State Rep. Ronald C. Raymond (R., Sharon Hill) has asked PennDOT to reconsider a plan to remove a traffic light at High Street and Chester Pike as part of a project that would synchronize the timing of traffic lights along the pike.
During a Sharon Hill Borough Council caucus meeting Thursday night, council President Charles Hollenden said Raymond sent a letter to PennDOT about a week ago at the request of several residents of High Street who are opposed to the removal of the traffic light.
At last month's regular council meeting, Anthony Truscello Jr. of the first block of High Street presented the borough council with a petition that contained about 100 signatures of residents of the street who are opposed to the plan.
Several residents at that meeting said the removal of the traffic light would create a safety hazard because of traffic at the intersection.
In his letter to PennDOT, Raymond wrote, "This block of High Street, with approximately 120 vehicles, dead-ends at the railroad; the residents must exit on Chester Pike. There is no other way."
Raymond wrote that senior citizens "feel trapped" because they are afraid to leave the street without a traffic light.
Hollenden said Thursday that PennDOT had not yet responded to the request.
In other business, Councilwoman Mary Schraepfer said that the borough council would review bids Thursday for construction of a restroom at a borough park at Barker Avenue that would be accessible to handicapped people.
Borough manager Mildred D. Enderle said the project would be funded in part through a $30,000 legislative grant. In addition, the borough has asked the county for $474,200 in Community Development Block Grants. If those grants are approved, $41,600 would be used for the construction project.
