Flashing Light Installed on Rt. 73 for School Safety
The light was installed along Rt. 73 at the entrance of Perk Valley Middle School near Swamp Creek Road; a student was instrumental in obtaining the new safety measure.
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Editor's Note: This story was updated at 1 p.m. on Jan. 2 in response to questions from a reader.
A new flashing warning device to improve safety near Perkiomen Valley Middle School West was installed on Dec. 21, and may change local traffic in now that school has started back up in 2013.
The light, which cost the school district $50,000, has been in construction since the summer, when foundations were laid and conduits were installed, according to the Perkiomen Valley School District.
The light, which is powered by Lower Frederick Towship, was finished when supporting poles that met PennDOT requirements were delivered recently.
Perkiomen Valley High School student Rebecca Myers turned on the light last week. Myers was instrumental in obtaining the light from PennDOT following a bus accident that occured outside of the school several years ago.
Myers and her mother, Sandra, joined Superintendent Dr. Cliff Rogers, Operations Director Scott Clemmer, Principal Ryan Stanson-Marsh and School Board Member Ann Mantey to “flip the switch.”
While no students walk on Rt. 73 to get to the middle school, the Perkiomen Valley School District believes this will help to alert motorists when school busses enter and exit the school's parking lot.
In This article
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Perkiomen Valley Middle School West
220 Big Rd, Zieglerville, PA -
Perkiomen Valley School District Main Office
3 Iron Bridge Dr, Collegeville, PA
Kimberly Lesher-Lattanzi
10:56 am on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
It is about time!... I never could understand why they never put one in from the start!!
Dave Sobczak
12:16 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
First off I would like to commend Rebecca, it is great to see someone her age taking an active role.
Without lessening her part in this, how much did this cost? Who paid for it? Who is being protected by this? Are there middle school students walking on that road or otherwise near it? What about South Elementary which is situated on 113?
So many questions for a journalist to ask.
Brittany Tressler
12:36 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
According to the school district, the light was erected as a result of a bus accident outside of the school that occurred several years ago. South Elementary has a similar light outside of the school already...the district is looking into answers on the other questions you asked, Dave.
Michelle Eisenacher Russo
5:04 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
South does have a similar light but needs to have a SLOW, 15 miles an hour school zone flashing light. Just a flashing light on its own does nothing to slow down hurried cars coming down that section of 113 (which is busy especially in the morning). That section of 113 is already a high accident area without putting buses in danger trying to make lefts in front of speeding cars.
Brittany Tressler
12:52 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
The school district paid for the light - roughly $50,00 total - and Lower Frederick Township is providing power for the light. There are no walkers at PVMS West. I will add this information to the article.