Franklin Park council endorses design and permitting for Rochester Road sidewalk and flashing beacon after safety concerns

Franklin Park Borough Council on May 21 agreed to proceed with engineering and PennDOT permitting for a proposed sidewalk extension and a rapid-flashing beacon on Rochester Road near Franklin Park, after council members described near-misses and urged action to improve pedestrian safety.

Council members heard that an LSSE estimate, including engineering fees, puts the full project at about $93,000. A staff breakdown cited a crossing system at about $25,000, ADA-compliant ramps and tactile warning surfaces at roughly $11,000, engineering at about $15,000 and a roughly 10% contingency (about $10,000). The proposed sidewalk area is about 375 square feet.

The project would add sidewalk and two rapid-flashing beacons at the crossing, plus connections to existing sidewalk on the far side adjacent to Franklin Park. Council members and residents said the site draws pedestrians of all ages and that motorists round a curve there, creating a safety risk.

"Worst scenario would be if we don't do this, somebody may get hurt or injured or worse," Mayor Dennis O'Keefe said, describing children and families crossing the road near the park. He said he had witnessed a near-miss in which a quiet electric vehicle surprised a child.

Staff noted that PennDOT typically requires enhanced protection for crosswalks on Rochester Road and that the borough could not rely on a simple painted crosswalk because state rules favor uninterrupted traffic flow on that road. Council members discussed seeking grants but were warned that pursuing outside funding would likely push construction beyond this year.

Council members asked whether borough crews could do the concrete sidewalk work to reduce costs; staff estimated that doing the sidewalk in-house might save $5,000 to $10,000 but that components such as the flashing beacons and signal equipment must be purchased and installed by contractors. Council members also discussed staging: complete design and permitting now, advertise bids late in the year, and set a contractor start date in the spring to avoid winter construction impacts.

The council agreed in principle to move forward with engineering and permit applications this year and to stage construction in a subsequent budget cycle, pending final budget review and PennDOT approvals. No formal roll-call vote was recorded in the pre-meeting minutes provided.

Officials said the borough will also look for grant opportunities and aim to produce bid documents so the project can be advertised by fall if the council approves funding. Staff cautioned that permitting and equipment lead times make late-season construction impractical; timing estimates discussed during the meeting indicated permitting and design would likely occupy the remainder of the calendar year and construction would occur in a later season.

Council members said they will examine the borough budget during the next review to determine whether the larger project can be funded this year or should be scheduled for the next capital cycle.