Weeks after two streets in Lansdale were converted from one- to two-way, borough police say so far, so good.
“We’ve had no comments, complaints, or anything. It appears to be working fine,” said police Chief Mike Trail.
In mid-August, borough public works staff finished converting roughly two blocks each of Courtland Street and Susquehanna Avenue from one-way to two-way travel, after talks that began in early 2022 and a council vote in May 2023 authorizing them to do so.
Throughout the planning process, police and council members said the switch to two-way would increase access to borough parking lots, improve traffic flow, and create a new safe stopping zone for the North Penn Valley Boys and Girls Club on Susquehanna.
During council’s public safety committee meeting on Wednesday night, Trail told council members that officers have seen minimal problems so far, largely limited to drivers parking on what is now the wrong side of the road.
“We have had some vehicles that had to re-learn that the street is now bidirectional: cars were parking against the flow of traffic. We sent out warnings for about a two-week period, and we seem to have pretty much 100 percent compliance now,” he said.
Police are planning to meet with North Penn School District transportation staff next week to discuss how to handle bus drop-offs for the Boys and Girls Club.
“We’ll ask them to approach as they always have: using Susquehanna from Vine (Street), and then turning left onto Courtland, and then they’ll discharge the children directly onto the sidewalk” in a newly designated drop-off area on Courtland instead of in the roadway on Susquehanna, the chief said.
Trail added that he’s discussed the changes with borough economic development consultant Stephen Barth, who thought the changes would help make the newly vacant former Wells Fargo bank branch building at Susquehanna and Main Streets “much more accessible than it had been — hopefully, it’s going to be more marketable to new tenants,” Trail said.
Councilwoman Mary Fuller asked if police had seen any confused drivers or encountered issues during the town’s recent Founders Day and First Friday festivities, and Trail said they had not, crediting borough public works staff and traffic engineer Pennoni and Associates with thorough planning and prep work.
“Public Works did a great job marking the roadway and getting the signs out, the plan from Pennoni was well-thought-out. It really did alleviate a lot of concerns,” he said.
Councilman Andrew Carroll added that he’s been testing the new traffic patterns, and “it seems like it’s been flawless. I’ve been up and down it, in every direction so far, and great job to all involved.”
Lansdale’s borough council next meets at 7 p.m. on Sept. 20 and the public safety committee next meets at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 4, both at the borough municipal building, 1 Vine Street. For more information visit www.Lansdale.org.
This article appears courtesy of a content share agreement between North Penn Now and The Reporter. To read more stories like this, visit www.thereporteronline.com.
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