The Reporter (Lansdale, PA)

Residents raise concerns about road safety

- By John Worthingto­n jworthingt­on@montgomery­news.com

“This is getting more dangerous. If something happens to someone, the people will have a right to sue the borough for not closing that road.”

— Resident

Perkasie residents expressed concerns about road safety hazards in the borough at the Perkasie Borough Council meeting Monday evening.

One concern addressed the overhangin­g trees on Blooming Glen Road. A 7th Street resident raised alarm about heavy winds knocking tree limbs onto the road and endangerin­g motorists. She invited every council member to walk up and down the windy stretch of road between 7th Street and Ridge Road to fully grasp the public safety hazard.

“This is getting more dangerous,” said the resident. “If something happens to someone, the people will have a right to sue the borough for not closing that road.”

In response, borough manager Andrea Coaxum said that the borough already has an ordinance that prohibits hazardous trees from endangerin­g a public road. Borough solicitor Jeff Garton further noted that the borough can take action, including by putting liens on the properties, if the issue is deemed a public hazard and is not addressed by the property owners. They both agreed to investigat­e the issue.

Another concern addressed speeding on Walnut Street. A 5th Street resident applauded the business growth in the area but expressed unease about the subsequent increase in traffic and unsafe driving, particular­ly the illegal righthand turns onto Main Street at The Perk intersecti­on where many pedestrian­s cross. She highlighte­d the success of Perkasie’s first Ale Trail at January’s Winter Wanderland celebratio­n and noted that future Ale Trails will generate more pedestrian activity on the street.

“I’m not here to say, let’s get speed bumps, but something has got to be done to lower the speed with which people are going through there. People are just blazing,” she said. “And there’s just too many pedestrian­s, children getting off the school bus, people trying to cross at the Perk.”

In response, Coaxum said that The Perk intersecti­on will be striped “when weather permits” to prevent motorists from making illegal right-hand turns onto Main Street. She also revealed that the borough has plans to facilitate traffic and improve pedestrian movement at the Walnut and 5th Street intersecti­on but is currently waiting on a grant to fund the project.

A resident additional­ly called attention to street parking on Walnut Street narrowing the stretch of road between Bravos Pizza and 5th Street. Coaxum responded that the borough has expanded the “no parking” section and is currently monitoring the situation to determine if further action is needed.

Turning to official business, council discussed the status of the Kulp Park improvemen­t project. The project aims to refurbish the baseball field, add dugouts, install stadium lights and build bigger stands to accommodat­e a larger crowd. The project also seeks to upgrade the basketball court by resurfacin­g the court and updating the lighting. Council noted that the project’s cost is higher than anticipate­d and that additional revenue sources are currently being explored.

Additional­ly, council passed an ordinance allowing the mayor and the police chief to impound abandoned vehicles and assess penalties and violations of up to $1,000. The ordinance also imposes restrictio­ns and prohibitio­ns on nuisance vehicles, i.e. vehicles that are heavily damaged and/or inoperable, but permits their storage in enclosed facilities and allows the police to inspect the vehicle’s interior for compliance purposes.

Council also approved a Homerun 5k event by the Pennridge Little League on Saturday, May 20 from 7 to 11 a.m. and welcomed a new police officer, 22-year-old Alexander Embrose of Feastervil­le.

The next Perkasie Borough Council meeting is on March 20 at 7 p.m. For more informatio­n, visit perkasiebo­rough.org.

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