Ed, a 35-year resident of Newtown Gate, wrote to the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS) expressing serious safety concerns about vehicle parking on Fountain Farm Lane. He is questioning why cars are legally permitted to park there and calls for the township to review enforcement and roadway conditions.
Key Safety Issues Raised
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Traffic Congestion: Fountain Farm Lane is heavily traveled during rush hours, mostly by non-residents.
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Speeding: Few drivers obey the speed limit, and enforcement measures are rare. McCorry asks whether the township uses a High Visibility Enforcement Toolkit (HVE).
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Ambiguous Speed Limit Signs: It’s unclear if the posted 25 mph limit is advisory or enforceable.
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Hazardous Parking: Cars parked along the roadway protrude halfway into the driving lane, forcing vehicles to cross double-yellow lines into oncoming traffic.
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Cyclist Danger: Bicyclists are forced out of the shoulder and into traffic lanes, especially on curves.
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Curve Parking: Vehicles park on winding curves in violation of PA DMV code, but there are no signs to prevent it.
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Pedestrian Safety:
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Drivers rarely (approx. 80%) stop for pedestrians at crosswalks.
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Handicap ramps exist across from townhouse corners but lack crosswalk markings, creating risks for disabled residents.
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Resident’s Request
McCorry asks the township to:
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Explain why cars are allowed to park within travel lanes with no time restrictions.
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Improve traffic enforcement, speed control, signage, and crosswalk markings.
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Treat these issues as a priority for public safety.
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In Pennsylvania, the law requires your vehicle to be entirely off the roadway when parking outside business/residence districts. That means all four wheels must be to the right of the fog line. Stopping with wheels on or across the fog line is considered parking “on the roadway,” which is prohibited unless it’s an emergency.
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