In Wake Of Pedestrian Accident Doylestown Commissions Traffic Study

DOYLESTOWN BOROUGH, PA — The Central Bucks Regional Police Department is continuing to investigate a pedestrian accident that happened in June at the intersection of East Ashland Avenue and Church Street.

A resident from East Ashland Avenue was in the crosswalk when she was struck by a vehicle, confirmed police. The woman suffered severe leg injuries and was transported to the hospital.

“We have some fairly good video evidence that gives us a pretty good idea of what happened,” reported borough manager John Davis at the June Borough Council meeting.

“The borough has also commissioned a traffic study of both of the adjacent blocks,” said Davis. “We expect to have that study done in time for the next public safety meeting. We’ve also commissioned an accident history study to give us an idea of stop sign enforcement in the area.”

Davis gave the update after several of the woman’s neighbors raised concerns at the meeting about the safety of their street, the pedestrian accident, and the intersection.

“I'm coming here as a concerned resident who lives on the street and who has been here since 1971,” resident Brian Beckno told Council. “We need to do something about it. I don’t want to wait until this happens again.”

Resident Doreen Stratton added that with Doylestown seeing a lot more foot traffic, the borough may want to consider adding a few speed humps between Pine and Church streets to slow down traffic.

“Some of these people fly down Ashland Street. They don’t stop,” said Stratton.

Karen Reed, who has lived on the street since 2008, said the borough needs a plan to keep walkers safe.

“We are here today in support of change for safety,” Reed told the council. “One of the things we like about town is that we can walk and many of us walk all the time. And this issue is not just an East Ashland issue. I see it all over town. People are running stop signs, speeding, the gliding stop - a total disregard for walkers. We’ve become a destination and there’s an awful lot of traffic and congestion. They are building new apartment buildings and Target is coming and maybe a hotel. And there’s more congestion coming.

“What’s the plan to keep walkers safe?" Reed asked. "We don’t want to kill the golden goose that we all love. We all love to walk and I don’t want anyone to be hit anywhere let alone the way our neighbor was hit. She has a long road back. It’s terrible. She was just crossing the street in the crosswalk.”

The topic is expected to be discussed at the next meeting of the borough council's public safety committee.