©2006 The Chestnut Hill Local

Winston, Germantown intersection not in PennDot’s Avenue plan
by KRISTIN PAZULSKI

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is sticking to its decision not to include the reconfiguration of the Winston Road and Germantown Avenue intersection in a larger project, as requested by neighbors hoping to slow traffic on Winston.

Jennifer and John Follo of 7805 Winston Road have helped to lead the crusade for the intersection reconstruction since their parked cars were smashed two days in a row in October 2004 — one was a rental they were using because of the accident the previous day.

A study by the city’s Department of Streets, conducted over a four-day span in spring 2005, said that 85 percent of the drivers along Winston Road were speeding above the 25 mph speed limit. Bob Previdi, Winston Road resident and executive director of the Chestnut Hill Business Association, said the cars recorded in the study were going anywhere from a couple miles over the limit to about 60 mph.

The neighbors’ goal was to have PennDOT include the intersection’s redevelopment in the Avenue restoration project set to begin in 2007. In a meeting in July 2005, PennDOT encouraged neighbors to collaborate and come up with a solution for the intersection.

The neighbors were under the impression that PennDOT officials had agreed to more than consider the inclusion — they had promised to include it. But PennDOT spokesman Gene Blaum disputed that, saying that the promise was only one of consideration.

The neighbors met from August until October, and suggested that PennDOT develop the intersection into a 90-degree angle with a traffic light. On Dec. 21, PennDOT informed the neighbors via a letter to Previdi that the project would not be included.

The neighbors appealed to the Chestnut Hill Community Association at the Jan. 26 board meeting for support, hoping to change the PennDOT position. But, at the same meeting, a petition against the reconfiguration, with 2,500 neighbors’ signatures, was presented by then-board member and Mermaid Lane resident Mitchell Melton. Argument ensued on over whether all of the signers could be considered near neighbors. The contentious vote passed, 14-8, with 11 abstentions, to support the 90-degree intersection.

However, PennDOT has stood behind the decision not to include the intersection, even after the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission dictated in March that PennDOT try to work out a solution with the neighbors.

At a meeting with neighbors on Monday, June 19, which also discussed the use of the Belgium block along the Avenue, PennDOT repeated that the intersection would not be part of the Avenue project.

Blaum, the agency spokesman, repeated the reasons, citing a lack of overall community support, as shown by the opposing petition, and the need to push forward the project start date, from 2008 to 2007, because of the deterioration of the road.

The Follos, who were at the June 19 meeting, said they were considering other options for creating a safer street, such as placing signs along Winston Road asking drivers to slow down. Blaum said PennDOT would be willing to do the intersection project in the future, as an independent project. Previdi is trying to schedule a meeting with the city’s Department of Streets to discuss the intersection’s safety.

Contact staff writer Kristin Pazulski at 215-248-8819 or kristin@chestnuthilllocal.com.