Resident asks council for update on New and Chestnut intersection and Veterans Park crosswalks; state road may require PennDOT approval

During public comment, Lisa Kearns, a Westchester resident, asked the council for an update on a safety request she and other residents have pursued for six months concerning the New and Chestnut intersection by St. Agnes and crosswalks near Veterans Park.

Why it matters: Residents said they had requested traffic calming measures such as painted crosswalks and signage. The intersection’s ownership affects what the borough can do: borough staff told the meeting the street in question is a state road.

Kearns said, "Sometimes I feel like I'm whistling into the wind here," and asked whether anything had happened on the intersection or at Veterans Park. Council President Lisa Dorsey replied, "I don't have an update on that, but I will commit to you that we will have an update by the work session next week." A borough staff member and Don Anderson from public works told Kearns that because the roadway is a state road, the borough will look into how to apply to PennDOT for changes.

What happens next: Council President Dorsey committed to bring an update at the next work session. No formal action was recorded at the meeting; staff said they would pursue multiple angles, including potential PennDOT processes for a state-owned road.

Notes and limitations: The transcript records that the roadway was described as a state road and that PennDOT may need to be involved; the meeting did not record a completed PennDOT application or a timeline for implementation.