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Hatfield council discusses 'Bike More, Drive Less' audit and temporary traffic-calming pilots
Summary
Council members described a two-year 'Bike More, Drive Less' grant (AARP-supported through a regional partnership) that will fund a borough bike audit, identify intersection improvements and permit temporary traffic-calming trials to test measures before permanent construction.
Hatfield Borough Council spent a substantive portion of its July 17 meeting discussing participation in a 'Bike More, Drive Less' grant that would fund a borough bike audit and feasibility work on bicycle infrastructure and traffic‑calming measures.
Public Safety committee members said the borough will partner with Hatfield Township and a regional transportation management association (TMA) to carry out a two‑year grant-funded audit. Manager Jamie E. Snider and committee members described the grant as enabling an audit (AARP-supported), intersection reviews, painted crosswalk experiments and temporary traffic‑calming trials — pilot installations that can be tested before the borough commits capital funds for permanent features such as speed bumps or delineators.
Council members noted examples from neighboring municipalities where the grant supported bike lanes and produced meaningful mode-shift: staff cited an example in Upper Gwynedd and Lansdale where adding a dedicated lane corresponded with a reported 68% increase in observed bicycle traffic. Committee members emphasized resident engagement in the audit process, including opportunities to pin desired improvements on a shared map and serve on feasibility committees. The grant team will solicit public input and hopes to coordinate with other planned crosswalk projects already funded through CTP and multimodal transportation grants.
Why it matters: The audit can identify feasible locations for bicycle infrastructure in an older borough street network where narrow roadways and curbside parking constrain options. Temporary pilots reduce the risk of permanent, costly construction by allowing the borough to assess effectiveness and resident response before spending capital funds.
Next steps: Staff said they will produce a fall informer notice inviting residents and bicyclists to participate and will report back to council with details about the audit timeline, volunteer committees and any options that could be funded in subsequent budgets.
