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PennDOT presents Rt. 29 safety plan; residents raise stormwater and sidewalk concerns
Summary
PennDOT presented proposed safety improvements for Rt. 29/Chestnut Street on Aug. 4, and residents raised concerns about stormwater draining toward railroad tracks, missing sidewalk connections and lack of notice. PennDOT provided a project contact and said design and permitting questions remain.
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation staff presented proposed safety improvements for Route 29/Chestnut Street from Colebrook Avenue to near Route 100 during the Upper Milford Township Board of Supervisors meeting on Aug. 4, 2022, and answered residents’ questions about stormwater, sidewalks and permitting.
PennDOT presenters identified in the record included Nicki Jacobs and Project Manager Eric Berg, along with Brad Dicola, Xavier Riva and Chris Messner. Several residents said the design as shown on the project maps appears to direct stormwater toward railroad tracks adjacent to private properties. Resident Mark Feiertag asked that project staff inspect drainage near his property and meet him on site to address his concerns. Resident Shelly Zgura asked whether the stormwater details shown on the plan would adequately address runoff along Rt. 29 and Beck Road and whether wetland study results affecting private property had been provided to affected landowners.
Colt Hershinger questioned how the presentation was advertised and whether residents received adequate notice of the meeting. Peter Terry asked whether existing driveways within the project limits would require new Highway Occupancy permits; a PennDOT presenter said that in some cases permits are not required for older driveways. The board was also told the bridge included in the project was not designed for a pedestrian walking path, and that not all proposed sidewalk segments would connect continuously to the existing sidewalk on Chestnut Street.
PennDOT provided contact information for the project, naming Eric Berg as Project Manager and listing a phone number (484-838-5329) and an email address (c-eberg@pa.gov) for follow-up. No formal action or vote on the project was taken by the Board at the meeting. The presentation was recorded as informational and followed by a question-and-answer period in which PennDOT staff answered residents’ design, stormwater and permitting questions and described next steps and timing as subject to the agency’s internal review and scheduling processes.
The Township did not adopt or reject any element of the PennDOT plan at this meeting; residents requesting property visits or additional design detail were advised to contact the PennDOT project manager.
