State Sen. Steve Santarsiero hosted PennDOT officials on a road tour around the 10th Senate District, announcing planned roadway repair projects, highlighting needed improvements and applauding work that has recently been completed.
“Many of our roadways are in need of repair and repaving to meet growing traffic demands in our region,” said Santarsiero. “I have strongly supported increasing funding for transportation infrastructure, dating back to my time in the state House, to meet these needs and I am pleased that with a combination of infrastructure funds and state funds from this year’s budget, PennDOT is in a position to tackle some key projects to keep our roads safe and keep traffic moving.”
The road tour began by driving Route 13 southbound to Tyburn Road, focusing on concerns from Falls Township and Morrisville Borough to mitigate truck traffic on local roads. Santarsiero and PennDOT officials agreed that improvements to Route 13, including an acceleration lane at the Tyburn Road entrance, are necessary to ensure trucks follow appropriate highway routes.
Stopping in Morrisville Borough, commercial trucks were observed driving along S. Pennsylvania Avenue, confirming concerns of borough residents and local elected officials. Santarsiero has been working with Morrisville Borough and PennDOT to lower the speed limit along S. Pennsylvania Avenue, which PennDOT announced would be lowered from 30 mph to 25 mph in the coming weeks. Together, Santarsiero, Bucks County Commissioners Bob Harvie and Diane Marseglia and PennDOT are advocating to remove S. Pennsylvania Avenue in Morrisville Borough from the National Highway System registry, which will allow Morrisville Borough more control over traffic regulation in the borough.
Traveling next along Oxford Valley Road in Falls Township, Santarsiero shared widespread concerns from residents of the 10th Senate District about the condition of the roadway and the need for large-scale repairs. PennDOT will be conducting mechanical patching along Oxford Valley Road between Route 1 and Lincoln Highway once the high-volume Sesame Place traffic slows in the fall.
“My office specifically solicits feedback from constituents about the road conditions because they’re out there driving on them every day,” said Santarsiero. “Oxford Valley Road is one of the roads we report to PennDOT most often from constituent reports, so I am particularly happy PennDOT will be repairing this section of roadway.”
At a stop outside Wawa on Bristol Oxford Valley Road and Oxford Valley Road in Falls Township, Santarsiero and PennDOT unveiled the plans for a major project to improve safety and re-route traffic at the busy intersection. PennDOT is in the design phase with construction expected to begin in 2023. The project will divert traffic from Bristol-Oxford Valley Road through the former Fudruckers property to a new intersection, with a traffic light, at Oxford Valley Road. This project has also been a priority for Falls Township supervisors and the Bucks County Commissioners.
Driving north toward Doylestown, the road tour focused on areas of concern for noise mitigation along highways including I-295, the Newtown Bypass and Route 11.
“As our region continues to grow, our roadways are seeing an increase in both commercial and residential traffic,” said Santarsiero. “Residents across the 10th District have reasonable concerns about the increase in noise coming off the highways and my office has met with representatives from several communities about the issue. My office will continue to look for state funding sources to help with these projects and partner with the county and townships.”
Along Swamp Road in Buckingham Township, Santarsiero received an update on the planned ditch improvements following a June PennDOT traffic study, which will include modifying the ditches to limit car flipping, better ditch drainage and increase signage and road striping. The senator had been working with PennDOT and Buckingham Township to address the need for increased safety measures.
Santarsiero and PennDOT officials drove along Routes 202 and 611 in Doylestown Township, discussing the need for a large-scale capital project to improve the highways, including the entry and exit ramps. PennDOT has committed to continued maintenance and patching of the troublesome areas until funding has been secured for a full improvement project.
Santarsiero reaffirmed his commitment to this project saying, “To see the necessary improvements along Routes 202 and 611 will take a coordinated effort by my office, PennDOT, Bucks County and the municipalities to secure funding and oversee design and completion for a project of this size. We all know this project is overdue and I will be working closely with all of the involved entities to see that this project be put on the PennDOT schedule as soon as possible.”
In Buckingham Township, Santarsiero highlighted the recent repaving along Route 202. He said, “PennDOT did a great job with repaving Route 202 in Buckingham and Solebury Township. We have been receiving robust, positive feedback from constituents about this improvement project. It was my pleasure to work closely with PennDOT to ensure this work took place in a timely and efficient manner, improving road safety and the driving experience for constituents and visitors alike.”
Santarsiero has been working with PennDOT to advocate for the repaving of River Road, which runs the length of the 10th Senate District. Repaving of River Road in Solebury Township is underway, and the final stretch of the road tour highlighted the continued need for repaving along River Road in Upper Makefield and Lower Makefield townships.
