Forecast for Route 741 in Strasburg Borough Fairly Ominous’

By Cindy Hummel

Correspondent

A representative from U.S. Rep Joe Pitts’ office gave a “fairly ominous” forecast for Route 741 in Strasburg Borough for the next decade.

Tom Tillett of office said based on recent traffic study results for Route 41 in Gap, traffic on Route 741 through Strasburg would likely worsen in the next five to 10 years. During a March 27 borough council meeting, Tillett said the amount of traffic would likely “go up and up and up.”

“There are fairly ominous impacts on the quality of life here in the borough,” Tillet said.

Increased traffic on Route 41 in Gap coupled with conditions on Route 30 lead increasing numbers of motorists to use Route 741 as an alternate route. Tillett said he uses Route 741 as an alternate himself sometimes, only to find traffic backed up in the borough with other motorists who made the same decision.

“If you look at traffic conditions on Route 41, it is very grim,” Tillett said. “It is literally melting down.”

Improvements have been proposed for roads in Gap, as well as a possible “mini-bypass” around Paradise.

Borough resident May Gaynor said residents have been complaining about Route 741 traffic for the nearly 30 years she last lived along the road.

“When 53-foot tractor-trailers come screaming down 741,” Gaynor said, “tourists have to run for their lives.”

Borough councilman Lee Potts said many people believe Route 741 traffic is a problem for council to solve, “but the borough cannot do it alone.”

In another traffic matter, borough mayor Bruce Ryder said plans for a proposed Strasburg bypass could be two weeks to six months away.

Ryder said the borough engineer significantly underestimated the cost to move PPL poles. A right-of-way agreement also must be obtained from Verizon.

The county, borough and Strasburg Township have shared the costs. Ryder pointed out the developers of properties along the future bypass owe the project $99,000, “if we can get them to pay it.”

Borough councilman Mike Sollenberger said he wished for a “secret pot of gold” for the project.

Tillett, state Rep. Brian Cutler and Bob Thompson of state Sen. Gib Armstrong’s office said no such funding exists. Tillett, however, referred the borough to www.dfca.gov or grants.gov for funding sources.

Thompson provided a letter of support from Armstrong for a grant the borough requested from the Department of Community and Economic Development.

A third road discussion involved Route 896 from the borough line north to Route 30. Tillett said his office has introduced legislation that would include $1 million toward the estimated $11 million cost of improving the road. Then-Sen. Rick Santorum introduced legislation that would provide another $500,000.

A delaying factor, Tillett said, is the project is not on the county’s Transportation Improvement Plan. He told residents the best thing they could do to help move the project along is to call 299- 8300 and say, “We want to get it (the Route 896 project) on the Transportation Improvement Plan.”

Other topics included:

A desire for legislation to require sprinklers in borough buildings. Borough councilman Don Bachman said he inquired about homes in the future 55-and-older community proposed by Charter Homes along the proposed bypass. Although Charter officials agreed to offer sprinklers as an additional option, he said, sprinklers were never mentioned during his discussion with a salesperson.

A solution to long-standing storm-water runoff problem as described by Dallas Avenue resident Bob Stanley.

The funding of local fire companies and libraries.

The desire for local municipalities to use radar speed enforcement.

(c) 2007 Intelligencer Journal. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.