$284K Grant To Boost Pedestrian, Driver Safety In Newtown Township

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — State Rep. Lisa Borowski and State Sen. Tim Kearney have announced a more than quarter million dollar grant for Newtown Township to enhance safety for drivers and pedestrians through vehicle detection technology.

The local state legislators said the township has been awarded a $283,946 state grant that will go toward a project to maintain and update vehicle detection measures at five busy intersections:

• West Chester Pike (Route 3) & Newtown Street Road (Route 252)
• West Chester Pike and Radnor Drive
• West Chester Pike and Valley View Lane
• Darby-Paoli Road (Route 252) and Whitehorse Road
• Newtown Street Road and Goshen Road.

"I’ve been beating the drum to PennDOT about our transportation infrastructure since the first day I took office, and I’m encouraged by this latest investment," Borowski said. "I think it’s important to use any and all technology available to keep people safe, and that’s exactly what Newtown Township is doing. Vehicle detection technology allows smart traffic signals to respond better to real-time conditions. This means less congestion, fewer accidents, and more enjoyable travels for everyone. In short, it's a key piece of the puzzle for making our community's roads safer and more efficient."

"Investments in traffic safety are critical for the well-being of our community," Kearney said. "By upgrading our transportation infrastructure, specifically vehicle detection technology at key intersections in Newtown Township, we are not only reducing congestion but also enhancing pedestrian safety. These improvements demonstrate our commitment to safer, more reliable roadways for all residents and visitors."

"Newtown Township is extremely grateful for everyone involved with the awarding of this grant," Leonard Altieri, chair of the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors, said. "The township had budgeted local funds to upgrade technology at one intersection this year, and when the opportunity arose to apply for a PennDOT ‘Green Light-Go’ grant, we decided to do so in the hopes of making that local taxpayer money go much farther. The resulting partnership now helps us to upgrade equipment at five intersections in Newtown Township instead of just one, which will increase safety for all pedestrians utilizing these intersections."

The grant was allocated from PennDOT’s Green Light-Go program, which helps municipalities pay for projects that improve traffic flow and reduce congestion.

Borowski is a member of a regional work group tackling issues related to PennDOT maintenance and determining how to move the needle the most on issues impacting drivers.