Grant To Fund Pedestrian Safety Improvements In Newtown Township

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — Newtown Township will receive a $326,931 state grant for pedestrian upgrades through PennDOT’s Automated Red Light Enforcement funding.

The funding will be used to make improvements to the following intersections: Newtown-Yardley Road and Tara Boulevard and Sycamore Street and Silo Drive

The upgrades at the two unsignalized intersections will include overhead and post-mounted Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons, federally-compliant signage, pedestrian push buttons and high-visibility crosswalks.

State Rep. Perry Warren, who announced the funding, worked with PennDOT, Newtown Township and Newtown Walk residents to improve the Newtown-Yardley-Tara crosswalk.

“I drive across the Newtown Walk intersection every day. There is an incline on Newtown-Yardley Road coming out of Newtown Borough which makes it difficult for motorists to see the crosswalk in advance,” Warren said. “I met with Newtown Walk residents at the crosswalk and worked with PennDOT and Newtown Township, which lowered the speed limit and implemented temporary safety measures. This grant will fund the measures necessary to enhance pedestrian safety and allow residents of Newtown Walk, and others to, well, walk in Newtown.”

Likewise, Warren said he has also worked toward improvements at the Sycamore-Silo intersection.

“The Sycamore and Silo drive crosswalk connects commercial shopping areas across a heavily trafficked state road,” Warren said. “We have worked with Chief Hearn and the Newtown Township Police Department and PennDOT toward solutions to meet the challenge of making this crosswalk as safe as possible. The grant will make the crosswalk more visible and safer for pedestrian crossing. Still, there is a lot going on at that intersection, and pedestrians and drivers have to continue to be alert and proceed with caution.”

Pennsylvania's ARLE program aims to improve safety at signalized intersections by providing automated enforcement at locations where data shows red-light running has been an issue. Grant funding is supplied by fines from red light violations at 34 intersections in Philadelphia.

Warren represents the 31st Legislative District, which includes Lower Makefield, Newtown Borough, Newtown Township, Upper Makefield and Yardley Borough.