Traffic plan OK'd for new Buffalo motel

A motel is a step closer to being built in the township.

The Buffalo Township Supervisors on Wednesday night voted, 5-0, to approve entrances and exits at Route 356 and Silverville Road behind the Park 'n' Ride location near the Route 28 Expressway.

Developers hope to build a Holiday Inn Express or an equivalent facility on part of a 34-acre tract owned by Cabot Resources Corp.

PennDOT already approved the plan for a right turn in and left and right turns out of the site.

Joseph Conway, president of Cabot Resources, said the project would not be pursued any further if the supervisors rejected the ingress and egress plan approved by the state.

Conway expects about 50 to 60 trips daily from the motel parking lot. The facility will not have a restaurant.

The township planning commission had concerns about making a left turn onto Silverville from what would be the motel parking lot. Motorists making a right turn from Route 356 onto Silverville might be unaware of the motel exit and cause accidents.

Officials ultimately want to put a traffic signal on Silverville where the motel exit would be, and Cabot Resources agreed to pitch in a pro-rated amount of the traffic signal costs if future developers also contribute.

Supervisor Gary Risch Jr. suggested a lighted warning sign be installed to alert motorists turning off Route 356 to become aware of the motel exit. Supervisor Albert Roenigk thought the left onto Route 356, which already is employed by the Park 'n' Ride, is more dangerous than the Silverville Road exit.

No target date was set for the motel's opening and no oneopposed the plan Wednesday night.