Green Tree council approves $8,000 traffic study, advances crosswalk work after resident safety complaints

Green Tree Borough Council on Monday voted to hire a traffic engineering firm and to begin near-term crosswalk and pavement-marking work after residents pressed the council about dangerous conditions on Green Tree Road and several neighborhood streets.

Council approved a proposal from David E. Worcester and Associates for traffic engineering services — a package that includes data collection and traffic-calming recommendations for School Street, Tahoe Drive and Roadside — at a cost of $8,000. The motion passed by voice vote.

The vote followed public comment from resident Robert (10 Crestmont Drive), who urged the borough to install a lighted pedestrian crossing at the crest of Green Tree Road between Banbury Lane and Crestmont Drive. "I really think that we ought to look at putting a similar lighted crossing on Green Tree Road between the neighboring dust lines," Robert said during the hearing of citizens.

Council members and public safety staff said the engineering study will provide data-driven recommendations and that some short-term measures will begin before the study is complete. Councilmember Ray, who chairs the public safety committee, told the meeting the committee had reviewed options and asked borough staff to implement recommendations from the borough engineer. The committee asked manager Judy Miller to begin line painting and to explore additional warning devices and signage for the Banbury/Green Tree Road crossing.

Police and public safety leaders said enforcement and targeted monitoring will continue alongside engineering work. Acting Chief Rainer said the department investigates speeding complaints daily and will work with the engineering team on timing and locations for data collection.

What the study will do and what residents will see

The traffic engineering contract calls for traffic counts, speed measurements and a traffic-calming assessment that may recommend physical changes (curbing, signage, high-visibility crosswalks) or enforcement strategies. Council said it will post details on the borough website when deployment of speed-counting or data collection equipment begins; the firm can start within about two weeks of the council vote.

Councilmembers said short-term actions — new pavement markings and lane striping at the Banbury/Green Tree Road crossing — are already authorized and will be scheduled as soon as crews are available. Longer-term changes will depend on the study's recommendations and on funding.

Why this matters

Green Tree Road is a heavily used arterial in the borough; residents and school families told the council the crest near Crestmont and Banbury creates limited sight lines for pedestrians and school-bus users. Council approved the $8,000 study to create an evidence base for any traffic-calming investments and to support requests for outside grants if larger construction is recommended.

What the council approved

- Approval: Proposal from David E. Worcester and Associates for traffic engineering services covering traffic data collection and calming studies for School Street, Tahoe Drive and Roadside; cost $8,000. (Motion passed by voice vote.)

Next steps

Borough staff will schedule the pavement marking and line-painting work at the Banbury/Green Tree Road crossing and notify residents when data-collection equipment will be deployed. The engineering firm will deliver a report with recommended actions and cost estimates for council consideration.

For reference, the council's public safety committee will host a separate public discussion about deer management and other safety items at a later meeting; residents raised several safety topics during the meeting's public-comment period.