#NewtownPA Township To Get More Than $326,000 For Pedestrian Safety

As reported in the 1/30/2024 issue of newtownpanow.com:

“According to PennDOT and Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office, Newtown Township will get $326,931 for pedestrian upgrades at two unsignalized intersections. The improvements include overhead and post-mounted Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons, federally-compliant signage, pedestrian push buttons and high-visibility crosswalks.”

The location of the upgrades were not released. See, however, the description of the projects in the grant application:

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

This project is to provide pedestrian upgrades to two existing unsignalized intersections in Newtown Township, Bucks County. The intersections are located at Newtown-Yardley Rd/Tara Blvd and Sycamore St/Silo Dr. The upgrades would include RRFBs (overhead and post-mounted), MUTCD-compliant signage, pedestrian push buttons and high-visibility crosswalks.

PROJECT JUSTIFICATION 

Newtown-Yardley Rd/Tara Blvd is located near a residential community with limited connectivity to the existing pedestrian paths. There is no existing sidewalk along the north side of Newtown-Yardley Road and residents must cross the roadway to gain access the Borough and other walkable trails located in the Township.

[Newtown Walk residents, including Charles Feuer and Valerie Mihalek, were disappointed that this grant money, if awarded, would not be available until 2024 while accidents and near accidents continue to occur at Tara Dr crosswalk. View the video of their comments made at the June 14, 2023 BOS meeting.]

Sycamore St/Silo Dr is located near several retail shops that experience a large amount of pedestrian traffic and retail expansion surrounding the intersection. The Township has already implemented several upgrades to the intersection to help increase safety at the existing crosswalks. These proposed upgrades would help provide more awareness to the crossing and increase pedestrian safety further.

POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS

The proposed improvements would include the installation of RRFBs (overhead and post-mounted), provide MUTCD-compliant signage, pedestrian push-buttons, and high-visibility crosswalks.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

These intersections have had traffic studies performed recently, with the Township reducing the posted speed limit along both Newtown-Yardley Rd and Sycamore St. Several upgrades have been installed recently to help increase pedestrian safety, such as re-striping, new signage, installed ped refuge with delineators, etc.. The RRFB installations would be another step to help increase pedestrian safety at these intersections.

Posted on 30 Jan 2024, 01:32 - Category: Public Safety