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Harris Township reviews draft traffic-calming policy, board requests refinements
Summary
Staff presented a draft traffic-calming policy using PennDOT guidance; boardmembers asked for a petition threshold based on percentage rather than flat signature counts, noted equipment costs and enforcement limits, and requested staff fine-tune the draft for follow-up.
Township staff presented a draft traffic-calming policy that would create a Local Transportation Advisory Committee (LTAC), set engineering and public-engagement requirements, and establish thresholds for when studies and calming devices are warranted.
The draft relies on PennDOT guidance and peer-municipality practices. Staff said studies would generally use the 80th-percentile speed to set thresholds (examples given were 5, 7 or 10 mph over the posted limit) and noted a screening metric of about 400 vehicles per day used in those standards. The memo also noted the township currently lacks data-collection equipment and estimated a speed-monitoring unit at roughly $7,000.
Board members asked staff to consider a percentage-based petition threshold for short or low-volume streets, instead of a flat "10 property owners" rule; several members cited Academy Street as an example where few houses generate local safety concerns despite lower traffic counts. Lisa Holland, speaking for Academy Street residents, said the problem there is sidewalk absence and children walking home from school as much as vehicle count.
Supervisors also raised implementation concerns including funding for devices and staff capacity to manage multiple simultaneous studies. Several members endorsed adopting a policy to provide consistent criteria before implementing calming devices. Staff agreed to collect feedback and return a revised draft for further discussion, including potential budget language for next year to acquire monitoring equipment.
