Council moves forward on traffic and parking changes, including 15 MPH on Locust and N. Franklin meters

Red Lion Borough Council on March 10 advanced a package of traffic and parking actions aimed at easing congestion and improving safety around Locust Lane and N. Franklin Street. Solicitor Mike Craley and council members agreed to lower the speed limit to 15 MPH on Locust Lane between Franklin and Neff and directed staff to begin ordinance amendments needed to implement meter fees and other parking changes.

The public raised multiple concerns about spillover parking near Franklin Street Social. Resident Lance Thomas recommended opening a gated connection between Black Cat Brewery and Franklin Street Social to relieve traffic, but Solicitor Mike Craley noted the area is private property and would require the owner to update As-Built plans before the borough could take action. Council approved a motion to move forward with installing parking meters on N. Franklin and directed drafting of ordinance language to allow fee changes via a separate schedule rather than hard-coding prices in Chapter 15. The council also agreed to add a stop sign at Lancaster and Pleasant View and no-parking restrictions on Locust Lane from Franklin to Neff as part of the package.

Why it matters: the measures are intended to reduce speed and illegal parking where businesses and residences abut narrow streets, and they will require ordinance amendments and possible signage costs estimated in prior discussions. The council discussed a signage estimate of $4,378 for corrections near 214 N Franklin and noted a proposal to amend section 19:23 in Code Title 15 to authorize meters and a fee schedule.