Lower Makefield residents press traffic commission for action on speeding and blind crossings

At an informational June 15 meeting of the Lower Makefield Citizens Traffic Commission, residents described recurring speeding, blind curves and unsafe pedestrian crossings and urged the commission to push for traffic-calming measures and clearer enforcement.

Residents concentrated their remarks on several local roads. Bob Harmon, a Lower Makefield resident of 25 years, said speeding on Corey Road is chronic and asked whether residents get follow-up after submitting traffic-calming requests. "The speed limit is 25 like the signs say," Harmon said, "but you could probably sit there and write 100 tickets 'cause that's a crazy road." Staff responded that the township accepts traffic-calming requests, may request a police traffic study, and can deploy a temporary speed-tracking sign, but that studies take lead time and equipment is limited.

Pam Kravitz, who said she gathered 84 resident signatures in a prior petition to add stop signs at a blind curve, urged community engagement and clear evidence when filing requests. "You have to be active," Kravitz said, describing how residents won additional stop signs by submitting signatures and a formal request.

Ken Miller, a Lower Makefield resident, described a blind turn on Woodside near Delaware Rim that forces children to cross a fast, partially obscured stretch of road to reach neighborhood parks. Miller said he and neighbors submitted a traffic-calming request asking for flashing crosswalk lights similar to those installed at Merion Road. "It is a blind turn and a very, very fast road," Miller said. He estimated the sight-limited area at about 50–60 feet and, during discussion, speakers referenced roughly 150 feet when discussing spacing for traffic-control devices.

Several speakers advised attaching photos and other supporting evidence to traffic-calming submissions. One resident said the Lower Makefield Township Police Department had previously posted about local speeding on Facebook and a copy of that post had been attached to a prior submission.

Participants discussed jurisdictional responsibility for larger installations. Staff said local streets may be submitted to township engineers but that more elaborate traffic installations — for example, signal or major roadway changes — often require review or approval by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).

The meeting was informational only because the commission lacked quorum. Staff repeatedly encouraged residents to file or re-submit traffic-calming requests and to note visibility problems (hill, blind spot) and to include photos; they also described the likely timetable for a traffic study and the limited number of temporary speed-tracking signs.

The chair adjourned the meeting after residents offered to show photo sequences illustrating blocked sightlines. No formal motions or votes were taken.