Photo by James Short.
During the May 21 meeting of Ambler Borough Council, a two-part contract was approved to begin a look at traffic calming along Butler Avenue.
During the May 21 meeting of Ambler Borough Council, a two-part contract was approved to begin a look at traffic calming along Butler Avenue. Specifically citing the area between Bethlehem Pike and Park Avenue, the council is looking toward Bowman, a national traffic engineering firm with a location in Fort Washington, to do the work.
During the Public Safety Committee’s report, a contract was presented in two, unique portions. Task One: a Preliminary Traffic Calming Evaluation and Task Two: Preliminary Traffic Calming Exhibits were both included on the proposed contract, which was drawn up by Bowman.
In the first task, Bowman described the measures it will take in order to evaluate the space. Some of the data that will be collected is set to include:
The information will be collected via “Automatic Traffic Recorders” (ATR) counts, which are to be placed at two locations on Butler Avenue within the project’s limits. The ATRs will not measure the turning movement counts at intersections.
Additionally, as part of the first task, Bowman will be doing a field inventory of the space to “identify existing roadway characteristics, including but not limited to roadway and intersection geometric measurements, cartway widths, inventory of traffic control devices, signing locations, pavement markings, pedestrian facilities, on-street parking, and physical constraints that may prohibit movement.”
Other sections of the initial task will include a review of crash data from the past five years, as well as conversations with both The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Ambler Borough Police Department to understand concerns in the area.
A letter of the engineer’s findings will conclude the Task One portions of the project. From there, Task Two can commence, allowing Bowman to prepare up to four exhibits showing recommended changes to the area to ensure calmer traffic patterns. The exhibits will consist of aerial photography with suggested updates added in specified areas.
Some of the additions to the space that may help to calm traffic could include features such as curb extensions, bump-outs, speed humps or cushions, pedestrian facilities and crossings, signs, pavement markings, flashing warning devices, or speed-display signs.
During the council meeting, the only questions asked regarding the proposed contract were around how to approve the contents.
“The fee is broken up to task one, task two, and expenses,” said Ward One Council Member Karen Sheedy. “Do we want to just approve both so that we get a complete set of information?”
“Yes, because it is already broken down into task one and task two,” said Ward One Council Member Amy Hughes.
Task One is estimated at a cost not to exceed $4,530, while Task Two was set at $3,985. A total of $250 in “Expenses” were also included.
“If we have them do the study, yes, we really want to know what the recommendations were,” said Mary Aversa, Ambler Borough Manager. “Yes, if you’d like to do that [approve both sections together]
That total came to $8,765.
“You can just say ‘approve the contract and everything that is in there’ or say, ‘option one and option two,’” said Aversa.
“The [Public Safety] committee recommends, and I move, to approve the contracts with Bowman for the traffic-calming studies on Butler between Bethlehem Pike and Park Avenue,” said Hughes.
Sheedy seconded the motion, and it was put to a vote. All present voted in favor, and no council members opposed the action.
