While local initiatives to enhance Newtown’s “walkability” status with the development and installation of sidewalks has brought miles of new paved surfaces to the center of town, Borough of Newtown leaders have determined there are still more than a dozen strategic areas that could benefit from similar attention.

So on March 5, at 7 pm, in the Edmond Town Hall Alexandria Room, officials are inviting residents from inside and outside the borough to a special meeting to present a report from the ad hoc sidewalk committee, and to take any appropriate action, including prioritizing and authorizing moving forward on installations, according to Warden Jay Maher.

The Borough of Newtown is a separate municipality bounded to the north on Route 6 by Blackman Road, on the east by the railroad tracks, on the west by Sugar Lane on Route 302, and on the south by Borough Lane. Covering 1,252.32 acres and including approximately 900 properties in the center of Newtown, the borough maintains its own government structure, property tax criteria, and municipal services for its roughly 1,200 residents.

Warden Jay Maher, the elected community leader, told The Newtown Bee that he has been part of the sidewalk committee along with Borough Senior Burgess Chris Gardner, Burgess Bill Eder, and resident volunteers Charles Zukowski and Lynne Farrah.

“We’ve had several requests for sidewalk installations all over the borough over the past several years,” Mr Maher said. “So we convened an ad hoc committee last October to look at several ideas. This will be our first special meeting after holding four or five committee meetings.”

Thirteen Sites Prioritized

The committee identified 16 projects within the borough, which were weighted and ranked, Mr Maher said. Top ranked projects were deemed to offer the most advantages in terms of pedestrian safety, and also took into consideration various cost factors and logistical challenges like the presence of trees, utilities, and wetlands.

Thirteen of those 16 areas have been prioritized for discussion on March 5. Other sites presenting challenges are on the North Side of Sugar Street extending from Elm Drive to Juniper Road, which contains wetlands according to ad hoc meeting minutes, and a dangerous intersection at Elm Drive that has been identified for placement of a crosswalk.

“Our goal is to eventually take these projects before the Newtown Planning & Zoning Commission, to see them included in the Policy of Conservation and Development (POCD),” Mr Maher said.

Mr Maher said he is hoping to involve the town with at least one of those stretches totaling approximately 1,500 feet along The Boulevard.

“Perhaps the town can find a way to get this project on the CIP (Capital Improvement Plan) in the future, assist with getting us a grant to help underwrite the cost, or some combination of the two.”

Mr Zukowski was responsible for creating a sidewalk matrix, which helped in prioritizing the various proposals, Mr Maher said.

“He has been a tremendous source of insight,” the warden added. Mr Maher also mentioned that Ms Farrah, an avid borough walker, has also provided important user-eye views and ideas for making the borough a safer place for pedestrians of all ages.

The top areas of focus ranked by priority include:

*Queen Street Entrance A — from the gift shop to Church Hill Road, including a crosswalk on the east side of Church Hill Road traversing Queen Street adjacent to the traffic island;

*Sugar Street Extensions — identified as “A” and “B” — were tied for second place priority, and are located on the north side of Sugar Street between Elm Drive and Madison Drive;

*Two sections of Queen Street identified as “Extension A” and “Entrance B” on the West Side of Queen Street between the middle school and Grand Place; and

*The small apron in front of the smoke shop on Church Hill Road.

Crosswalk Plans

“Currently there is not a crosswalk at Queen Street and Church Hill Road, which has a lot of pedestrian traffic, especially when the middle school gets out,” Mr Maher said. “There is a sidewalk path through the traffic island, but no crosswalk, which creates a hazard for anyone crossing — it gets very, very intense at that intersection.

“There is also no handicap ramp at that intersection, either,” he added.

The ad hoc committee minutes reflect that cost estimates have been attached to each project based on discussions with local tradesmen, with a base cost of $20 per square foot or $100 per linear foot serving as a rough estimate; this figure does not take into account such things as tree removal and stabilization.

The public meeting will offer a history of the committee’s meetings and a presentation of the projects under discussion. Mr Gardner emphasized the committee’s willingness to listen to and consider the public’s concerns, and any suggestions of other areas and priorities.

Anyone who may be disabled, hearing impaired, or who may require an interpreter or other assistance to attend this meeting should contact Borough Clerk Ann Scaia, 203-426-4282, at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.

There will be additional opportunities for public input on specific projects as they are approved and move toward development.