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My name is John Mack and on November 5, 2019, I was re-elected to serve a 6-year term as a Newtown Supervisor. I would like to thank all the citizens who came out and voted that Tuesday. I will do my best to work as a Supervisor serving all Newtown Township residents.

Honesty · Integrity · Experience

As a Supervisor, I keep busy learning about and making decisions about issues of concern to residents, including the pollution of our streams and lakes, perfluoronated hydrocarbons (PFAS) in our drinking water, preservation of open space, traffic and pedestrian safety, fiscal management, and development. On average, I spend more than 40 hours every month on official Supervisor activities including interacting with residents, preparing for meetings, and attending meetings (read "What's the Hourly 'Wage' of a Newtown Township Supervisor?").

PennDOT Agrees: Double Lane Turning Sign Needed

A Newtown Twp resident emailed me:

"Hi John, attached is a picture of the Bypass & Newtown-Yardley Road intersection. We need overhead signs by the traffic lights that show that both lanes turn to the left. Many people are unaware that this intersection allows both lanes to turn left. So many times the driver in the left lane proceeds to drive immediately into the right lane after turning unaware that another car turned beside him. I've avoided an accident many times anticipating this. This is the intersection where the new Wawa is proposed. A sign depicting double turning lanes is necessary when I'm sitting at the light on Newtown-Yardley Road turning left towards Shady Brook Farm."

My personal survey of 132 residents revealed that the vast majority (90%) felt this was “definitely a good idea.”

It turns out that PennDOT agrees! After I posted a concern to the PennDOT Customer Care website, Mr. Michael Smith, Acting Traffic Signals Supervisor at PennDOT, responded “It does appear that additional signage would be helpful to motorists.” 

Newtown Township Must Act

Mr. Smith, however, noted that the “signal is owned by Newtown Twp. As such, any proposed change to the intersection (including signing), would involve a change to the permit. The twp would need to submit the change to PennDOT for approval, then it would the responsibility of the twp to have the signage installed. I would suggest you work with your twp engineer to determine exactly what signing to install, as well as submitting the application for it.”

Newtown Township Manager Micah Lewis passed this on to the Township Traffic Engineer. We are currently waiting for the Engineer’s response.