Unity solicits input on plans for Wimmerton intersection; meeting turnout disappointing

Low turnout disappointed Unity township officials this week people to weigh in on options for improving the intersection of Wimmerton Boulevard and Route 30.

“If you’ve got 400 homes in the Wimmerton development and 50 people showing up, the numbers were a little disappointing as far as what we expected,” said township engineer Dan Schmitt.

Township officials intend to review questionnaire responses and written comments received and discuss them at the Oct. 14 supervisors meeting. They also plan to seek more input.

“I can’t speak for the rest of the board, but I think we’re going to have to have some dialogue with more residents,” said Supervisor Mike O’Barto. “Making a decision with just the 50 people that showed up, that doesn’t cut it for me.”

Reflecting options on a survey Wimmerton residents circulated and submitted in July, the township questionnaire asked residents to indicate their preference for: installing a traffic signal at the intersection; eliminating left turns from the boulevard onto eastbound Route 30; or keeping the intersection as it is.

With left turns eliminated, motorists wanting to head east on Route 30 would be expected to use a back road, Brouwers Road, to reach Saint Vincent Drive, where they could enter the highway at a traffic signal.

Several Wimmerton residents who attended the July supervisors’ meeting spoke out against eliminating left turns. Of the 261 survey respondents, 131 favored adding a signal at the intersection; 78 preferred the status quo; and 52 were satisfied with using the Saint Vincent signal.

Schmitt said suggestions submitted this week included making improvements to Brouwers, which is a township road, and improving a lane those heading west from Wimmerton use to merge into Route 30 traffic.

Schmitt said township officials will review the questionnaires to determine “what option the crowd seemed to favor, review additional comments, then come up with a consensus on how we do the project or not do the project.”

O’Barto said he is not convinced adding a traffic signal on that section of Route 30 would be a good idea, “especially when you have a traffic signal right at Saint Vincent.”

“I want the intersection at Wimmerton to be safe,” O’Barto said, but added, “I really would hate to see traffic congestion, or more of it, in that area.”

Whatever changes the township may pursue would require PennDOT review and approval, Schmitt said.

The township has applied to PennDOT’s Automated Red Light Enforcement program for funding to modify the intersection. That program is funded with fines collected at select intersections equipped with cameras to catch motorists who run red lights.

Schmitt said the township could know if the application is approved by spring.