities in need. Member, board of directors, Anchor House Inc.