June 1 – ROAD WATCH BLOG….
Seat Belt Challenge Winner
Archbishop Prendergast High School in Upper Darby won the Delaware County Transportation Management Association’s first High School Seat Belt Challenge.
This year, Prendergast, Strath Haven and Monsignor Bonner high schools participated in the challenge, competing for a $500 grant and a display trophy.
The DCTMA conducted two anonymous, unannounced surveys as a way to track the number of students and passengers who wore their seat belts on their way to school. One survey was done before a schoolwide safety assembly in March and another about a month later.
The school’s students that showed the most improved seat belt use rate won the contest.
Students used the time between surveys to promote seat belt and carpool safety among the student body. DCTMA also helped students by producing a number of posters and T-shirts for the students.
The challenge is sponsored by the DCTMA in conjunction with Delaware County Highway Safety and local police. Event sponsors included the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, State Farm Insurance and Wheat Services.
The DCTMA already has more schools on board for next year’s challenge. Visit www.dctma.org for more information or call 610-892-9440 to learn how you can get involved next year.
Water Main Work
Aqua Pennsylvania will close lanes on two roads in Upper Darby and Newtown for water main installation starting today through June 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to PennDOT.
In Upper Darby, Church Lane will be restricted between Clover Lane and Walnut Park Drive 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays starting today and through June 15.
In Newtown, St. Davids Road will be restricted between Andover and Glendale roads 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays from Tuesday through June 15.
Naamans Creek Road
PECO Energy will restrict Naamans Creek Road in Bethel starting Thursday through Aug. 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays for gas main installation.
PECO Energy will work under a PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit.
Schuylkill Expressway
I-76 (Schuylkill Expressway) will be reduced from two lanes to one lane at the University Avenue/Grays Ferry Avenue Interchange (Exit 346B) in Philadelphia during overnight hours this week for construction and resurfacing on the adjoining nine-span and 16-span bridges carrying the expressway over the Schuylkill River, CSX Railroad tracks, Grays Ferry Avenue and 34th Street, PennDOT said.
Work began Monday at 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., and the westbound left lane will be closed through Thursday.
From 8 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday, I-76 West will be reduced from two lanes to one.
Motorists are urged to leave additional time to travel through the construction area because backups will occur during the late night and early morning work hours.
This work is part of PennDOT’s $24 million project to rehabilitate and repair the two adjoining bridges. Construction is scheduled to finish in November; it began in March 2008.
PATCO
The region’s first automated fare collection system, PATCO’s Freedom Card, will soon be even more convenient in a matter of months. The new system should be on line and ready to go in the fall.
PATCO’s board approved a three-year, $317,420 contract with Acadaca of New York City to develop a process for PATCO customers to load their FREEDOM cards on line, sign up for an account and manage their cards.
“We were the first in the region to give our customers the convenience of smart card technology,” said PATCO President John J. Matheussen. “Now we are adding Web based ticketing to allow FREEDOM card holders to check account transaction, add value to their cards, register cards, enroll in autoload/automatic replenishment and edit account information on line.”
Acadaca has developed Web ticketing for Miami Dade Transit and the PATH system in Northern New Jersey.
DRPA Officer Honored
Police Officer Richard Ciaccia of the Delaware River Port Authority Police, a resident of Ridley Park, was honored with a merit award last week along with Cpl. Chris Bell for devotion to duty.
On July 30, Bell was on routine patrol in the area of the Sixth Street tunnel near the Benjamin Franklin Bridge when he was flagged down by a person who told him he had just been assaulted and robbed by three males in the tunnel, according to the DRPA.
Bell placed the victim in the rear of his patrol car and while gathering flash information searched for the suspects. The victim noted that one of the suspects was inside the Dunkin’ Donuts on Broadway.
Ciaccia entered the store alone and with limited information and without regard for his own safety engaged this suspect. Bell arrived and the suspect was taken into custody.
An area check continued with the other suspects being observed jogging north along Broadway and then splitting up. A foot chase ensued by Bell into the Sixth Street tunnel for the suspects while Ciaccia pursued the fourth suspect where Ciaccia, having his arm slammed in a door, lost this suspect inside the building.
Bell and Ciaccia processed a suspect who was charged with second-degree robbery and third-degree aggravated assault and remanded to jail in lieu of $85,000 cash bail.
The teamwork, quick response and decisive action by the two officers reflected “positively upon you as well as the entire DRPA,” according to spokesman Ed Kasuba.
Route 100
Lane restrictions are scheduled weekdays and weeknights this week on Route 100 North in Upper Uwchlan, Chester County, for road widening.
Rail Crossing Work
CSX Railroad will close two roads in Delaware County for the replacement of old rail crossings in Ridley Park and Ridley Township.
In Ridley Park, Swarthmore Avenue will be closed between Hancock Avenue and Rodgers Street 9 a.m. today through 4 p.m. June 5, PennDOT said.
During construction, vehicles will be detoured over MacDade Boulevard, Fairview Avenue and South Chester Pike.
In Ridley Township, Fairview Road will be closed between Sherman Avenue and Emlen Street from 9 a.m. June 8 to 6 p.m. June 12. During construction, vehicles will be detoured over MacDade Boulevard, Bullens Lane and Chester Pike.
Local access will be maintained up to the construction zones. Motorists are advised to allow extra time when traveling through these areas.
Traffic Projects
Among the communities receiving funds from the state for 80 transportation projects to create green jobs, relieve traffic congestion and make it easier for students to walk and bike to school are the following:
Millbourne will receive $35,000 from the state to plan for multi-modal transportation improvements near the Millbourne SEPTA train station.
Swarthmore will get $662,270 for safetyand accessibility upgrades to the Princeton Avenue underpass, the main pedestrian link between the southern portion of the borough and the local elementary school.
Nether Providence will receive $304,500 to install sidewalk and curbing along the north side of Wallingford Avenue, which will create a safer route to Wallingford Elementary School.
Upper Darby will receive $242,893 to construct sidewalks, curb cuts and other improvements to provide a safer route leading to the Aronimink Elementary School on Bond Avenue.
Traffic Delays
West Baltimore Avenue – Upper Darby and Lansdowne, AT&T conduit installation, one lane closed between Church Lane and Lansdowne Avenue 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; 6 p.m.-6 a.m. weekdays through June 12. Work begins Monday.
Upper Chichester – Naamans Creek Road, utility installation, closed/detoured between Meetinghouse Road and I-95, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., weekdays through July 18. Work began May 11.
Haverford – Coopertown Road, Aqua installation, closed/detoured between College Avenue and Darby Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Aug. 28. Work began April 20.
Also, College Avenue closed/detoured 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays between Coopertown Road and Spring Mill Lane.
Marple – Media Line Road, Aqua installation between Lovell Avenue and Highland Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m weekdays through May 29. Work began Jan. 12.
Chester — Flower Street, ramp construction with a new traffic pattern at Fourth and Second streets, 24-hour restriction through 2011. Work began Jan. 12.
Also, Norris Street, ramp construction with lane restrictions at Front Street and Delaware Avenue, 24-hour restriction through 2011. Work began Jan. 12.
Ridley Park – Ridley Avenue, Aqua utility installation, closed/detoured between Constitution Avenue and Cresswell/Tasker streets 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays and through Aug. 28. Work began March 9.
“Road Watch” appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.