LightPath To Consider Alternate Route For Newtown Fiber Optic Project

NEWTOWN, PA — Plans to install fiber optic cabling through the borough are off the table for now as the company contracting out the project considers an alternate route through the business commons and along the Newtown Bypass.

LightPath, which describes itself as a public communications provider, hosted a public meeting on Thursday to detail its plans for the project.

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The company said it had secured permits from PennDOT and Newtown Township to install fiber optic lines through an underground conduit that would require boring work in the right-of-way along the north side of Washington Avenue and in the northbound lane on State Street.

The new fiber optic lines would service major companies and are part of the work being done to interconnect its system with Union Fiber in Pennsylvania, which it recently acquired.

During the meeting, borough residents made it clear to LightPath officials that they don’t want the town’s character, including its historic streetscape and trees, impacted by the project and pleaded with them to consider a different route.

“Why are you going through the town as opposed to going around the town on the Newtown Bypass? If you go down the bypass, it’s a straight line so why are you infringing on our properties?” asked one resident.

Another commented, “You’ve chosen a very old, historically significant small town with houses built 200 to 250 years ago sitting right on the street that used to be an old country road,” said one resident. “It’s not just grass you’re going to have to restore. This is not a run to Home Depot to fix what you dig up. Some bricks are 200 years old. There are rocks from quarries that don’t even exist. That’s why it’s mind-boggling to us you would even consider taking this route.”

The residents presented a letter from TNT Tree Service, which reported that there is a significant amount of high-value mature shade trees and shrubbery along Washington Avenue. “The construction can change the environment for the trees and cause harm,” the company wrote.

Mayor Tara Grunde-McLaughlin also spoke to the impacts along South State Street, where she said there is a tremendous amount of old piping beneath the street that could be impacted. “You’ll also be going past the oldest frame home in the state. This is the kind of thing we’re talking about,” she said.

In addition, the mayor said the borough has already dealt with a major PECO gas line project that has disrupted the business district for the past year. “If we can do anything to not disrupt them again, we’d be grateful.”

“We are passionate about our town. We love our town. And we want to protect it,” another resident told LightPath.

After listening to the residents for about an hour, borough resident Rose Wuenschel, the chief of staff to State Senator Steve Santarsiero, said the senator would be making a formal request to LightPath to change the path of the project to avoid the borough.

“I have heard no legitimate reason why you would have to go through Newtown Borough,” she told the LightPath officials who appeared to be amenable to considering an alternate route.

Wuenschel’s comments brought cheers from the residents, who turned out for the informational session held at the American Legion Hall.

LightPath officials, while agreeing to regroup and to have a conversation internally, said if they end up doing an alternate route, they’ll need the support of the township and the local state officials to shorten the review process.

“I have a timeline. A six-month review can’t happen. I need a one-week review,” said a LightPath official. “I will also need your support to drive that initiative on our behalf,” he told the residents.