Whitpain board approves ordinance to add stop signs
Drivers will be coming to a stop at 19 more locations throughout :KLWSDLQ, EuW WUDIfiF FRQWURO PHDsures at one dangerous intersection have been halted for further study.
The Whitpain Board of Supervisors adopted an ordinance that will install a total of 19 stop signs at its Oct. 16 meeting.
The ordinance, which was the subject of a public hearing at the board’s Oct. 2 meeting, will install stop signs and other safety measures at two intersections, add stop signs at intersections within residential developments and create a no parking zone along Township Line Road (south) between Cassel Drive and Talbot Road.
The two main intersections impacted by the ordinance are that of Yost and Cortez roads on the western edge of the township and Oak Street and Railroad Avenue in West Ambler.
Currently, there are no stop signs on Yost where it meets Cortez as the road makes backto-back turns. Township staff said the sight distance for drivers making a turn from Cortez onto Yost was more than 100 feet less than what it should be at some angles, causing a safety concern.
With the ordinance approved, stop signs will be installed on both sides of Yost, creating a three-way stop. Additionally, the township will install increased VLJQDJH, OLQH PDUNLQJV, D flDVKLQJ warning device and other signs along Yost to warn drivers of the upcoming stop signs.
While the proposed signs received no opposition in the Oct. 2 public hearing, Bob McDougall, who lives near the intersection, said he felt the board was creating a hazardous situation where drivers stopped on Yost are likely to be rear ended.
“You’re putting us at risk every time we stop at that stop sign,” he said.
Joan Shal, of Cortez Road, countered, saying she “totally supported” the ordinance because “we need the stop signs.”
Meanwhile, the change in West Ambler will create a three-way stop at Oak and Railroad.
This intersection has long been a safety concern for residents, HVSHFLDOOy JLYHQ WKH WUuFN WUDIfiF due to the BoRit Asbestos site, according to township staff.
The board unanimously approved the ordinance.
The ordinance, however, had been revised from its original version to eliminate proposed stop signs at one accident-prone intersection — something that prompted questions from several residents.
Originally, the ordinance had proposed installing two stop signs along Wentz Road where it meets Cherry Lane and Plowshare Road to create a four-way stop. There have been 14 reportable accidents LQ WKH SDVW fiYH yHDUV DW WKH LQWHUsection, which prompted the deVLUH IRU VWRS VLJQV, RIfiFLDOV VDLG DW the previous meeting.
nuestions from residents and board members, however, caused the township to remove the intersection from the ordinance, according to township Solicitor Jim Garrity. Township staff will study options for the intersection further and present a proposed amendment to the ordinance at a later date.
“We did hear concerns from people in the audience and the board of supervisors that just needed to be studied further,” Township Manager Roman Pronczak said.
Pronczak said that investigaWLRQ wLOO ORRN DW wKHWKHU D WUDIfiF signal would be better than stop signs, whether the signs would potentially produce delays, whether advanced warning signs would be needed and other factors.
“We don’t want to solve one problem and create another,” he said. “The staff has a little bit more homework to do.”
Several residents expressed concern something wasn’t being done about the intersection at this time, saying they feared another accident could occur.
“We certainly have not abandoned a solution for this intersection,” board Chairman Joseph Palmer said. “We’re just as concerned as you.”
7UDIfiF HQJLQHHULQJ fiUP 0FMahon Associates has already begun to look further at the intersection, and the staff expects to present a solution for the intersection to the board at either its Nov. 20 or Dec. 4 meeting, according to Pronczak.