The recent editorial, "One More Stab at a Safer Route 220," was the same regurgitation we hear from PennDOT planners. The installed acceleration and deceleration lanes at the intersections of Pine Run and Quenshuckney Roads were going to solve the problem. They have not. Now the decision to completely eliminate crossovers at Pine Run is, "an inconvenience (that) should correctly fall on deaf ears."
This plan is PennDOT playing with statistics and does nothing to improve safety; if anything it increases the danger, just not at Pine Run.
Can you explain how it is any safer to make a 180 degree turn than it is a 90 degree onto an acceleration lane? I predict an increase in accidents at the proposed Wagner/ Young turnaround as well as at Quenshuckney, where left turns are still permitted.
PennDOT refuses to install a traffic signal at the Pine Run intersection, citing studies that report an increase in accidents. However, the studies cited show an increase in "rear end collisions," not perpendicular impacts. This brings us back to the root of the problem; vehicles traveling too fast and too close.
As your editorial admits, "wearing seat belts, never driving intoxicated and traveling at posted speed limits" are the greatest enhancements to traffic safety. Those drivers that frequent this stretch have consistently refused to abide by these laws, regardless of how aggressively the state police enforce them.
PennDOT will now "inconveniently" reduce traffic to one lane for the summer while they spend countless monies to install additional lanes at the Wagner/Young intersection, money that could easily cover the cost of a traffic signal at Pine Run Road and finally bring under control this lawlessness.
Raymond J. Hartman II
Linden
Submitted by Virtual Newsroom
