Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.

HARVEYS LAKE — The borough will receive two additional speed minders that will be used with the four local legislators acquired last week, borough council President Bill Hilburt said Tuesday.

The borough’s push to increase safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists using Lakeside Drive is not stopping with speed limit minders but includes crosswalks, signage identifying blind curves and increased police patrols.

Councilwoman Michell’e Boice said the lakeside community received a grant to purchase the two new speed minders.

“Speed minder signs cost $2,500 a piece,” she said.

The digital speed minder signs will be placed at different locations on Lakeside Drive. The solar powered speed minders each have a data storage box, which is another tool the police department can use, Hilburt said.

“They (speed minders) can obtain traffic information such as the amount of traffic, time of day and vehicle speed,” he said. “We can put the police where the speeders are.”

The borough’s safety push started in June 2015, following a fatal hit-and-run crash that killed Paula Jones, a 31-year-old triathlete. On March 9, 2016, bicyclist Kurt Mangnella, 52, of Dallas was injured when a vehicle struck him on Lakeside Drive.

To prevent future accidents, Harveys Lake Borough implemented a variety of safety measures for this summer season.

Last month, in a cooperative effort between the citizen-formed Harveys Lake Safety Committee, the borough council, Harveys Lake Police Department and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation lowered the speed limit on Lakeside Drive from 35 mph to 30 mph.

The new speed limit will be stenciled onto the road surface in areas, Hilburt said.

Several new crosswalks are planned, and two are already in place.

There is a crosswalk at Wardens Place and another is going in at the Rowing Club, Hilburt said.

A Safety Awareness Day is planned from 9 to 10 a.m. May 26 at the public boat launch. Local bicycle clubs, PennDOT, local legislators and the Harveys Lake Police Department will be discussing safety issues and the rules of the road to raise public awareness, Hilburt said.

Safety improvements have made a difference.

“Traffic has slowed down,” Councilwoman Carole Samson said. “People are paying more attention when they are driving.”

The Harveys Lake Police Department reported 81 traffic stops in the last month. Five stops involved bicyclists and “six were joggers who were on the wrong side of the road,” the report stated.

In other news, the fifth annual Harveys Lake Earth Day Cleanup is planned for 1 p.m. on April 24 at the Harveys Lake Beach Club Inc., 2048 Lakeside Drive, Pole 187, Harveys Lake. For information, call 570-814-9230.

The next Harveys Lake Borough Council meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on May 17 in the municipal building.

By Eileen Godin

[email protected]

Reach Eileen Godin at 570-991-6387 or on Twitter @TLNews.