UNION TWP. >> The township supervisors said Feb. 20 they are continuing to work with the Daniel Boone Area School District to reduce or prevent “hot-rodding” on north Garey Road.
Board members approved last year the installation of a “no left turn” sign at the eastern end of the Daniel Boone High School property at Garey Road.
The turn restriction was recommended by the board in April 2016, along with a new, three-stop intersection at Garey Road and Fourth Street.
An engineering study conducted last September didn’t support any of the new signage, but the signs were never installed due to the lack of enforcement by a security guard or police officer.
Board Vice Chairman Terry L. Kennedy, and Supervisor Nelson L. Ott Jr., said Garey Road residents have complained about vehicular speeding on the road for at least three years.
Ott said there have been just as many accidents within that time.
He met with six to 10 Garey Road residents last November, who were “fed up” with drivers ignoring the posted 35 mile speed limit and speeding on the road.
Residents said drivers were also ignoring the four-way intersection at Garey Road and Lanie Drive.
That intersection was created by the township in February 2014.
Kennedy said the school district administration is now conducting their own traffic counts and monitoring the traffic patterns.
“They said it is a 60/40 split – they’re not all going down the hill [north on Garey Road], and not all going up the hill [to the school],” said Kennedy, indicating that vehicles are entering and exiting the eastern end of the property on south Garey Road.
“They [district administration] can’t put security on Garey Road, the road is owned by the state,” said Kennedy.
He said the township has met with Superintendent James P. Harris, district Transportation Coordinator Ronald Smith, Buildings and Grounds Director Casey Blankenbiller, and other administrators to evaluate the situation.
“[The township or school district] puts a security guard out there, that is certified to do that, which is very expensive, or have the state police allow the township to put someone there.”
He said potential costs range from $30,000 to $90,000, which could be supported in year one by a Safe Schools Initiative Targeted Grant program from the state Department of Education.
The Safe Schools Grant program would provide $60,000 for a School Resource Officer, or $40,000 for a School Police Officer.
Kennedy said a full-time police officer could be “sponsored” by the Borough of Birdsboro, Union Township, and/or the school district.
“These are just suggestions from them to us because of residents’ complaints, and they include installing the sign, a security guard, or a full time police officer.”
“The answer is who wants to put up the money,” said Kennedy.
Board Chairman Donald E. Basile was absent from the meeting.
