Pedestrian Safety Issues in the Neighborhoods

One Example in Country Bend: No Crosswalks and No Pedestrian Warning Signs

Although Newtown Township is making progress dealing with pedestrian safety issues on major roads (see below), many residents feel enough is not being done within residential developments.

Speeding Through Neighborhoods

A big concern is about cars speeding while cutting through residential neighborhoods such as Woods of Saxony and Country Bend, both of which are just west of Lower Dolington Road. In my Country Bend neighborhood, cars cut through from Lower Dolington Road to Linton Hill Road in part via Davis Lane (25 MPH speed limit posted), which is often crossed by dog walkers, children on bikes, deer, etc. While the township recently installed ADA ramps recognizing that pedestrians often cross this road, there are no crosswalk markings or signs to warn drivers (see below). “People think 25 mph is the minimum not the limit,” said Cindy, a resident of the Country Bend in response to my FaceBook post about this issue.

No crosswalks and no pedestrian warning signs.

Because of multiple complaints I have received from residents, I analyzed Newtown Traffic Citations issued by the Newtown Township Police Department (NTPD) from January through August 2024. This is the latest data available. See the charts below.

Speeding accounts for nearly 30% (351 citations) of the 1,275 total traffic citations issued from January 2024 through August 2024. This is a 16% increase compared to last year and a 94% increase compared to 2022 (see table below).

To see ALL the available citation data for the years 2022, 2023, and 2024, access my DataBank here…

On What Roads Are Speeding Citations Issued?

The following pie chart shows which roads received speeding citations:

As far as I can see, very few speeding citations were issued within residential neighborhoods except for one or two cases (such as on Fountain Farm Lane in the Newtown Gate Community). And none have been issued in Country Bend or Woods of Saxony – the two communities where residents have recently complained to me about traffic cutting through the neighborhood.

Meanwhile, many speeding citations were handed out to drivers on Newtown-Yardley Road this year primarily because of multiple complaints by residents of Newtown Walk - a classic example of the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Also, the speed limit was recently reduced from 35 MPH to 25 MPH on that road from Rick Steele's to Elm Street in the Borough. NTPD has kept a close eye on traffic here after the speed limit was reduced in February 2023.

Eagle Rd, however, was a bit of a surprise - practically all the citations there were made between April 10 and April 17, 2024. Perhaps these citations were issued on South Eagle Road within the Brixmor shopping Center, which has received many resident complaints about traffic. Not a surprise after all!

Traffic Signs: Is Less More?

Aside from citations, traffic signs may help improve safety – especially on streets within developments. Stop signs are the first line of defense. The Lower Dolington Road trail project included the addition of two stop signs – one at Everett Drive and another at Yorkshire Drive.

As Cindy reminded me, “We refer to stop signs as Pennsylvania ‘roll through’ signs.” She thought the “stop means stop” signs attached to stop signs “might help and remind drivers that pedestrians have the right of way too.”

PA Title 75, para 3323, defines Duty at Stop Signs: “…every driver of a vehicle approaching a stop sign shall stop at a clearly marked stop line or, if no stop line is present, before entering a crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if no crosswalk is present, then at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a clear view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering.”

In any case, stop signs have been recommended by residents. At the October 9, 2024, Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting, Norm Seeger – a resident of the Village of Newtown – commented on the danger to pedestrians along Upper Silver Lake Road where speeding is an issue. He had three suggestions to help improve pedestrian safety along that road:

create marked pedestrian crosswalks,
install solar-powered speed signs warning drivers that they are going faster than the speed limit, and
if not either of the above, then perhaps install stop signs as has been done on Lower Dolington Road.

As for crosswalks, Mr. Seeger was told that the township “could not put in any striping on crosswalks because sidewalks don't align with each other” (see image below):

Sidewalks on Upper Silver Lake Rd don’t align with each other.
I guess the township doesn’t want to do the extra work to
align the sidewalks?

“The one person who's helped me out quite a bit is Chief Hearn,” said Mr. Seeger who mentioned illuminated signs telling motorists how fast they are going. Unfortunately, those signs are now non-functional or no longer available. The Chief has requested 2 speed boards with trailers and 1 sign board with trailer (see image below). The cost for the former is estimated to be $30,000 and $20,000 for the latter. The 2025 budget only includes $12,000 for “SIGN MATERIALS” (under “TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND SUPPLIES”). This, however, is for road sign replacement (speed limit signs, no turn on red signs, etc), not for capital purchases.

A: Speed Sign with Trailer, B: Sign Board with Trailer, C: Pole- mounted Solar-Powered Speed Sign

“I'm not a traffic expert,” said Mr. Seeger, “but I believe the cheapest way would be to put in a stop sign at one of the crosswalks.” A Woods of Saxony HOA member expressed the need for additional stop signs on Burgundy Lane at the Hartford Lane intersection, which would make this a 4-way stop.

Meanhile, some residents think stop signs and crosswalks “[do] more potential harm than good,” as one Country Bend resident said. “The flashing lights and extra signs everywhere are confusing and distracting especially when driving home very late at night... sometimes I feel that less is more.”

Pedestrian Safety Issues in the Neighborhoods

Speeding Through Neighborhoods

On What Roads Are Speeding Citations Issued?

Traffic Signs: Is Less More?

Further Reading