Speed Reduction Takes Effect Along Busy Newtown Township Street

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA —Motorists who use Sycamore Street will need to ease up on the gas.

The township has officially lowered the speed limit from 35 to 25 mph along the entire length of the street, which serves as a major commercial corridor in the township and is home to Goodnoe Corner, the Promenade and Fred Beans Ford.

The reduction, approved by the board of supervisors on Feb. 8, is part of a broader initiative aimed at improving safety along the street, which has been the site of several pedestrian fatalities.

Other safety measures have included sight distance improvements, new line striping and eliminating right turns on red at Durham and Sycamore.

With the new speed limit in place, engineers said additional traffic calming measures, including speed humps and speed tables, can be considered.

Also in the works is an overhead beacon at Sycamore Street and Silo Drive to warn motorists when pedestrians are crossing the road.

The speed limit reduction comes weeks after the township lowered the speed on the Newtown-Yardley Road from 35 to 25 mph between the borough line and Lower Dolington Road.

Residents from Newtown Walk had lobbied for the change in speed to improve safety at a mid-block pedestrian crossing at Tara Boulevard.