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FIORE 6
To: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
Westmoreland County Supervisor
From: Albert Fiore
President
Hempfield Twp. V.F.D. Hose Co. #2
P.O. Box 279
Greensburg, Pa. 15601
Date: 21 July 2011
Subject: Intersection of Route 30 East and Mt. Pleasant Road
This letter is to address the concerns of our fire company over these ramps. The top of these ramps has been a problem for as long as I have been a member of this department. We have been answering two calls a month for vehicle accidents with injuries at the top of this ramp. This is due to the short length of the ramp run off and people stopping short at the top of the ramp.
However, since the addition of the traffic lights at the bottom of these ramps our call load to this intersection has doubled. When the lights at this intersection were installed eighteen months ago numerous problems were caused. These problems have added to the danger at this ramp, by making the bottom as dangerous as the top. We would like to see the critical issues with these ramps addressed before there are any more injuries or loss of life at this location.
The new problems at the bottom of this ramp are:
· The turning lanes at the bottom of the ramps on Mt. Pleasant Road are too short. These lanes have been shortened to the distance between the east and west ramps, which is only room for three or four cars.
· The timing of the turning signal on the lights is inadequate. The timing of the turn signal is too short.
· The lights at the east bound ramps are not timed properly with the lights at the west bound ramps between Mt. Pleasant Road and Route 30. The signals at the bottom of both ramps are not timed in sequence so that traffic can move smoothly along the Mt. Pleasant Road.
These problems lead to a traffic bottle neck on the Mt. Pleasant road at this location. This bottle neck causes frustration with drivers and accidents at this location. We have been told that nothing can be done with the timing of these lights because they are timed to keep traffic from backing up on the exit ramps from Route 30 to the Mt. Pleasant Road. This is not working; during periods of heavy traffic flow both of these ramps still back on to Route 30.
Short Term Suggestions:
1. Remove the yellow lines on the Mt. Pleasant Road narrowing it to one lane in this area.
2. Time the turn signal on this light longer to let more vehicles turn onto the ramp.
3. Time the lights at both ramps in sequence so that traffic will move smoother on the Mt. Pleasant Road.
4. Place a sign stating Stop Here on Red at the end of the medial strips both North and South bound on the Mt. Pleasant Road prior to the off ramps from Route 30 East.
5. Paint cross walks or at least stop lines across the Mt. Pleasant Road at the intersection of the exit ramps off of Route 30 East.
Long Term Suggestions:
1. Return the Mt. Pleasant road to two lanes in this area.
2. Remove the traffic lights from both intersections
3. Lengthen the run offs on both the east and west entrance ramps to give drivers more time to merge on Route 30.
By addressing these issues and making changes to this intersection precious lives may be saved and further injuries prevented.
· Removal of the yellow lines narrowing the Mt. Pleasant Road at this location
· Increasing the time the turn signal to this ramp is green
· Timing the traffic lights at both intersections in sequence to make the flow of traffic on the Mt. Pleasant Road smoother
· Removal of the traffic lights from both intersections
· Lengthening of the run off for both entrance ramps to make merging on Route 30 easier.
To further explain our short and long term suggestions, we have added the following photos for your review:
Photo 1: Entering Intersection from North on Mt. Pleasant Road East bound turning lane on left under bridge.
Photo 2: Entering Intersection from North at intersection of Mt. Pleasant Road and Town Square Drive shows unused lane on left.
Photo 3: Entering Route 30 East from top of Ramp
Photo 4: Approaching top of Ramp from Mt. Pleasant Road on Route 30 East
Photo 5: Entering Route 30 east from the west bound Ramp
Photo 6: Approaching top of West bound entrance ramp on Route 30 West
Photo 7: Entering Intersection from South on Mt. Pleasant Road
Photo 2: Shows the area where the left lane was painted out prior to the intersection from the North on the Mt. Pleasant Road. This area could be left as a lane with and there could be a cross walk or stop line added on the north side of the West bound ramps, and a sign stating stop here on red.
Photo 3: Shows entering Route 30 East bound from the ramp. This run off should be extended further down Route 30 to give traffic entering more room to gain speed and merge with traffic already on Route 30 East.
Photo 4: Shows traffic approaching the intersection of the entrance ramp on Route 30 East. Again the short run off gives no time for the traffic entering to reach the speed of approaching traffic on Route 30. Posted speed limit is 60mph.
Photo 5: shows the same problem exists at the top of the west bound entrance ramp onto Route 30 East. The run off of this ramp is also too short for the traffic entering Route 30 to gain speed.
Photo 6: shows the approach to the west bound entrance ramp on Route 30 east. This picture not only shows that the run off is too short to gain speed but shows that drivers have to come to a complete stop at this point and wait for a break in traffic to enter Route 30 East. This causes a bottle neck on both the east and west bound ramps entering Route 30 East, thereby causing accidents.
Photo 7: shows approach to the intersection of the Mt. Pleasant Road and Route 30 east from the south on the Mt. Pleasant Road. Again you have the yellow lines blocking the left lane and a short turning lane for traffic entering Route 30 East west bound. By reinstating the left lane and putting a crosswalk or stop line and sign Stop Here on Red at the end of the medial strip before the east bound off ramp from Route 30 east this problem could be temporarily eased.
In conclusion we are asking that you please consider our reasonable suggestions. We can show from our call report sheets that the number of accidents with injuries we are answering in this intersection area have doubled since the reduction of the lanes and addition of the traffic signals in this intersection eighteen months ago. I do not have the figures of what these suggestions would cost, but I am sure it is not substantial compared to the lives and cost of injuries they might save. Even if you don’t feel the long term suggestion of removing the signals to be justified, the remaining suggestions would greatly improve this intersection.
We are looking forward to hearing from you about this very important matter. You can contact me or any of the line officers at Hempfield Township Volunteer Fire Department Hose Company No. 2 at (724) 837-7344 or by mail at P.O. Box 279, Greensburg, Pa. 15601. I am also available by cell phone at (724) 244-7961 or by email at fiorealbert@yahoo.com.
Sincerely,
Albert Fiore
President
Hempfield Township Volunteer Fire Department Hose Co. No. 2
P.O. Box 279
Greensburg, Pa. 15601
Telephone: (724) 837-7344