Speed Cameras Can Slow Down Traffic - Why Not in Pennsylvania?

Reckless and dangerous speeding that results in the loss of innocent lives still occurs on Roosevelt Boulevard, despite the expenditure of nearly 3 millions of dollars by PennDOT to improve safety along one of the region's most dangerous highways. According to PennDOT, over the past 5 years, car crashes on the Boulevard have killed 40 people, and caused 57 to suffer major injuries, 343 suffer moderate injuries and 1103 to suffer minor injuries.

Last July, two men drag racing on Roosevelt Boulevard at speeds up to 73 MPH killed a young 28 year-old mother and three of her four sons, ages 7 years old, 23 months old and 4 months old, as they were crossing the 12-lane highway.

PennDOT's safety efforts have included "[signalizing] five mid-block crosswalks; removing five mid-block crosswalks; installing twelve pull-off areas in the median to provide police a safe location for enforcement and a visual presence; enhancing median pedestrian refuge areas in two locations; and installing speed advisory signs on three bridges over the Boulevard."

One solution not yet tried would be to install cameras that monitor speeds and enforce speed limits. Currently, speed cameras are illegal in Pennsylvania, but State Senator Mike Stack has introduced legislation to make it permissible for PennDOT to use them.

PenTrans is holding a panel discussion on January 31st about speed cameras, hosted by Senator Mike Stack. You can attend by registering here.

Panelists:
Michael Fagin, Insurance Institute of Highway Safety
Chief Charles Ramsey, Philadelphia Police Department
Andrew W. Schauder, American Traffic Solutions, Inc.™
Jenny Robinson, AAA Mid-Atlantic

Friday, January 31. 8:00 - 10:00 AM

Where:
Pepper Hamilton LLP
3000 Logan Square
18th and Arch Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19103

PennDOT Extends Susquehanna Rd Bike Lanes in Montgomery County

In 2010 PennNDOT added bike lanes to Susquehanna Rd from Twining Rd in Upper Dublin Township to Hillside Cemetery in Abington Township. And while we noted that some elements of those bike lanes did not meet AASHTO design guidelines, it did represent one of PennDOT's first significant efforts to put bike lanes on suburban roads. (The same project also created bike lanes on Old Baltimore Pike in Chester County and the signed Bicyclists Baltimore Pike Bike Route in Delaware County.)

New bike lanes on Susquehanna Rd. (photo: Steve Spindler)

Now PennDOT has extended those bike lanes to Route 611 (Old York Rd), meaning those bike lanes really go somewhere. They now connect to Highland Ave (a bikeable street parallel to Route 611), providing access to Abington Hospital and Jenkintown.

As trails and transportation planner Mike Szilagyi stated on the Biking the Suburbs Facebook group - "Until recently, the stretch of Susquehanna Road from Easton Road to Old York Rd was "sort of" striped as a four lane road, the result being some motorists forcing the issue (speeding and passing where they shouldn't). The new striping will have ONE lane in each direction, with left turn lanes at intersections, and bike lanes. A big improvement."

The bike lanes were actually put in before Abington accepted a Bikeway Occupancy Permit (the Township has tabled a resolution to sign the permit) which is contrary to PennDOT's policy. Additionally the agreement prescribes that the Township also take the maintenance responsibility for the original section of bike lanes up to the Upper Dublin Township Line. At the time of construction PennDOT did not require Abington or Upper Dublin to sign one.

This disconnect may be due to the informal policy procedure that PennDOT has for signing of a BOP, which was first referenced in 2006. We only know of one road segment where the municipality actually signed an agreement. Last year the Borough of Trainer signed a BOP for a one mile stretch of bike lanes on US 13 as part of the East Coast Greenway.

Remembering Dave Bachman, 1951-2012

On July 7th we lost one of the most important members of the Pennsylvania cycling community. After a morning bike ride with his son, Dave Bachman fell asleep watching the Tour de France and never woke up. He was 61 and had the distinction of being PennDOT's only full-time bicycle and pedestrian coordinator from1992 to 2008.

Dave facilitated the Southeast PA Bicycle Issues Task Force along with Assistant Coordinator Patti Marshall and PennDOT District 6 coordinators Karl Kieffer and Matt Bochanski. The task force was a forum for local bike advocates and planners. Among its accomplishments was preserving bike access to Valley Forge after the Betzwood Bridge was closed, and a re-striping policy which sought to widen shoulders on state roads at the time of re-striping. David often said that there was nowhere else in the state where support for bicycling was so strong.

Q&A Meeting April 5th On Upcoming Walnut Lane Bridge Rehab

The Walnut Lane Bridge, as seen by a golden retriever in 1998

PennDOT is beginning a project to rehab the Walnut Lane Bridge over the Wissahickon. They are hosting a public meeting for those interested in learning more about the project.

Date: Thursday, April 5th
Time: 5:00 - 7:30 pm (come anytime)
Location: The Kendrick Recreation Center, 5822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19128 (across the street from the Roxborough Memorial Hospital)

At this meeting, you can see plans detailing the proposed work to repair the bridge. The PennDOT design team will be on hand to answer questions, collect comments and concerns. Insights gained during this meeting will inform the project to provide the greatest benefit to the local community (to paraphrase their press release).

Statewide Transportation Commission Holds Philadelphia Public Hearing

Every couple of years, PennDOT asks the public for input on the Commonwealth's transportation projects and policies. Over the summer, the new Corbett Administration's State Transportation Commission has been holding hearings to gather public comment on PennDOT's 2013 Twelve Year Transportation Program Update. The Commission is holding its last hearing for the South East PA region at the offices of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission on Friday, September 16th. (6th and Arch Street, 8th Floor) at 10am.

The State Transportation Commission is made up of legislators and Pennsylvania residents appointed by Governor Corbett.

The Commission sets policy direction with respect to the development of the Commonwealth’s Twelve Year Transportation Program. The Twelve Year Transportation Program is biennially adopted by the Commission as the blueprint for improving Pennsylvania’s transportation system. This program is then submitted to the Governor, the General Assembly and the Secretary of Transportation. Decisions regarding how available transportation funds are to be used for a variety of proposed rail, roadway, bridge, transit, pedalcycle (motorcycle and bicycle), pedestrian, and airport improvement projects are made through the transportation planning and programming process.

This is an important opportunity to praise PennDOT for what it is doing right and propose how it can improve some of its policies to facilitate better bicycle/pedestrian projects. You can testify on the state's transportation policies, how transportation funding is allocated, or about any particular transportation project(s). Anyone is welcome to testify at the September 16th hearing. Here is a "guidance" document on the State's Twelve Year Program.

If you are interested in testifying at Friday's hearing, you must fill out an "abstract form" and email it to RA-PennDOTSTC@state.pa.us by September 9th. Unfortunately, there is no directly web link to PennDOT's "abstract form."

So, please follow PennDOT's instructions on how finding the "abstract form" to fill out in order to testify.

All individuals wishing to submit an abstract electronically can do so by accessing the Department’s website at http://www.dot.state.pa.us. Click on the “Public Participation 2013 Program Update” button on the lower-right hand side on the screen. When the next webpage opens, select the “2013 Transportation Project Abstract Form Electronic Submission” link (on the left) to access the guidelines and electronic form.

You can also submit written testimony by September 30th by emailing it to: RA-PennDOTSTC@state.pa.us or mailing it to: Mr. Nolan Ritchie, Executive Secretary State Transportation Commission PO Box 3633 Harrisburg, PA 17105-3633

The Bicycle Coalition will testify at this hearing on state funding for bicycle/pedestrian projects for Philadelphia and the surrounding suburban counties.

PCTI Funding Awards include $1.3 Million for the Manayunk Bridge Trail

PennDOT Announces $24.7 Million for Smart Transportation Projects in 41 Communities

The Pennsylvania Community Transportation Initiative, or PCTI, is a competitive funding program to support and encourage local transportation projects that exemplify the goals of Smart Transportation.

PennDOT received 238 applications from cities, boroughs, townships, Metropolitan and Rural Planning Organizations, transit agencies and advocacy groups requesting more than $175 million. The list of successful projects support local economic development; encourage walkable, multimodal, mixed-use development; improve regional connectivity; or enhance the existing transportation network.

In our region, 3 projects (two in Philadelphia and one in Chester County) will directly address bicycle access and mobility.  Congratulations to the City of Philadelphia, Delaware River Waterfront Corporation and Chester County Planning Department!

• $1,300,000 to build a trail on the Manayunk Railroad Bridge to connect the Schuylkill River and Cynwyd Trails.
• $1,100,000 for the Race Street Pier Connector Project to improve connectivity including bike lanes along Race Street to connect the Old City neighborhood with the Race Street Pier and the Columbus Blvd waterfront.
• $85,000 to complete a bicycle and pedestrian multi-municipal master plan emphasizing linkages to regional trails and access to transportation centers in central Chester County.

Full a full list of projects go to the press release.


2005 BCGP rendering of the Manayank Bridge Path

Bicycle Projects at the Bottom of PennDOT Wish List

Many thanks to Representative Babette Josephs who sent a letter to PennDOT Secretary Biehler asking him to release the list to the public. On January 16th, PennDOT issued its "Candidate Highway and Bridge Project for Expanded Federal Funding through Stimulus Legislation" list. Unfortunately, PennDOT does not make bicycle or pedestrian projects a priority. Its vision is limited to resurfacing roads and repairing bridges.


Out of 200+ projects, PennDOT recommends only one (1) bicycle project--the Chester Valley Trail for $18 million. Out of a set of projects that adds up to $1.5 Billion, PennDOT is proposing to spend 1.2% on enhancing one path for bicycling.


Only three Philadelphia projects are proposed: Platt Bridge ($18 M), ADA Ramps ($12M), Girard Point Bridge ($66M) totalling $96M; which is 6.4% of PennDOT's proposed projects. How is it that the state's largest city only warrants 6.4% of the state's spending on infrastructure? This proposal lacks creativity and vision of a green transportation infrastructure.


How will Pennsylvania ever reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles if it only rebuilds roads and doesn't build and extend new bike paths? How will Pennsylvania encourage more people to bike or walk to work or for short trips? It is deplorable that Pennsylvania is not taking advantage of this great opportunity.

Solving the PENNDOT Bike Ped Coordinator Crisis

Following up to an earlier post PENNDOT's Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator positions are in crisis. The 12,000 employee agency has reassigned the State position to planning and is currently vacant, while each district has assigned bike ped coordinator duties to a district employee as an extra task.
















The Bicycle Coalition expects PennDOT to fill the state position quickly as required by federal law.

Additionally we would like for PennDOT to consider alternatives to the district coordinators. A possibility that has been talked about for a long time is the option of two or three"circuit riders".
Fully qualified full time bike/ped coordinators who would divide their time in multiple districts.

PennDOT Shuffles Bike Ped Coordinator Position

While Philadelphia has hired its first full time Bike Ped Coordinator, PennDOT's Bike Ped Program appears to be in transition. Dave Bachman has been reassigned and the Bicycle Pedestrian Position has been moved to Bureau of Design.

The support for Bicycle Pedestrian program has been slowly eroding over the past few years. At one time Mr. Bachman had an assistant Patti Marshall, meanwhile it has been rumored that some rural district coordinators are only devoting a few hours a year to bike ped issues. Matt Bochanski who retired two years ago as the District 6 Coordinator (our region) once devoted up to 40% of his time to bike-ped issues but we have had very little interaction with current coordinator Steve Dunlap, who told us that his bicycle pedestrian hours will be curtailed.

Perhaps most disturbing development is that this important position is now vacant, we sincerely hope that PENNDOT names an interim State Bike Ped Coordinator immediately. We remain optimistic that the reshuffling along with the miserable ranking from the Bicycle Friendly States evaluation will spur much needed reform in the PENNDOT program.

Market and 29th Street (30th Street Station)

On April 17th, we called PennDOT and their consulting engineers, Urban Engineers, about the hazardous situation that has been created by the JFK Boulevard bridge work at Market and 29th. Pedestrians going east and west on the northern side of Market Street are forced to walk into oncoming vehicular traffic to cross the street. There are no signs indicating what pedestrians should do to cross safely. The Urban Engineer rep promised to look into it. We've taken some "before" pictures and video and will wait a few days to see if the situation improves.

Video by John Boyle