By Frank Mustac, Special Writer
HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP — Mayor Harvey Lester is calling for the formation of a group of residents and other stakeholders to study traffic on River Drive in Titusville.
The mayor suggested the idea during the Monday Township Committee meeting after roughly 25 individuals posted comments and opinions on the Hopewell Township website — (http://hopewelltwp.org/titusville/titusville.html) — over the course of several weeks on whether parts of River Drive near two damaged stone bridges should be reopened after repair work on the bridges is completed, probably sometime within the next two years.
Both culvert bridges are owned and maintained by Mercer County.
The northern bridge was closed in March 2011 due to severe flooding, according to a July 2013 letter from Mercer County to Hopewell Township. The southern bridge was closed as a result of damage sustained from Hurricane Irene in August 2011.
Residents reported that, before the two portions of River Drive were closed back in 2011, a relatively large number of motorists were driving through the neighborhood to avoid traffic on Route 29 during rush-hour commutes or traveling to and from nearby Washington Crossing State Park. Traffic, it seems, has lessened since around the time of the bridge closures.
From the comments posted online, Mayor Lester said he gleaned some residents want both bridges closed to vehicular traffic, while at least one other doesn’t like to see school buses idling in front of the Titusville Academy on River Drive, and still another expressed concern about the boat ramp near the northern bridge.
The mayor said the traffic study group probably should consist of between nine and 15 individuals, preferable with differing opinions on what traffic solution would be best for River Drive.
He suggested members of the township’s emergency services departments be part of the stakeholders group — perhaps a police officer, a Union Fire Company and Rescue Squad member and someone from the township’s Board of Fire Commissioners.
The mayor also suggested the group include himself or a designee; a resident of River Drive; a resident from another part of the township; an individual with traffic study expertise; Township Administrator Paul Pogorzelski because he is a professional engineer; and someone with a knowledge of history since the village in Titusville has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
“I would like to get all the opinions, all the recommendations on the table,” Mayor Lester said.
The group, he said, could conduct fact finding and make a report to the new Township Committee that will be seated in 2016, following the November election.
“Rather than make a fast decision, we should make a wise decision,” the mayor said. “We have some time here because the bridges won’t be built for at least a year or more.”
Deputy Mayor Todd Brant and Committeeman John Hart both said they agreed the River Drive traffic study group should be formed. Committee members Vanessa Sandom and Kevin Kuchinski were not present at the meeting.
Mayor Lester asked Mr. Pogorzelski to publish a notice on the township’s website soliciting volunteers for the group.
