Kittanning Council Changes Their Mind on Traffic Pattern - Again!
by Jonathan Weaver
A majority of Kittanning Borough Council members voted last night to continue the traffic realignment along South Water Street rather than revert to the old traffic patterns as was decided three weeks ago.
During a special meeting last month, council members voted 6-1 to eliminate the center turning lane and parking spaces along Kittanning Riverfront Park and keep the roadway four lanes.
Councilwoman Joie Pryde voted against the motion July 14 and opened discussion on the matter again last night, asking if the change was permanent.
“Immediately after the meeting, I had some other Council members say ‘Boy, I’m not sure I did what I thought I really wanted to do,” Pryde said.
After hearing the ‘big picture’ from Community Development Division Director Jennifer Bellas (right), Kittanning Borough Police Chief Bruce Mathews agreed that the traffic pattern changes to South Water Street will improve traffic flow through downtown and should be implemented as was previously accepted in a 2013 transportation study.
Community Division Director Jennifer Bellas said PennDOT officials were notified of Council’s decision immediately after the special meeting through Armstrong County Planning and Development Assistant Director Carmen Johnson and wasn’t sure if another change was possible.
“Once (Johnson) told (PennDOT) to go ahead, that’s what they did to move forward. I don’t know if it’s enough time to switch it back,” Bellas said. “I don’t know.”
Council Vice-President Kim Fox – who led the meeting due to President Andy Peters’ absence - identified herself as one of those council members that rethought their vote.
Fox said she was concerned if the new flow of traffic would go as predicted.
Like Johnson did a month before, Bellas recommended Council members ‘look at the big picture.’
Bellas said there are more changes being implemented slowly based on the 2013 traffic study recommendations, such as the two-way traffic on McKean Street and proposed lane changes coming from the Kittanning Citizens Bridge.
“We did hold the meetings, we did have a survey, we had an online survey, we did a paper survey, we had public meetings – we had discussion. And based on the discussion and the information that was turned in when we did the transportation study, that was one of the recommended changes, Bellas said.
“The whole purpose was to provide access to the park and to provide the better flow through town. The whole goal of the transportation study was to keep traffic moving and through town – that’s why we did it.”
Councilman Ange Turco stood firm in-favor of reverting to old traffic patterns. He said he heard concerns from potential motorists parking in the new parking spots.
“I’ll tell you my wishes: change it back to what it was,” Turco said.
Councilman David Croyle also didn’t change his vote.
Croyle agreed with an email from concerned local employee Dawn Kitko - who said she witnessed near-accidents for an entire week due to drivers spending too much time in the middle turning lane before turning or parking within the solid while lines - as well as other people who have contacted him against the new realignment.
“The aforementioned lane realignment issues have grown out of control in a very short amount of time,” Kitko wrote.
“It’s not just a matter of it being a change - the change isn’t working,” Croyle concluded.
Croyle, who said he has also almost been involved in a car accident because of trying to turn from South Water Street, predicted the issue will only become worse once school is in session.
“It’s just going to be a mess – like it is now,” Croyle said.
Pryde stood behind the opinion of PennDOT District 10 Traffic Engineer Dave Thomaswick - who felt the confusion is only temporary and will eventually be eliminated.
“I’m not an engineer – I have to go by people who are trained to do the work,” Pryde said.
Police Chief Bruce Mathews confirmed the width and turning concerns, but said the ‘big picture’ – including future realignments on the Kittanning Citizens Bridge to make opposing traffic travel at the same time - is becoming clear.
“Once everything comes into play, the time cycles are going to be faster – we’re still going to have some confusion with that center turning lane,” Chief Mathews said. “That can’t be used as through traffic – somebody’s going to be seriously hurt there - that’s a turn-only lane, and it’s not being used that way.
“But, as with any change, it’s going to take time.”
Council members voted 5-2 to keep the new traffic changes – with Turco and Croyle opposed. Following the meeting, Croyle said he was “very disappointed” with the majority’s decision and felt it was “a slap in the face” to those motorists concerned.
Bellas hopes for the ‘big picture’ to be incorporated during Phase III construction of the Downtown Kittanning Revitalization Project.
Bellas will contact PennDOT officials this morning to see if the traffic pattern changes implemented earlier this month can be made permanent as opposed to Council’s July 14th special meeting decision. (KP File Photo)
Kittanning Borough | jweaver August 4, 2015
By walrus, August 4, 2015 @ 7:25 AM
insane.the schools have been closed, survey was done when they were open.because they have a title of an engineer does not mean they have common sense
By jorn jensen, August 4, 2015 @ 7:52 AM
The turn lanes make good sense - keeps traffic flowing. Down at the bridge, it is still the same as it always was - a left turn lane and a straight through and right turn lane. Time to come into modern times, Kittanning. Same with the one-way streets - get the other one done already. One way streets waste fuel and time and create traffic - keep the traffic moving as per the traffic study recommendations.
By jerry6, August 4, 2015 @ 9:24 AM
I would like them to go back to the way it was on Water Street. My friend says he was going up Water Street and a car was in his lane coming right at him. I don’t like the way McKean Street is either. The way the lines are painted on Water Street is very confusing.
By MikeFC, August 4, 2015 @ 10:22 AM
Not a huge fan of the new pattern but instead of reverting back to the old one why not try keeping the middle turning lane and moving the parking spaces to the other side? That way it seems to accomplish everything this switch is intended to do and is not as confusing.
You still have the middle turning lane, parking on one side of the street, traffic flow from the bridge to FC is in the far right lane next to the park like it use to be, traffic flow from Dominos to bridge could stay straight after passing thru stop light instead of shifting to the right, and you would already be in the lane to make a left to cross the bridge (which seems to be where the most confusion is). If you want to go straight or right at the bridge light then shift over to the right which would be parking up to around Subway.
By tiredoftheBS, August 4, 2015 @ 2:41 PM
Thank you to the couple council members that were trying to use their heads. This new traffic pattern is a nightmare and I really don’t how it is going to get better. I have almost been struck head on, while using the turning lane for it’s intended purpose while another car was using it to travel the length of N Water to go to the bridge. The other driver then had the nerve to flip me off like I was the one in wrong. It is a disaster waiting to happen and I personally hope that it is to late for PennDOT to change it again. Council you made the right decision to go back to the old pattern, now who knows what you are thinking or should I say NOT THINKING!!
By worthingtonman, August 4, 2015 @ 6:50 PM
Traffic pattern stinks especially with people parking in the travel lane
By Oxymoron, August 4, 2015 @ 8:47 PM
In just a short time I have seen more, almost,
accidents in that center lane than the last
50 years!!! Put it back, or there will be accidents every day!!!
By wonderwhy, August 5, 2015 @ 9:40 AM
Why would you provide parking on the River Front side of the street? People only use that side a few months out of the year. Why would you not provide parking on the side of the street where the businesses are? So if you park on the River side and get out of your car right into traffic! Does that make sense.