Enhancing Local Mobility in Collegeville: Public Input Sought

The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), in cooperation with the Collegeville Main Street Program (CMSP), the Borough of Collegeville, and Montgomery County is conducting a planning study entitled Enhancing Local Mobility in Collegeville. The purpose of this project is to enhance the Collegeville area for bicyclists and pedestrians by addressing transportation issues and concerns.  

The groups are gathering information about issues affecting the study area and the public's vision for improvement. They are looking to identify locations that are deficient or need improvement in the areas of transportation, particularly related to bicycle and pedestrian safety and accessibility.

Public comments will assist in the development of effective improvement strategies for the Collegeville area by targeting potential problem areas.  Comments will be reviewed and prioritized this spring.  The groups expect that the information gathered will influence policy and project priorities for relevant agencies. Comments and suggestions will be accepted at http://www.dvrpc.org/asp/collegeville until March 31^st, 2011. 

The interactive map was designed to be user friendly; however, it is suggested that one spend some time with the map before starting comments -- click on and off legend items, navigate around, etc.). 

            The Collegeville Main Street Program began working on pedestrian and bicycle safety issues in 2009 after being one of ten organizations in the country selected to participate in a Pedestrian Safety Programfunded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and administered by the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center (NCHSRC).

            Debbie Riegner, CMSP Design Committee Chair envisions her committee using the study findings to outline tasks that will improve safety on Main Street and within the Collegeville Borough.  "Once we know where the major concerns are we can begin making plans to alleviate or improve them.  We have some specific areas identified already; however, public comments will really assist us to outline targeted undertakings.  We are also hoping that decisions will be made at a higher level that may make accomplishing these tasks easier."

To learn more about the Main Street Program or to get involved with the pedestrian safety project, contact Linda Flederbach at (610) 454-1050 or e-mail manager@collegevilledevelopment.org.  Interested parties may also contact Dan Nemiroff at the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission at dnemiroff@dvrpc.org.  General information on improving pedestrian safety can be found at www.walkinginfo.org.