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Board votes to support township traffic-circle grant but presses for school safety measures
Summary
Dover Area SD directors voted unanimously to send a letter supporting the township's grant application for a traffic circle at Harmony Grove and Route 74, while repeatedly urging inclusion of crosswalk lighting and other safety measures and noting PennDOT approval is required for any traffic signal.
The board voted to provide a letter of support for the township's grant application for a proposed traffic circle at Harmony Grove and Route 74, but directors pressed township representatives and staff to secure measures to protect students and bus operations.
Director Meese described the request and said the committee had been asked to provide "support" (not permission) for the township's grant application. Engineer Terry Myers (present for the township) estimated the crosswalk lights the district wants could cost roughly $27,000 to $40,000; he suggested the expense could be incorporated into the larger $3,000,000 project if the township so chose.
Directors emphasized the current safety challenges at the Canal and Intermediate intersection, noting the district no longer has a crossing guard after a guard was struck by a vehicle. "Our crossing guard was struck by a vehicle. So we no longer have a crossing guard," Superintendent Dr. Hauck said, and she warned the district may have to contract outside coverage if it cannot hire a walking crossing guard before school starts.
Board members repeatedly urged the township to write crosswalk signals or other safety features into grant plans. Several directors noted that PennDOT, not the township, controls approvals for traffic signals on state roads and that traffic-signal installation requires meeting traffic-justification metrics. Directors also discussed timelines: engineers said construction could start as early as 2027 if land acquisition and other steps proceed.
A motion to amend the agenda to consider an off-agenda request passed unanimously (8–0), and the motion to provide the township a letter of support carried by voice vote (8 yes). Directors said the support letter should not be construed as a substitute for continued negotiation on safety commitments, and they asked administration to make future communications with the township public and to seek funding options through state representatives' offices for crosswalk lighting.
The district separately discussed the crossing-guard position and whether to outsource it; that item will return to committee.
