Newtown Township Supervisors have agreed to reduce the speed limit on Newtown-Yardley Road from 35 mph to 25 mph between Lower Dolington Road and the Newtown Borough line at Washington Avenue.
The board voted unanimously to approve the measure amid widespread concern from township residents, especially those living in the directly adjacent Newtown Walk community.
A crosswalk at the intersection of Newtown-Yardley Road and Tara Boulevard was the subject of major concern as several residents reported near-fatal accidents while trying to cross the street. Cynthia Nutzen, a resident of Newtown Walk, summed up the concerns of many.
“This has been an ongoing issue for us for many years, I myself have almost been hit by several cars on both Lower Dolington Road and Newtown-Yardley Road.” Board Chairman Dennis Fisher confirmed that the crosswalk was every bit as dangerous as residents described when he and fellow Supervisor John Mack visited the area late last year.
The crosswalk in question provides access to a pedestrian trail leading to Newtown Borough for residents of Newtown Walk. The township had been hearing from concerned residents for several months about how curved Newtown-Yardley road combined with speeding drivers and sun glare was making the crosswalk close to impossible to traverse.
With the addition of new speed reductions though, many hope the problem will be solved. The board also had previously approved a motion to work with PennDOT to install an overhang of rectangular rapid-flashing beacons (RRFBs) at the intersection to address the issue. Those beacons will now be installed by the township in addition to the speed reductions.
Also in the works is another speed limit reduction the supervisors will consider at their next meeting regarding well-trafficked North Sycamore Street running through Newtown Borough. Recommended changes include lowering the speed limit from 35 to 25 mph between Durham Road and Washington Avenue as well as implementing other traffic-related modifications.
However, Township Solicitor David Sander noted that there is a current ordinance that requires the entire length of ‘Sycamore Street’ to have a speed limit of 25 mph. The problem is it was never updated when the road was redesignated as North and South Sycamore Street.
The latter already has a 25 mph speed limit, so just the northern leg must be addressed (between Swamp Road and Durham Road). Sander explained that the ordinance has to be amended to remove the existing Sycamore Street language and add ‘North’ and ‘South.’
In other news, the board approved a three-year contract with CWA Local 13000, the union that represents non-uniform township employees. The agreement consists of 3 percent wage increases, revised vacation schedules, and COVID-19 protections.
It also includes a memorandum of understanding that would eliminate the custodian position after the current employee separates from employment from the township. The union had previously ratified the tentative agreement, and at the Jan. 25 meeting, Newtown Supervisors signed off on it as well.
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