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Upper Moreland Swim Club asks township to back turnpike noise study; petition of 428 signatures presented
Summary
Swim Club representatives and neighboring residents asked the township to support a formal traffic-noise evaluation along a 0.25‑mile stretch of the Pennsylvania Turnpike adjacent to the club, citing safety concerns for lifeguard communication and weather detection.
Amanda Hall, speaking for the Upper Moreland Swim Club, asked the committee to help secure a formal noise evaluation from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission for the turnpike segment adjacent to the club and nearby residential parcels.
"We're not here asking the township to support a specific project or a predetermined solution," Hall said, explaining the club circulated a petition with 428 signatures and is seeking objective data so residents and the Turnpike Commission can determine whether mitigation is appropriate. She said the timing is practical because the Turnpike Commission is working on the Willow Grove interchange project.
Neighbors described how traffic noise now sometimes obscures thunder and muffles pool announcements, which can create potential safety concerns for lifeguards and meet officials. "There have been many times where I'd be sitting in the pool and an announcement is made by the manager and I can't hear the manager's announcements because of the turnpike sound interfering," said Ashley Heilman, a board member and longtime neighbor.
Staff told the committee it had not located any existing noise studies for the specific stretch and suggested the board could direct the manager to send a letter of support to Turnpike or PennDOT regional staff to request evaluation; commissioners agreed to add an item for the full board agenda and pursue staff outreach.
