5 Questions With Hellertown's Borough Manager [Part 4]

Editor's Note: This is the fourth and final installment in our question-and-answer series with Hellertown Borough Manager Cathy Kichline. For more information about the borough, visit www.hellertownborough.org. For Part 1 of the Q&A, click here. For Part 2, click here. For Part 3, click here.

QUESTION: Traffic congestion in Hellertown, especially along the Rt. 412 corridor, has become a major concern for many residents, particularly within the last year. Are there any steps being taken by the borough to seek long-term solutions to traffic and pedestrian safety concerns in town (i.e., additional enforcement by police, grant funding for traffic calming, working with PennDOT, etc.)?

ANSWER: There certainly is no shortage of traffic. The borough experiences this firsthand. Through the award of a PennDot PA Community Transportation Initiative Grant and with the support of the Lehigh Valley Transportation Study and (State) Rep. Robert Freeman, Hellertown Borough was awarded $91,500 in funding to undertake a Walkability & Smart Transportation Plan. Many of the recommendations outlined in the plan have been accomplished: 

·      The construction of the Saucon Rail Trail has been completed.

·      Zoning Ordinance has been amended to guide and encourage positive development along with an TRO overlay district which promotes pedestrian activity and trail connections from Main Street to the Saucon Rail Trail.

·      Trailheads have been established at Water Street Park and Tumminello Park.

·      The Borough Hall Streetscape improvements include a “road diet” of Easton Road at Main Street that significantly reduced the crosswalk between Borough Hall and Detwiller Plaza (the fountain). 

·      Crosswalks and handicapped ramps have been delineated, which facilitate safe pedestrian crossing at intersections

·      Paver crosswalks have been installed at Water and Main streets.

·      Sidewalks are being replaced where applicable. 

·      Hellertown Police Department re-implemented its bike patrol. 

·      Bike racks have been installed at critical locations to foster bike use

·      Street trees have been planted—the frequency of trees along a street aid in the slowing of vehicular traffic.

As the borough continues to work through the recommendations outlined in the Walkability & Transportation Plan, it is our intent that Main Street will again become a destination for residents, shoppers, workers and visitors. 

QUESTION: What is the status of the High Street Bridge project? Is the borough directly involved in the project? Is there an anticipated reopening date that you're aware of?

ANSWER: The High Street Bridge was gifted to the City of Bethlehem by Norfolk Southern. Although not directly involved with the rehabilitation, and subsequent opening of the bridge, borough staff and officials met with the design engineers earlier this year to review a proposed preliminary design. The new bridge will be of a stone arch design, with two 14-foot lanes for traffic and pedestrian access on one side. Final design is expected to be approved by PennDOT by the summer of 2014. The City of Bethlehem is actively pursuing funding for construction of the bridge.

Photo: Hellertown Borough Manager Cathy Kichline (Patch file photo)