Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era

Driver speed alarms Mount Joy
BY K. SCOTT KREIDER, Correspondent

Speeding traffic and unyielding cars at crosswalks along Main Street are serious safety concerns for officials in Mount Joy Borough.

"We have people flying through town because our roads are so wide," Main Street Mount Joy president Kim Brewer said at Monday's borough council meeting, "It is a public safety issue when we can't use our crosswalks."

Council member Robert Golicher agreed that there was a problem with drivers not yielding to pedestrians at the crosswalks.

Brewer said MSMJ has been working with the state Department of Community and Economic Development to find solutions to the problem.

"We are going to look into some options with DCED to try and narrow the visual look of the street," Brewer said at the meeting.

In an interview Jan. 23, Brewer said simple solutions such as lighting, bike paths or trees help make the street appear narrower, which in turn helps to slow down traffic.

"We can work with those projects with DCED, apply for grant money and get it done," Brewer said.

Brewer said Monday she was concerned about residents' safety in the meantime, especially with the upcoming Fire and Ice Festival on Feb. 22 and 23.

"It's a huge issue because we got people out way past 9 p.m. And there are a lot of kids out, so it's a big concern," she said. "DCED let me know that we can't keep having events downtown if it's going to be a safety risk for the people."

Police Detective Joseph Goody told council members, "We'll try to get as many patrols in the area for Fire and Ice while it's on going. We'll make an honest effort to be out there."

Councilman Joshua Bower said there have not been any speed details in December or January. Bower said, "We've made efforts to add street trees to Main Street, and I've think we've done a good effort trying to pronounce our crosswalks, but it does come back to enforcement."

After the meeting, council president Chris Metzler said borough officials would continue discussions to address the issue.

In other business, council approved a final building plan for the new Mount Joy American Legion, 560 Clay Alley.

Jim Heslop, an official with Mount Joy American Legion, said in an email post members hope to break ground for the 8,300-square foot project by late spring and finish it in early 2014.

Heslop said the new building will include a bar area, a full kitchen, a large banquet room and about 113 offstreet parking spaces.

Heslop said final costs for the project have not yet been determined.

"A brand new American Legion Post will be good for veterans in the area because it will be family friendly," Heslop said in the email. "It will offer the veterans and their families as well as community members a nice place to socialize."

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