The committee has pursued trying to identify who is responsible for upgades to Hermit Lane..Streets Dept or Parks Dept?….and it is the Parks Dept. Speed and drivers cutting through from Henry Ave are a  major safety problem for walkers, cyclists, & families going to Daisy Park. A request has been made for temporary speed cushions to be installed. There is also a problem with the lane being a single lane near Barnes St…and cars entering from Barnes resulting in stand offs with cars coming towards Barnes. Josh Cohen in Councilman Jones’s office is aware of this and has been asked to give support for both the speed cushions and new speed signage. The 5th district has been asked to increase their visibility esp at commuting hours.

New surfacing and new striping is part of City’s Maintenance Unit Project.  This is separate from PennDOT’s Design Unit’s Project SR4001, the section of Henry Ave from Wissahickon Bridge west to Hermit St borders our neighborhood. We are now moved to Section SIP of this project which means we will be at the front in installing new safety measures on this section. This will include curb bump outs, median deflections, plantings in median, and new sidewalks. The design MAY also include reconfiguration of current striping. Funding for a synchronized traffic light at Henry Ave and Barnes St is being pursued by PennDOT.

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Introduction and acknowledgements were given to Phila Streets Michael Carroll, Deputy Managing Director for Transportation, Richard Montanez, Chief Traffic Engineer, Bruce Masi and Elwood Kimmel, engineers for the PennDOT Henry Ave study who came out quickly at the committee’s request, “boots on the ground” to see our most dangerous intersections and streets. Also Josh Cohen has been supportive and very available. Councilman Jones is well represented by Josh.  (more…)