Traffic backs up at the intersection of Main and Broad streets in Lansdale. (MediaNews Group file photo)
Borough considers speed humps, curb bump outs, and enforcement to combat high speeds and cut-through traffic
Lansdale Borough issued an email to subscribers Thursday morning spotlighting its long-awaited traffic calming study, which was presented to the public in February.
This is a good time to review its findings again for communities affected by such disturbances, especially with the dog days of summer upon us.
The study recommends a series of road design changes and enforcement strategies to reduce speeding and discourage cut-through traffic in some of the borough’s most traveled residential areas — including the West Ward and the Norway Drive neighborhood by Wissahickon Park.
The study, completed by Pennoni Associates and presented to residents at a public meeting last fall, focused on three key areas: the Norway Drive neighborhood, the stretch of East Hancock Street and Oakland Avenue/Laurel Lane near Hancock Street Park, and the grid of streets that make up the historic West Ward.
The study found that some neighborhood roads see traffic volumes and speeds far exceeding what would be expected from the surrounding residential land use. Officials say that gap indicates non-local drivers are cutting through to avoid traffic signals, particularly at Main Street, Broad Street, and North Wales Road.
“Based on the speed, volume, and crash data, conversations with the borough staff, and field observations,” Pennoni wrote, “traffic calming measures are justified and recommended in the studied areas.”
Spring greenery can be seen on Delaware Avenue at Richardson Avenue, along a route to be studied by Lansdale police for speeding and traffic concerns, on Wednesday April 17 2024.
West Ward traffic counts support need for speed humps
For residents in the West Ward — bounded by White’s Road, Valley Forge Road (Route 363), Main Street/Welsh Road (Route 63), and South Broad Street — Pennoni recommended one speed hump each between Salford Avenue and Mitchell Avenue on six neighborhood streets: Derstine, Columbia, York, Mount Vernon, Delaware, and Perkiomen avenues.
This area, known for its dense grid of narrow roads, was one of the highest ranked for traffic calming by Lansdale Borough’s Public Safety Committee. In traffic counts taken in mid-2024, several of these streets registered volumes above what would be predicted by their residential zoning.
Delaware Avenue, for example, saw more than 670 daily trips, with roughly 28% of westbound drivers exceeding the 25 mph limit.
Speed humps, already in use elsewhere in the borough, are favored as an effective way to reduce speeds without permanently restricting traffic flow. The exact placement of each hump would be determined in a later field survey, with considerations for driveways, drainage, and emergency vehicle access.
Norway Drive: Cut-through capital of the borough
In the Norway Drive area near Knapp Road, the study found startling volumes of what it described as “excess traffic.” On average, 1,307 more vehicles per day used Norway Drive than would be expected from the surrounding land uses — nearly doubling the predicted volumes.
Speed was also a concern. The 85th percentile speeds (the standard used by PennDOT) were 34 mph in both directions, nearly 10 mph over the posted 25 mph limit.
Fifteen percent of northbound drivers were traveling more than 10 mph over the limit — enough to make enforcement feasible under current Pennsylvania law.
To slow traffic and deter drivers from bypassing Main Street, the study recommended:
Recommendations for Laurel Lane neighborhood
Across from the Wissahickon Park neighborhood — roughly bounded by Norway Drive, East Main Street, North Wales Road, and Knapp Road — the study focused on East Hancock Street, Laurel Lane, and Oakland Avenue.
Notably, Knapp Road was not analyzed directly in this phase of the study, though residents have raised concerns about inconsistent speed limits along the Montgomery Township border.
Key recommendations in the study included:
What happens next?
Funding remains the biggest hurdle. Speed humps installed by a contractor can cost up to $10,000 each, while ADA-compliant curb bump outs can cost between $10,000 and $20,000 per corner, depending on drainage needs.
The next Lansdale Borough Public Safety Committee meeting is Aug. 6 at 6:30 p.m. at Lansdale Borough Hall, followed by a council work session at 8 p.m.
