Pedestrian safety along Allentown's Hanover Avenue, where seven people have been killed on the street since 2007, was the focus of a recent City Council meeting. And according to Dennis Pearson, President of the East Allentown-Rittersville Neighborhood Association, it was the subject discussed at its Monday night meeting at St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church. Allentown Police Captain Dean Schwartz and City Engineer Richard Young were on hand.Here's why these city officials think Hanover Avenue, originally though to be an old Indian trail, has a problem: speeding, aggressive driving, traffic volume, width of road, perception that this road is a major substitute for thru-ways, lack of pedestrian relief in the center of the road, lane switching and vehicles passing at walk areas.
West of Irving Street, where two lanes become four lanes, traffic volume along Hanover Avenue increases from 18,000 to 27,000 vehicles per day.
Here's their solution: lower speed limits, traffic islands, larger center painted lines, more defined walking areas, overhanging yellow caution lights at Halstead and Jerome Streets to make drivers aware that they are entering a major pedestrian crossing area, replace older traffic lights with more modern traffic lights with the most modern pedestrian walking signals, reduce the volume of traffic on Hanover Avenue by completing the American Parkway.
Paul Kochanasz, an East Allentown resident for the last 55 years, said that "[m]any of the motorists do not stop when the pedestrian is in the Cross Walk ... I know I stand one step off Hanover Avenue and I counted as many as 10 and more cars go by before someone stops to let you go across ... ."
Barry Detweiler mentioned that a crossing guard at Our Lady Help of Christians is often ignored or belittled. "People ignore her or when she does stop them, they scream at her, curse at her..."
Allentown City Council President Mike D'Amore and VP Michael Donovan attended this soiree.
7 comments:
It was as simple as changing all road signs and messages to Spanish.
Hanover Avenue is dangerous.
It is too wide by Allentown Hospital so some drivers speed
in and out of traffic. It's a mini raceway. Then there is the three-way separation by that triangle where it is a free-for-all. Then there's more danger by the Catholic Church and school. Should there even be pedestrian traffic along this route by the school?
What would work and what Allentown officials seem
to refuse to acknowledge is
Speed Bumps. Bethlehem has them. They Work. They slow down speeders and reckless drivers. Why won't Allentown install them?
Our hearts still go out to the families of those killed along this roadway.
Paul Kochanasz, an East Allentown resident for the last 55 years, said that "[m]any of the motorists do not stop when the pedestrian is in the Cross Walk ... I know I stand one step off Hanover Avenue and I counted as many as 10 and more cars go by before someone stops to let you go across ... ."
Barry Detweiler mentioned that a crossing guard at Our Lady Help of Christians is often ignored or belittled. "People ignore her or when she does stop them, they scream at her, curse at her..."
These two residents are absolutely correct. We've seen these happen too.
Allentown does have speed bumps on streets such as Graham St and Chapel Ave, but Hanover Av is not an appropriate place for them.
To suggest pedestrians should not use or cross Hanover is silly. Are you saying 15,000 people in the area should just stay in their homes?
White lines designating the right side of the traffic lanes would make the road feel narrower and encourage cars to slow down. More pedestrian cross walks and timed traffic lights west of Irving would do a lot at a relatively minimal cost.
I also really like Bernie's suggestion of completing the American Parkway. This, combined with the completion of New England Avenue (under construction) will take a lot of traffic off of Irving and Hanover west of Irving.
The east side and the city really need the help of everyone in the Valley to get the American Parkway done. This bridge has been pushed back over and over again in spite of the fact that the city built the western part of the road and secured private funds to build the eastern portion.
Public support from the greater Lehigh Valley community, and diligent lobbying by our mayor, is the only way to make sure this does not get shelved for another bypass project elsewhere. It really is a matter of life and death.
We never suggested no one cross
Hanover Ave but rather is it safe for the church and school members
to cross at that particular location.
Annonymous said...
Allentown does have speed bumps on streets such as Graham St and Chapel Ave, but Hanover Av is not an appropriate place for them.
To suggest pedestrians should not use or cross Hanover is silly. Are you saying 15,000 people in the area should just stay in their homes?
What about signs in Hindi?
I don't want O'Hare not feeling diverse enough in Allentown when he visits.
The people cross where ever and when ever they want. They are use to the lightly traveled jungle roads where there are no rules.
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