Trail group urges conditions on waterfront development to reduce bike-pedestrian conflicts

Joanne Foster, vice president of the Regional Trail Corporation (RTC), asked council to condition approval of a proposed waterfront development on measures to protect a busy two-way trail that runs along Waterfront Drive.

Foster warned the current plan could add three new trail crossings on a two-way section that already carries heavy trail and vehicle traffic. “Additional cross traffic will introduce new dangers to bike riders, pedestrians, and car drivers,” she said, and asked the borough to require a traffic-and-safety study by a mutually agreeable traffic engineer as one of four conditions.

RTC asked the borough to also require the developer to provide road and driveway signage reminding drivers of bicycle and pedestrian right-of-way, to paint the trail surface green at conflict points, and to participate in meetings convened by the borough with adjacent property owners to discuss possible relocation of the trail off the road. Foster said RTC would fund a feasibility study if the borough assembles property owners for that discussion.

Council members asked clarifying questions about the planning commission schedule and whether the conditional requests could be included in the March 18 consideration for the land-development plan. Staff said the planning commission had recommended approval; council members signaled interest in pursuing RTC’s safety suggestions and noted the request would be taken up in the upcoming meeting.

RTC filed printed comments with the council and offered to engage further during the development-review process.