RTM School Board Supports 2-Way Traffic at 3rd Street

The Rose Tree Media Board of School Directors stated its support for the reopening of the Third Street Bridge to two-way traffic at its meeting Thursday. 

In September, Media Borough Council voted to communicate its design parameters to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation of a 28-foot wide, , with shoulders on both sides, a buffer and a landscape architect to be engaged at 3rd Street in Media.

Then in late-September, Broomall's Lake Country Club filed a contempt of court petition against the Borough saying the one-lane, one-way decision violates the May 2011 three-way stipulation agreement between the borough, the county and BLCC.

The project is now back in ligitation.

On Thursday, RTM Board member John Hanna read a statement in support of the reopening of the bridge to two-way traffic. He said that one of the positive impacts would be that the bridge would allow vehicles, including emergency vehicles, to get to and from area schools more easily.

With the bridge making transportation more direct, the district’s transportation costs would decrease, Hanna said.

Several other board members echoed Hanna’s statements regarding the benefits of reopening the bridge.

"This is a key entrance way to Media Elementary,” Board member William O’Donnell said. He went on to say that the opening of the bridge to two-way traffic will allow easier access to several other schools within the district.

In doing so, O’Donnell also made the point that this will reduce school bus routes and therefore lower transportation costs for the school district.

While mentioning the reduction in transportation costs, Board member Stephen Miller also seconded Hanna’s point about safety.

"It will be safer if it’s open two ways,” Miller said.