North Sycamore Street Pedestrian Safety Timeline

It’s been over a year since Scott Spitznas was struck and killed by a car while in the crosswalk at Silo Drive and North Sycamore Street in Newtown Township on December 22, 2021. One month later, the Newtown traffic engineer recommended several pedestrian safety measures. Only some of these recommendations were approved for immediate implementation at the time (read “Newtown Supervisors Act To Improve Pedestrian Safety”).

Since other recommended safety measures are yet to be implemented, I thought it was a good time to review the history of pedestrian safety on North Sycamore Street. Hence this timeline, which includes links to more information that I have published. I plan to update the timeline as needed.

June 13, 2000
Sycamore Street Committee decided that the intersection of North Sycamore Street and Silo Drive warranted the installation of a traffic signal.

January 14, 2002
Township traffic engineers completed a traffic signal warrant analysis and prepared traffic permit plans for the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of North Sycamore Street and Silo Drive.

March 10, 2002
Engineers said it was unlikely that PennDOT would approve a traffic signal at North Sycamore Street and Silo Drive, and recommended that attention be focused on installation of a traffic signal at Jefferson Street and North Sycamore Street. Ultimately, that traffic signal was installed.

December 17, 2003
Township begins construction of new crosswalks to be made of brick laid out in a herringbone pattern for the intersection of North Sycamore Street and Silo Drive. These plans contained a written instruction to "install junction boxes and underground conduit for future traffic signal installation" at North Sycamore and Silo Drive.

June 13, 2005
A pedestrian was struck by a motor vehicle at or near 221 North Sycamore Street, approximately 300 feet south of Silo Drive.

October 2006
A Traffic Impact Study recommended restricting eastbound Silo Drive traffic from making left hand turns onto North Sycamore Street.

May 21, 2007
A pedestrian was struck by a motor vehicle at or near North Sycamore Street and Jefferson Street approximately 700 feet south of Silo Drive.

November 8, 2007
Newtown traffic engineers, in a Traffic Signal Warrant Analysis for the Intersection of Sycamore Street and Silo Drive, concluded that "based upon existing and projected traffic volumes, a traffic signal is warranted at the project intersection. In anticipation of the traffic signal installation, underground conduit was installed for the proposed signal under the Sycamore Street improvement project."

January 14, 2008
Ashwin Patel, P.E., Signal Engineer at PennDOT, responded to the Traffic Signal Warrant Analysis stated "Since most of the traffic from Silo Dr. is turning right the alternate intersection design should be evaluated rather than the traffic signal installation. (i.e., Channelized yield movements for the right turns)."

February 28, 2008
PennDOT rejects traffic signal for the intersection of Silo Drive and N Sycamore St, stating "Since most of the traffic from Silo Drive is turning right, an alternative intersection design should be evaluated rather than a traffic signal installation. Re-evaluate this intersection with a two way stop control and exclusive right tum lane on Silo Drive.”

July 28, 2009
Newtown Township granted a Building Certificate of Occupancy to the Green Parrot Irish Pub & Grille on the comer of North Sycamore Street and Silo Drive. Of course, this increased the presence of pedestrian traffic in that area.

May 29, 2010
A pedestrian was struck by a motor vehicle at or near North Sycamore Street and Silo Drive.

August 2011
Another Traffic Impact Study concluded "Installation of a signal, while improving the LOS, will also provide a safer means for pedestrians to cross Sycamore Street with the installation of ADA ramps, pedestrian push buttons and pedestrian signal heads with countdown timers. It is recommended that Newtown Township continue to monitor the intersection and coordinate efforts with PennDOT to signalize this intersection."

April 16, 2012
At a Newtown Township Board of Supervisors Work Session, Township Traffic Committee Chairman Timothy Swedo, P.E. recommended that the speed limit on Sycamore Street should be reduced to 25 MPH to promote safety.

February 7, 2015
A pedestrian was struck by a motor vehicle at or near North Sycamore Street and Silo Drive.

August 28, 2015
A pedestrian was struck by a motor vehicle at or near North Sycamore Street and Silo Drive.

October 28, 2015
The Newtown BOS discuss Audible Pedestrian Signal Upgrades: Mr. Ferguson [Twp Mgr] reminded the Board that the 2015 budget had included $85,000 for audible pedestrian signals for four intersections on Sycamore Street. The bids all came in for double the budgeted amount – the bids were rejected.

September 20, 2017
A pedestrian was struck by a motor vehicle at or near at or near North Sycamore Street and Swamp Road.

May 4, 2019
A pedestrian was struck by a motor vehicle at or near North Sycamore and Silo Drive, approximately 100 feet south of Silo Drive.

September 21, 2020
A pedestrian was struck by a motor vehicle at or near North Sycamore Street and Silo Drive, approximately 700 feet south of Silo Drive.

July 14, 2021
Supervisor Oxley asked about speeding down 532 coming off Washington Crossing Road onto Sycamore Street: “There could be a potential challenge once you get closer to Silo Drive…maybe we could get a little bit more enforcement when folks are coming off of 532 of Washington Crossing … they're just flying … there's people that are going to be dining on both sides of that street.” Newtown Township Police Chief Hearn presented evidence that speeding is not a problem and enforcement without radar is a problem. He recommended decoy police cars and a speed sign board. View the video of this conversation on Youtube.

Meanwhile, at the same meeting, supervisors failed to re-instate the Newtown Joint Traffic Committee the purpose of which was to “ensure safe access to multi-modal transportation options that meet the needs of residents, visitors, workers, and businesses in Newtown Township and Newtown Borough by ensuring the ability to safely walk, drive, bike, and use public transportation throughout the Township and Borough.”

October 22, 2021
A pedestrian was struck and critically injured by a motor vehicle at or near North Sycamore Street and Silo Drive, approximately 480 feet north of Silo Drive.

November 10, 2021
Supervisor Mack asked Newtown Township Police Chief Hearn if he had any ideas for making the North Sycamore Street and Silo Drive intersection safer such as using yellow warning lights. The Chief said “… it comes down to education … the public has to know that they can't cross outside of a crosswalk.” With regard to lighting elements, the Chief said “that runs into a cost factor for the township and involves ongoing maintenance and also a liability factor if the bulb burns out and if it's not replaced in a timely manner it could come back to bite you. I think education is the best way to go at this point.” He suggested that perhaps flyers could be posted in local businesses. View the video below:

December 16, 2021
A pedestrian was struck by a motor vehicle at or near North Sycamore Street and Silo Drive, approximately 480 feet north of Silo Drive.

December 22, 2021
A pedestrian was struck and killed by a motor vehicle while on crosswalk at North Sycamore Street and Silo Drive. Read “Sycamore Street Is Popular, But Is It Safe?”

December 27, 2021
Supervisor Mack started the “Improve Pedestrian Safety on N Sycamore St” petition on Change.org. Over 850 signatures and comments were collected.

January 11, 2022
The owner of the Green Parrot Restaurant donated $7,500.00 to Newtown Township "to assist the police department and Newtown Township in their efforts to reduce traffic incidents involving pedestrians along Sycamore Street."

January 12, 2022
Newtown Board of Supervisors approved several pedestrian safety measures to be implemented immediately for North Sycamore Street. In addition, the engineers and township were instructed to move ahead to explore other measures. For details, see the January, 2022, issue of Newtown News Update (PDF).

January 13, 2022
The Newtown Township Public Works Department starts adding piano stripes to crosswalks at North Sycamore Street and Silo Drive and at other Sycamore Street crosswalks.

February 26, 2022
A pedestrian was struck by a motor vehicle at North Sycamore Street and Silo Drive, approximately 480 feet north of Silo Drive.

April 27, 2022
Newtown Board of Supervisors approved Ordinance #2022-0-2 establishing a no-parking zone on North Sycamore Street, west side, to a point 120 ft. north measured from the center line of Silo Drive.

June 22, 2022
Armour and Sons began upgrading the existing incandescent street lighting to include brighter LED fixtures along North and South Sycamore Street.

October 2022
Signage Improvements at Washington Crossing Road (SR 0532)/Sycamore Street and Durham Road/Bank Access (i.e., NO TURN ON Red signage). RVE [township engineering firm] is currently reviewing the draft grant agreement provided by PennDOT, as well as finalizing the grant funding breakdown with PennDOT for the agreement. RVE previously prepared the Environmental Document required as a supplement to the PennDOT Multimodal Grant Agreement. PennDOT provided approval of the updated signal plans on 9/7/2022.

January 6, 2023
Township engineering firm RVE reported: The Township has obtained special funding through Keystone Communities for the signal improvements at this intersection (N Sycamore and Silo Dr; read “Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons Proposed for North Sycamore Street”). Grant agreements have been executed. Now that funding is in place, RVE will begin design plans for the RRFB [Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon] signal design (read “Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons Proposed for North Sycamore Street”). RVE is preparing a proposal for services for the design of the RRFB. QUESTION: Was this grant for $50,000? Will that cover the costs? ANSWER: No. The total cost is $183,371, which includes other improvements such as additional improved signage and striping, and ADA ramp improvements.

Note: I am sure that this was done to improve pedestrian safety, but there seems to be a difference of opinion on that as evidenced by the following discussion at the January 23, 2023, Meet Mack Monday Zoom meeting:

Mack's Newtown Voice · No Turn On Red Discussion

January 23, 2023
Township engineering firm RVE informed supervisors that they have prepared a plan for speed limit reduction to 25 MPH on North Sycamore Street from Washington Avenue to Durham Rd. The plan shows the new signs that are needed, as well as signs to be removed and/or replaced. The plan does NOT include lowering the speed limit on Washington Crossing Rd approaching N Sycamore, which seems to be “okay” with PennDOT.

Plan for placing 25 MPH signs on N Sycamore St

January 25, 2023
At the January 25, 2023, BOS meeting, Dave Sander, the Newtown Solicitor, was of the opinion that the Board already authorized the lowering of the speed limit to 25 MPH for N Sycamore St. All that needs to be done is to draft the ordinance, which can be approved at the next BOS meeting, which is on February 8, 2023.

Interestingly, Mr. Sander informed the BOS that the Newtown Municipal Code/Traffic specifies that the maximum allowable speed limit for the “entire length” of Sycamore St (North AND South) is 15 MPH whereas street signs currently indicate 35 MPH as the speed limit. Obviously, the traffic code must be amended to indicate that the speed limit is 25 MPH on N Sycamore St and 35 MPH on S Sycamore St (at least that is my interpretation of what needs to be done). Listen to his comments...

February 8, 2023
The BOS unanimously approved lowering the speed limit on North AND South Sycamore Street to 25 MPH.

ORDINANCE No. 2023-O-2 states: “Sycamore Street has been re-designated as North Sycamore Street (between Durham Road and Swamp Road/West Washington Avenue, and South Sycamore Street (between Swamp Road/West Washington Avenue and the Newtown Bypass), and the Board of Supervisors desires to establish a 25 miles per hour maximum speed limit on both North Sycamore Street and South Sycamore Street in the best interests of the public health, safety, and welfare and to allow proper enforcement of the maximum speed limits.” See January 23, 2023, above for the Sycamore Street Speed Signage plan.

February 10, 2023
#NewtownPA Public Works Dept announce that all speed limit signs on North & South Sycamore Street have been changed to reflect the new 25 MPH speed limit approved just 2 days ago by the Board of Supervisors! See January 23, 2023, above for the Sycamore Street Speed Signage plan.

February 20, 2023
I spoke to Police Chief Hearn about enforcement of the speed limit on Sycamore Street and Newtown-Yardley Road. Pennsylvania is the ONLY state where municipal police cannot use radar speed enforcement. According to Pennsylvania law, municipal police are limited to using stopwatches or electronic devices and two reference points to monitor vehicle speed. "Reference points" refer to “speed lines” in the road separated by a known distance. The Newtown Public Works Department painted such speed lines near South Sycamore St and Winchester Ln and at Newtown Yardley Rd and Newtown Commons West. Chief Hearn reminded me that to issue a ticket, the recorded speed must be more that 10 miles over the limit.