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Engineers and council discuss Airport Road and Parkview Boulevard signal plans, crosswalk safety for new elementary school
Summary
Council heard a staff briefing and engineer commentary on signalization and crosswalk design near the new elementary school site; topics included countdown timers, leading pedestrian intervals, audible signals, stamped crosswalks, sidewalks, and grant opportunities such as DCED Safe Walks and Green Light Go.
An engineering update on Feb. 15 walked Bellefonte Borough Council members through planned traffic signals and pedestrian crossings at Airport Road and Parkview Boulevard associated with a new elementary school and the Parkview Heights/Zion Road intersection.
The matter is significant because the signalized crossings lie adjacent to school property and several council members and residents flagged existing pedestrian safety concerns at wide, angled intersections used by students and other walkers.
Nick Shaffer, the borough's project engineer, said the Airport Road intersection will receive a traffic signal and a single crosswalk with pedestrian countdown timers. "The crossing will have countdown pedestrian timers ... that will give the pedestrian that's crossing an idea of how long they have to cross," Shaffer said, adding that the signal will stop Airport Road traffic while pedestrians cross.
Shaffer and staff also discussed the Zion Road/Parkview Boulevard intersection, which earlier studies found warranted a signal. For that crossing, engineers plan a leading pedestrian interval that gives walkers a head start before turning traffic moves. Shaffer said borough staff discussed audible pedestrian signals (a beeping or chirping tone activated at the push button) and that PennDOT is considering a new requirement for audible signals on new installations. "We have asked PennDOT if they're gonna require it here. I haven't heard back from them at this point yet, but we will install if they want them," Shaffer said.
Council members and residents pressed for additional measures to improve safety. Ideas discussed included stamped (textured/colored) crosswalks to increase visibility, "no turn on red" signage or blank‑out signs on mast arms to prevent right turns during pedestrian phases, rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) and high‑visibility fluorescent signage. Engineers said PennDOT will not permit RRFBs at signalized intersections (they are allowed at unsignalized or mid‑block crossings) and that stamped crosswalks and additional signage remain possible with PennDOT and school district approval. Shaffer said the design team will evaluate adding audible signals and could recommend a leading pedestrian interval at the Airport Road signal as well.
Council members also discussed sidewalk extensions and the possibility of inserting a sidewalk on the west side of Parkview Boulevard. Staff noted the project could be packaged with multiple grant programs and identified DCED's Safe Walks / Safe Routes to School and multimodal grant programs, as well as Green Light Go, as potential funding sources. One council member observed that including sidewalk work could strengthen a multimodal grant application.
Staff asked the council whether it wanted to include sidewalks in the project scope so the design and funding strategy could reflect that preference. Several council members and attendees urged more safety measures near the school, with one resident calling the existing Airport Road crossing "very hazardous" and asking the borough to pursue the most protective options feasible.
Ending: Engineers and staff said they will continue design coordination with PennDOT and the school district, explore stamped crosswalks and additional signage, and follow up on audible‑signal requirements and grant packaging; no council vote was required at the meeting.
