State Senator Joins PennDOT On Road Tour Through Bucks County

BUCKS COUNTY— State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and a contingent of PennDOT officials hit the road in the 10th Senate District earlier this month, announcing planned roadway repair projects, highlighting needed improvements, and applauding work that has recently been completed.

The road tour covered an expansive portion of the district, with seven stops and dozens of roads featured along the route, from Bristol to Doylestown.

In conjunction with the road tour, Senator Santarsiero shared with PennDOT an inventory of more than 60 roads in the 10th Senate District with specific requests for repair. The list is compiled on a rolling basis and includes submissions from constituents and municipalities.

“Many of our roadways are showing their age and need repair and repaving to meet growing traffic demands in our region,” said Santarsiero. “I have strongly supported increasing funding for transportation infrastructure and recognize that PennDOT is working with a limited
budget and staff. Despite these challenges, PennDOT continues to work hard to keep our roads safe and operational and I am committed to working with PennDOT to address the projects highlighted on this year’s tour.”

During the tour, Santarsiero expressed his gratitude for the state’s recovery effort following the July 15th flash flood in Upper Makefield and Lower Makefield townships, which tragically took seven lives.

“I want to thank Governor Shapiro and Secretary Carroll for their leadership and immediate action to repair the damage caused by the July 15th flash flood in Upper Makefield,” said Senator Santarsiero. “During a time of tragedy, their teams worked quickly and diligently to make the necessary repairs and implement improvements to help the community better weather future
storms.”

Along State Street in Doylestown Borough, Senator Santarsiero made note of the need for resurfacing, which was reiterated during a stop along State Street near Doylestown Hospital.

During the stop, attended by state Rep. Tim Brennan (D-29), Doylestown Borough Council President Jack O’Brien, Doylestown Township staff, and Bucks County Planning Commission staff, the Senator stressed the ongoing need for a large-scale capital project to improve the Doylestown Bypass, which carries Routes 202 and 611 around Doylestown.

Senator Santarsiero speaks to PennDOT and Doylestown Borough and Township officials. (Contributed)

The project, however, will be a costly one - about $80 million according to PennDOT - since the roadway is concrete and it will include upgrades to its aging bridges and its on and off ramps.

According to PennDOT, the project is not currently on the TIP (Transportation Improvement Plan) as a project that the agency is progressing. However, PennDOT officials said during the tour that they will be submitting it as a candidate project when the TIP is updated for 2025.

"We know and we understand this is a priority," said Santarsiero.

"It's our biggest road issue and it's something I hope we can continue working together to address," added Brennan. "And I'm glad to see Senator Santarsiero making a priority for this."

At a stop in Chalfont Borough, Senator Santarsiero brought to PennDOT’s attention ongoing concerns about the bridge on Business Route 202 over the North Branch of the Neshaminy Creek.

The roadway surface is in good condition, but Chalfont Borough officials, including Mayor Brian
Wallace, Borough Council President John Engel and Borough Manager Shawn Curran, who joined the Senator at the stop, had reached out to the senator’s office to request assistance in getting the structure of the bridge inspected and updated.

During their discussion, borough officials stressed that if and when the bridge is updated, construction work should be scheduled in a way that keeps at least one lane open to traffic. Shutting the bridge completely, they said, would be devastating to the borough.

State Sen. Steve Santarsiero with Chalfont Borough Council President John Engel, Mayor Brian Wallace and State Rep. Tim Brennan (right).

Continuing on to Plumstead Township, the next stop was the intersection of Route 413 and Point Pleasant Pike where the need for road resurfacing and leveling was brought up. At this stop, Senator Santarsiero was joined by Rep. Shelby Labs (R-143), Plumstead Township Supervisors Jim McColb and Dan Hilferty and Public Works Director Alan Bleam.

The tour continued through Solebury Township, highlighting the need for road resurfacing along Sugan Road before continuing through Upper Makefield along Wrightstown Road. Senator Santarsiero also used the opportunity to once again ask PennDOT to prioritize resurfacing
the entire length of River Road in Bucks County.

The road tour wrapped up with a stop along the Newtown Bypass where Senator Santarsiero, joined by Newtown Township Supervisor Dennis Fisher, thanked PennDOT for their work resurfacing a portion of the high-traffic bypass. “I want to thank PennDOT District 6 for their tireless work to keep our roadways safe,” Sen. Santarsiero concluded.

The newly-paved Newtown Bypass in Newtown Township.