Solebury is preparing to upgrade its Route 202 (Lower York Road) corridor and is applying for a $521,036 state grant for the project.
The board of supervisors on Tuesday designated township Manager Chris Garges and Assistant Manager Michele Blood to prepare the application.
The project would include upgrading control panels, adding uninterrupted power supply systems and emergency preemption systems, a radar detection system for dilemma zone detection, video detection systems at the approaches at all four of the signals.
Two of the signals would also receive pedestrian improvements including ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) ramps, pedestrian push buttons and countdown times.
The supervisors also agreed to a maintenance agreement with PennDOT that allows Solebury to fix its own potholes instead of having to wait for PennDOT to do the job.
Supervisor Chair Mark Baum Baicker explained that “we have had issues getting potholes repaired on state roads...so we approached PennDOT about setting up an arrangement whereby our Public Works Department would fill potholes when PennDOT isn’t able to do so in a timely basis.”
The township would then be reimbursed by PennDOT for Solebury’s costs.
Baum Baicker said he and Garges have met with PennDOT representatives, state Rep. Tim Brennan, his chief of staff, and state Sen. Steve Santarsiero’s deputy chief of staff to iron out the plan.
“I, though, think this will be a real benefit to our residents come wintertime, particularly with strong El Nino predictions, meaning we may have a good amount of snow this winter,” Baum Baicker said.
The board also authorized bidding for the extension of the Gateway Trail along Route 202 from the Eagle Fire Company to Route 179 near Logan Square.
“This will make the township more walkable,” said Supervisor Kevin Morrissey.
In other business, the supervisors amended Solebury’s Motor Vehicle and Traffic Code to allow enforcement regulations for unlicensed, uninspected and dismantled vehicles parked on public streets.
In a “new” category, the township bought its first all-electric car, a 2023 Nissan Leaf, in August for use by the administrative staff.
Assistant Manager Blood said the township received a $2,000 state grant for the car, reducing its original $25,000-price tag.
The car has zero tailpipe emissions and the township expects to save about 300 gallons of fuel a year.
Solebury has six hybrid (gas-electric) police vehicles and expects to buy two more this year.
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