Streetscape proposals to be discussed

by JAMES STURDIVANT

An upcoming PennDOT improvement project along Germantown Avenue may provide an opportunity to fund significant streetscape improvements in Chestnut Hill, Chestnut Hill Community Association traffic and transportation committee chair Robert Previdi said this week. The committee will hold a meeting on Tuesday, July 26 at 7 p.m. at Hiram Lodge to discuss several proposals made by the CHCA and in the recently released Cope Linder streetscape study.

“I think it’s important that the community see this as an opportunity to enhance the lower part of the Hill sooner rather than later. With PennDOT scheduled to start construction in 2008, the funding has already been allocated. We just need to tell them what we want,” Previdi said.

The PennDOT improvement project, slated to begin in August 2008, will rehabilitate Germantown Avenue between Mermaid Lane and Allens Lane. Part of a two-phase Avenue facelift that also includes work between Church Lane and Ashmead Street in Germantown in 2007, the plans call for replacing pavement, installing new trolley tracks, curbs, sidewalks, traffic signals and signage.

PennDOT has begun meeting with the Chestnut Hill Community Association and business association to seek feedback on what additional elements should be included in the project. The work will take place along a portion of the Avenue already targeted for significant improvements, including streetscape work around the Cresheim Valley Drive pergola and a rails-to-trails project involving the old railway trestle near the Cresheim Valley Drive-Germantown Avenue intersection.

Cope Linder has recommended closing a portion of Winston Road between Germantown Avenue and Mermaid Lane to increase pedestrian safety; the CHCA had previously been looking into this idea as a traffic-calming measure. Some local residents, including CHCA board member Mitchell Melton, are opposed to the idea.

Community feedback on these proposals will be sought at the July meeting, and input on other elements residents might wish to see integrated into the plan will be solicited. Hiram Lodge is located at 8425 Germantown Avenue. Call Previdi at 215-248-1211 for more information.

CHCA Streetscape Petition

The CHCA traffic and transportation committee has distributed a petition for residents of Chestnut Hill’s east side to sign, asking the Streets Department to take steps to improve pedestrian safety on Winston Road. Those who wish to sign this petition may do so at this week’s committee meeting or by visiting the CHCA office at 8434 Germantown Ave.

PETITION TO STREETS DEPARTMENT

Whereas, the owners and residents of Winston Road from the 7700 block to the 8200 block and adjacent streets on the east side of Chestnut Hill are concerned about the safety of all residents, adults, children, parents with baby strollers, and pets crossing the street because of the excessive speed of most vehicles that use Winston Road and Ardleigh Street, and the speed and volume of traffic that use Willow Grove Avenue; and

Whereas, the Streets Department conducted a survey in the spring of 2005 using radar equipment that documented that the average daily traffic volume on Winston Road is 1,200 cars per day, 85 percent traveling above the posted speed limit of 25 miles per hour. On Willow Grove Avenue traffic volume registered over 10,000 daily users, with 40 percent traveling over the posted speed limit prior to the reopening of Cresheim Valley Drive; and

Whereas, over the past two years, six major crashes have occurred along Winston Road, each having an element of speeding involved; and

Whereas, the community has requested the assistance of Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller to sponsor a meeting with the Streets Commissioner and the Chestnut Hill Community Association president Maxine Dornemann. A meeting was held and many options were discussed; and

Whereas, the options include closing of Winston Road from Germantown Avenue to Mermaid Lane, installation of a bicycle lane in both directions from Mermaid Lane to the Water Tower Recreation Center, curb extensions (chokers) at crosswalks, and rumble strips; and

Whereas, on a separate initiative the Chestnut Hill Business Improvement District (CHBID) has commissioned Cope Linder, an established firm, to provide a streetscape improvement plan for Germantown Avenue from Cresheim Valley Drive to Chestnut Hill Avenue and Bethlehem Pike at the Chestnut Hill East R7 SEPTAstation. The CHBID consultants also recommended the closure of Winston Road between Germantown Avenue and Mermaid Lane to calm traffic and to make Germantown Avenue more pedestrian friendly; and

Whereas, in addition to the changes at the southern end of Winston Road, the neighbors would like to make it safer to cross into Winston Park for adults, children and pets. To that end the community recommends chokers [or bump-outs; see drawing on page 3] be installed at all corners surrounding Winston Park including, at the corner of Winston Road at Willow Grove Avenue, Woodale Avenue, Ardleigh Street and at the corner of Willow Grove Avenue and Ardleigh Street; and

Whereas, the community would also like to have a bicycle lane installed the full length of Winston Road to allow children and adults to more easily travel north and south within Chestnut Hill to and from the Water Tower Recreation Center; and

Whereas, the community would like these changes instituted along with a communications campaign using advertising and signage, and enforcement from the Police Department to send a message to drivers asking them to cooperate by driving the speed limit and obeying the laws regarding yield to pedestrians and bicyclists.

Therefore, through this petition the neighbors on the east side of Chestnut Hill show their support for these changes to make the community a safer place to walk and ride a bicycle.