Road Watch, Sept. 12, John’s Last Column
“I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain…” goes an old James Taylor song. And to that, this retiring reporter-columnist can add I’ve seen my share of flood disasters, infernos and blizzards over the years as a reporter. You think last winter was bad, how about the Blizzard of ’96?
It seems I somehow always landed on some highway or roadblocked street during nearly four decades of chasing all kinds of news including crime, explosions, politics and train wrecks.
I’ll never forget the sunny June morning in 1987 when two robbers being pursued went the wrong way on I-95 in Lower Chichester and crashed head-on into a Delaware state trooper who was critically injured. The two female suspects, who later tested positive for cocaine in their systems, and a toddler were killed in the horrific crash.
Climbing up a steep embankment off a side road to reach the accident scene, I had to take a deep breath after seeing all the carnage.
I’ll never forget the Saturday morning around one Memorial Day weekend when an oil tanker erupted in flames after a collision on I-95 in Chester, taking its toll on drivers and severely buckling the hig-hway. The late veteran state Senator Clarence D. Bell of Upland was already on the highway, in jeans and rubber boots, monitoring the wreckage.
As a result of the serious damage to the highway and infrastructure, PennDOT had to reroute traffic partially on the opposite side of the interstate. Complain all you want about PennDOT not getting around to fix a particular pothole after a winter thaw, but the state agency came through ahead of time in repairing the highway in about a month that summer.
On a more positive note, while on another highway, I was there for the grand opening of the Blue Route (I-476) on Dec. 19, 1991 – which will have its 20th anniversary next year. I endured the frigid temperatures that were made worse by a wind tunnel effect underneath the Lawrence Road overpass as then Governor Robert Casey and Sen. Bell cut the ribbon.
It was truly a milestone in road construction for a much needed north-south expressway in the county connecting I-95 with the turnpike following a lengthy controversial struggle that spanned several decades. Unfortunately, it became nearly obsolete by the time it was completed, no thanks to opposition pressure groups that succeeded in having the highway funneled from six lanes to four lanes below West Chester Pike (Route 3).
I also lost count of how many times I stood in water and foul-smelling mud reporting on the aftermath of floods in Chester, Darby Borough, Chester Township and Upper Darby that clogged local streets and devastated homes and businesses, and a YMCA in Chester.
I guess you could say being on the road just comes with the territory being a reporter.
Thanks for reading Road Watch and Road Rant. Please watch traffic conditions and not your handheld cell phone while driving under the influence of conversation.
Pet Peeves
Here are some pet peeves I want to get off my chest with this farewell column.
BULLET Why don’t motorists turn on their headlights when they use their windshield wipers in the rain? It’s state law.
BULLET Why doesn’t PennDOT paint new left-turn arrows in the two left lanes of West Chester Pike (Route 3) westbound before Lawrence Road? Can’t tell you how many drivers get stuck in the turn lane and pull out dangerously in front of motorists in the proper lane going straight.
BULLET Why don’t any cops enforce the law against covering your license plate with plastic which is often faded yellow or makes it hard to read the plate in the sun’s glare?
BULLET Why are there so many vehicles with extremely dark tinted windows on the driver’s side and front passenger windows? Makes it hard for anyone – including police – to identify a reckless driver or miscreant.
BULLET Why don’t concrete and other contractors clean off their truck license plates covered with concrete or mud, making it hard to identify them in the event of a traffic infraction?
BULLET Why aren’t there more left-turn, green arrow signals at busy, bad intersections like Route 320 South at Route 3, and at Baltimore Pike and Oak Lane and other busy corners, but yet they are installed at less busy intersections?
BULLET Why are drivers exiting the Blue Route North at Exit 9 at West Chester Pike allowed to make right turns on red with eastbound pike traffic barreling down an incline?
BULLET Those “Beware of Aggressive Drivers” signs on highways instead should say “Aggressive Drivers, Beware” (of the law).
BULLET Although it’s not wintertime yet, I can’t believe how many lazy motorists never clean off their snow-bound roofs, hoods and rear windows and trunks before hitting the road. Who wants their windshield to get hit by flying snow and ice from the driver in front of them?
BULLET Now that autumn is approaching, don’t forget that fallen leaves on the road can be dangerously slippery when you brake.
Ben Franklin Bridge Lighting
For most of September, the Ben Franklin Bridge will be arrayed in blue and green lighting to support Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
“The Delaware River Port Authority is joining with the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation and the Southern New Jersey Chapter of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition to remind people of the importance of regular medical checkups,” said DRPA CEO John J. Matheussen.
Labor Day Toll
During the four-day Labor Day holiday driving period, nine people died and 271 others were injured in 754 crashes investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police.
Eight of those killed were not wearing seat belts, said Police Commissioner Frank Pawlowski. He noted that 83 of the crashes were alcohol-related, including two of the fatal crashes.
Troopers arrested 374 persons for driving under the influence, issued 8,105 speeding citations, cited 679 for failing to wear seat belts, and issued 66 citations for not securing children in safety seats.
In the previous Labor Day holiday period in 2009, nine people also were killed and 285 others were injured in 654 crashes investigated by troopers.
SEPTA “Smart Cards”
Septa has submitted a federal grant application seeking $29.3 million in funding for a program that would begin to modernize the authority’s antiquated fare collection system.
Under the proposal, SEPTA would use the grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s TIGER II program, along with $48 million in SEPTA funding, to begin building what is commonly referred to as the “Smart Card” system. The system would involve using bank credit and debit cards, prepaid SEPTA cards and other “smart” technologies.
Traffic Delays
Chester Pike (U.S. Route 13) – Ridley Township, bridge construction with lane closure between Morton Avenue and Acres Drive, 24-hour restrictions through October 2011.
Radnor – Goshen Road, road work costing $1.3 million, closed/detoured 24 hours daily between Darby-Paoli and Hunt roads for roadway reconstruction and realignment to remove a sharp curve through October. Work began March 1. Goshen Road will be detoured over Darby-Paoli Road, Bryn Mawr Avenue, Route 3, Route 252 and Goshen Road.
Concord – Baltimore Pike, bridge replacement with lane restrictions on bridge over Chester Creek 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through June 2011. Work began in September 2009.
Baltimore Pike (U.S. Route 1) – Middletown and Chester Heights, bridge replacement with lane restrictions between Darlington and Station roads, 24-hour restrictions through June 2011. Work began Oct. 12.
Road Watch/Road Rant appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.

For Aug. 29----ROAD WATCH
(Trolleys Roll Again Monday)
Monday, the SEPTA Routes 101 Media and 102 Sharon Hill trolleys resume service after major infrastructure work. Shuttle buses no longer will be running on local roads.
SEPTA invested $34 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to complete six infrastructure improvement projects the past year to improve service reliability, safety and rider comfort on the Route 101 Media and Route 102 Sharon Hill trolley lines.
SEPTA in-house crews will still be working on upgrades to station buildings and platform areas, including the installation of new station signage and maps, through the end of the year.
Motorists are urged not to park too close to the trolley tracks, which could result in delays to service and possible towing.
Also, starting Monday, SEPTA will open new bus lanes and berths for bus Routes 113, 114 and 115 at the Darby Transportation Center. The year-long, $1.6 million project was federally funded.
Bus riders on the Route 113 and 115 should note that the stops on Main Street and MacDade Boulevard and on Main Street at the trolley loop will be discontinued, SEPTA said. These buses will stop at their new designated berths inside the Darby Transportation Center.
For additional service information, contact SEPTA Customer Service at 215-580-7800 or log on to www.septa.org.
Blue Route
Nighttime construction early this week will reduce I-476 South to one lane Monday night and to two lanes Tuesday night between the Mid-County Interchange (Exit 20) and the I-76 Interchange (Exit 16), PennDOT said.
Labor Day Travel
The number of Labor Day holiday travelers is expected to increase by nearly 10 percent, according to AAA.
The number of Americans traveling during the three holidays of summer is increasing this year. Normally, the Labor Day holiday weekend is the smallest of the three travel holidays.
About 34.4 million travelers will be taking a trip at least 50 miles away from home, AAA said. Last year, 31.3 million Americans traveled during the Labor Day weekend.
“While media reports on the state of the U.S. economy are mixed, many Americans are still interested in taking one more trip as the summer travel season comes to a close,” said Jim Lardear, a spokesman for AAA Mid-Atlantic.
“It is encouraging to see more Americans planning to travel to visit family, friends and exciting vacation destinations,” he said.
The holiday period starts Thursday and ends Labor Day, a Monday.
The earlier the holiday falls in September, the more travel tends to occur.
Trips by auto are expected to increase with 91 percent of travelers or 31.4 million people, hitting the roads via car. This is an increase of 10.3 percent from last Labor Day when 28.5 million travelers went by motor vehicle.
Barring any major tropical storm activity in the Gulf Coast region, AAA expects the national average of self-serve regular gas to be between $2.65 and $2.75 per gallon during this holiday weekend.
Leisure air travel is expected to account for just 5 percent of overall travel with 1.62 million holiday flyers, an increase of 4.6 percent from a year ago when 1.54 million flew.
The average distance traveled by Americans this Labor Day weekend is expected to be 635 miles, slightly less than a year ago (645 miles).
Median spending is expected to be $697 this Labor Day, nearly $50 more than last year when median spending was about $650.
Haverford
Aqua Pennsylvania will close the right lane on southbound Route 1 (Township Line Road) at Juniper Road in Haverford 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Wednesday for water main installation.
I-95 Bridge Repairs
One lane will be closed on I-95 South between Broad Street and the Philadelphia International Airport 9 p.m.-5 a.m. Monday-Thursday for bridge repairs.
The right lane will be closed on I-95 North/South between the Walt Whitman Bridge and Washington Avenue in Philadelphia 9 p.m.-5 a.m. Monday-Thursday for sound wall installation.
Traffic Delays
Chester Pike (U.S. Route 13) – Ridley Township, bridge construction with lane closure between Morton Avenue and Acres Drive, 24-hour restrictions through October 2011.
Radnor – Goshen Road, road work costing $1.3 million, closed/detoured 24 hours daily between Darby-Paoli and Hunt roads for roadway reconstruction and realignment to remove a sharp curve through October. Work began March 1. Goshen Road will be detoured over Darby-Paoli Road, Bryn Mawr Avenue, Route 3, Route 252 and Goshen Road.
Concord – Baltimore Pike, bridge replacement with lane restrictions on bridge over Chester Creek 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through June 2011. Work began in September 2009.
Baltimore Pike (U.S. Route 1) – Middletown and Chester Heights, bridge replacement with lane restrictions between Darlington and Station roads, 24-hour restrictions through June 2011. Work began Oct. 12.
Road Watch/Road Rant appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.

` Road Watch col., for 8-22
(Distracted Drivers with Dogs in Vehicle)
About 31 percent of dog owners admitted to distracted behavior while driving with their pet dogs, according to a recent survey by AAA and Kurgo.
Nearly one out of three of the participants surveyed admitted to being distracted by their dog while driving. About 59 percent of the respondents said they have participated in at least one distracting behavior while driving with their dog.
In a nation that boasts an estimated 50 to 68 million dog owners, the survey found that many drivers not only love to bring the family dog along, but most of them also owned up to engaging often in risky behaviors when man’s best friend is along for the ride.
“Here’s the upshot: Dog owners are distracted by their dogs while driving, researchers who conducted the survey found,” said Jim Lardear, AAA Mid-Atlantic director of public and government affairs.
“The trouble is, many don’t realize it,” Lardear said. “That’s not only shocking, it’s also dangerous.”
BULLET More than half (55 percent) have pet their dog while driving.
BULLET One in five allowed their dog to sit in their lap – 21 percent.
BULLET Seven percent confess to engaging in other distracting behaviors, such as giving food and water to their dog.
BULLET Five percent admit to playing with their dogs while driving.
These behaviors can distract the driver and increase the risk of a crash, Lardear said. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that looking away from the road for only two seconds doubles your risk of being in a crash. “That’s also true when you are distracted by your dog,” he said.
Only 17 percent of those surveyed use any form of pet restraint system when driving with their dog. Use of a pet restraint system can aid in limiting distractions and help protect your pet.
There are a variety of reasonably priced products available to help dog owners reduce distractions their pets might cause while driving while keeping them safe, Lardear said.
Padded harnesses with sturdy connectors and straps are available to connect to a vehicle’s seatbelt or LATCH system. Both hard- and soft-sided crates can also be used in vehicles, but should always be strapped down.
Lardear recommends that owners utilize a restraint system anytime they are driving with their pet – even close to home.
“Just as we put on our seatbelt before we hit the road, we need to do the same for our canine companions,” he said.
Back to School
It soon will be that time of year again for children to go back to school and motorists should pay attention as student pedestrians and school buses fill the roads again.
This can be both an exciting and distracting time for children, which means motorists need to be extra careful – especially at peak times for buses and pedestrians, said PennDOT Secretary Allen Biehler.
“Motorists need to watch for students who are boarding and exiting buses, obey school crossing guards and follow all traffic laws regarding stopped school buses and school zones,” Biehler said.
Pennsylvania’s school bus stopping law requires motorists approaching a school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended to stop at least 10 feet from the bus.
Motorists approaching from all directions are required to stop.
However, motorists who encounter a school bus stopping on the opposite side of a divided highway are not required to stop. Lanes of a divided highway are clearly separated by a divider, such as concrete barriers or grassy medians.
Motorists convicted of violating the state’s school bus stopping law face a $250 fine, five points on their record and a 60-day license suspension.
Motorists must exercise caution in school zones.
Schools are hubs of pedestrian and vehicle traffic so motorists are required to slow down to the posted speed limit of 15 mph in school zones. Violations carry a fine and three points on the driver’s record.
Road Rant (See Video)
Back in April, Road Watcher focused on the need for more chevron signs on the busy, curvy stretch of Lawrence Road near Ellis Road in Haverford.
It’s a high-traffic area and connection to the West Chester Pike (Route 3) on-ramps to the Blue Route (I-476).
Back then, I suggested there should be more chevron signs – the yellow kind with black v-shaped lines – closer to the intersection of Ellis Road, which has a stop sign.
Well, PennDOT has finally installed brand-new chevron signs on top of the 30-mph speed limit signs – not that anyone was obeying the speed limit when I stopped by Friday afternoon.
A nearby resident who requested anonymity said he welcomed the new signs although he was skeptical about what effect they would have.
He said what is really needed in the 1800 block of Lawrence Road are guard rails to protect the homeowners and their children (Hear his comments on video).
Ben Franklin Bridge
The pedestrian walkway on the Ben Franklin Bridge will reopen to the public Monday.
Walkway hours are 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. With the reopening of the south walkway, the north walkway will be closed to the public.
DRPA Police
Delaware River Port Authority Police began Friday – and through Sept. 6 – along with local and state police will be cracking down on drunk drivers as part of the “Over the Limit, Under Arrest” statewide crackdown.
They will conduct saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints looking for drivers who may be driving while intoxicated.
Special variable message signs about the campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving will be located at all four DRPA bridges over the Delaware River.
Cheyney Road Closing
The West Chester Railroad will close Cheyney Road between Creek Road and Station Road in Thornbury beginning Monday through Friday for rail crossing replacement, PennDOT said.
During construction, Cheyney Road through traffic will be detoured over Creek Road, Benefits Lane and Station Road. Motorists are advised to allow extra time when traveling through the area.
Traffic Delays
Upper Darby – Township Line Road (U.S. Route 1), traffic signal upgrades with lane restrictions between Dermond Road and Harding Drive 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays.
Nether Providence – Beatty Road, closed/detoured between Baltimore Pike and Sproul Road for bridge rehabilitation through Aug. 27.
Chester Pike (U.S. Route 13) – Ridley Township, bridge construction with lane closure between Morton Avenue and Acres Drive, 24-hour restrictions through October 2011.
Radnor – Goshen Road, road work costing $1.3 million, closed/detoured 24 hours daily between Darby-Paoli and Hunt roads for roadway reconstruction and realignment to remove a sharp curve through October. Work began March 1. Goshen Road will be detoured over Darby-Paoli Road, Bryn Mawr Avenue, Route 3, Route 252 and Goshen Road.
Concord – Baltimore Pike, bridge replacement with lane restrictions on bridge over Chester Creek 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through June 2011. Work began in September 2009.
Baltimore Pike (U.S. Route 1) – Middletown and Chester Heights, bridge replacement with lane restrictions between Darlington and Station roads, 24-hour restrictions through June 2011. Work began Oct. 12.
Road Watch/Road Rant appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.

For August 15, ROAD WATCH…
(Delaware Cell Phone/Texting Ban Effective January—Why Not One in Pa.?)
Just a reminder in case you didn’t know: our neighbor state to the south, Delaware, has a law banning hand-held cell phone use and texting while driving that becomes effective Jan. 2, 2011.
Gov. Jack Markell signed the legislation last month, making Delaware the ninth state to ban the use of hand-held cell phones behind the wheel and the 30th state to ban texting while driving.
In other words, starting in January, you can only use a hands-free phone while driving in Delaware.
The comprehensive statewide restriction requires drivers to use a hands-free device to talk while driving and also prohibits text messaging, sending or reading e-mails or browsing websites while the vehicle is in motion.
The Delaware law was sponsored by Rep. Darryl M. Scott, D-Dover, and in the Senate by Sens. Brian J. Bushweller and Karen E. Peterson.
“This new law is about improving safety for everyone who shares the road,” Markell said. “We hope we can reduce the number of drivers who text and e-mail while driving, and therefore, reduce the number of distraction-related crashes.”
He added that he wanted drivers to keep their focus on the road.
The bill allows a driver to use a headset, speakerphone or other hands-free device to talk on a cell phone while driving.
It also permits a driver to punch in a number or activate the hands-free device, but the driver then must put the phone down while talking.
Scott says the new law takes the phone out of the driver’s hands – eliminating a major distraction.
“Cell phones are a wonderful and convenient tool, but when used while driving, they present a persistent distraction,” Scott said.
“Removing the device from the driver’s hand returns the hand to the wheel and the driver’s attention to the roadways,” he said.
I couldn’t have said that any better myself – which I have been hammering for in this column for years to no avail.
Bushweller, a former state secretary of public safety, while admitting the bill created a fair amount of controversy, said, “…the bottom line is this: I’m convinced it will save lives and that’s more important than any inconvenience it may cause motorists.”
The new law creates a statewide regulation of the use of electronic communication devices rather than a patchwork system that varies by municipality, which includes Wilmington and Elsmere, and Philadelphia, Lower Chichester and West Conshohocken, among others in Pennsylvania.
Under the Delaware bill, a first violation of this primary offense would carry a fine of $50; a second offense would carry a fine of $100-$200. Violators would not accumulate any points on their driving records.
The honchos in Harrisburg, despite efforts by state Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery, have failed to enact similar laws in the usual bipartisan tug-of-war with the Republican dominated Senate.
In July, House members by a bipartisan vote of 126-71 rejected the Senate’s version of House Bill 67 imposing stricter rules for teen drivers, citing its amendments weakened the bill regarding cell phone and texting bans, passenger restrictions and driver training hours.
The House version passed overwhelmingly in April 2009 would have made it a primary offense for a teen with a learner’s permit or junior driver’s license to text or talk on a cell phone while driving. However, the next month, the Senate amended the bill to make such conduct a secondary offense, meaning officers could only issue citations if a teen was already stopped for another traffic violation or an accident.
Hand-held cell phone bans for all drivers are on the books in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Utah, Washington and the District of Columbia. Utah has named the secondary offense careless driving.
Maryland’s law becomes effective Oct. 1.
I-76/South Street Interchange
For the next two weeks, weeknight travel restrictions will be in effect on the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76) at the South Street Interchange in Philadelphia for overhead bridge construction by the city, PennDOT said.
This work is part of the city’s $67 million project to construct the new South Street Bridge.
Motorists traveling on I-76 will be taken off the expressway at the South Street off-ramp and placed back on the eastbound expressway from the South Street on-ramp 10 p.m.-5 a.m. Mondays-Fridays.
Westbound I-76 traffic will be reduced from two lanes to one during this time.
In addition, the Walnut Street on-ramp to I-76 East will be closed and detoured 10 p.m.-5 a.m. weeknights over the next two weeks. Motorists will be detoured west on Walnut Street, left on 34th Street and University Avenue to the 34th Street on-ramp to I-76 East.
Lane closures on I-76 West at South Street will not start until 11 p.m. on nights when the Phillies and Eagles play at the stadium complex in South Philadelphia.
I-76 motorists are advised to allow additional time to travel through the construction area or use an alternate route because backups will occur as crews perform painting, backfilling and shielding-removal operations.
The contractor’s schedule is dependent on the weather.
Ben Franklin Bridge
Two lanes on the Ben Franklin Bridge will be closed this weekend until 5 a.m. Monday for miscellaneous asphalt repairs. The work will be done in the westbound lanes.
U.S. Route 202/Route 3
This weekend, travel restrictions are scheduled on U.S. Route 202 between the Route 3 (West Chester Pike) and Westtown Road interchanges in West Goshen, Chester County, for ongoing road/ramp construction.
Through 5 a.m. Sunday, U.S. Route 202 North/South will be reduced to one lane between Route 3 and Westtown Road for the replacement of deteriorated concrete pavement.
Also, the Route 202 South off-ramp to Route 3 and the Route 3 on-ramp to Route 202 South will be closed/detoured until 5 a.m. Monday for replacement of deteriorated concrete pavement.
Motorists should allow more time for travel along Route 202 during construction because backups will occur.
Traffic Delays
Upper Darby – Township Line Road (U.S. Route 1), traffic signal upgrades with lane restrictions between Dermond Road and Harding Drive 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays.
Concord – U.S. Route 202 North, road widening with lane closures between McComb Avenue and Cornerstone Drive 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays Monday-Aug.20.
Aston – Concord Road, milling with lane restrictions between Bethel and Pennell roads 7 p.m.-5 a.m. weekdays.
Nether Providence – Beatty Road, closed/detoured between Baltimore Pike and Sproul Road for bridge rehabilitation through Aug. 27.
Chester Pike (U.S. Route 13) – Ridley Township, bridge construction with lane closure between Morton Avenue and Acres Drive, 24-hour restrictions through October 2011.
Radnor – Goshen Road, road work costing $1.3 million, closed/detoured 24 hours daily between Darby-Paoli and Hunt roads for roadway reconstruction and realignment to remove a sharp curve through October. Work began March 1. Goshen Road will be detoured over Darby-Paoli Road, Bryn Mawr Avenue, Route 3, Route 252 and Goshen Road.
Concord – Baltimore Pike, bridge replacement with lane restrictions on bridge over Chester Creek 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through June 2011. Work began in September 2009.
Baltimore Pike (U.S. Route 1) – Middletown and Chester Heights, bridge replacement with lane restrictions between Darlington and Station roads, 24-hour restrictions through June 2011. Work began Oct. 12.
Road Watch/Road Rant appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.

Road Watch col., Aug. 8
The Kindness of Strangers…
With the lack of driver courtesy prevalent on the roads today and horrible examples of road rage in recent years, it was so encouraging for me to receive the kindness of strangers during a recent car breakdown.
I was driving my old Chevy Lumina on Springfield Road on the way home from work one hot day when my fan belt snapped after the water pump seized. I knew something was wrong when I suddenly smelled burnt rubber.
Without power steering and engine power, I managed to steer around the corner on to Indian Rock Drive in Springfield. I had to wait nearly two hours before a AAA-certified tow truck arrived.
Meanwhile, the heat was getting to me and I was thirsty. Well, instead of complaining about my car taking up the parking space in front of their house, a Good Samaritan family on the corner couldn’t have been more kind.
I told a young man I was waiting for a tow truck. He offered to get me a bottle of water. He couldn’t find one inside his home, but instead he brought me a nice glass of ice water.
Later on, his brother who was in the Air Force – and had a T-shirt saying so – even offered to let me go inside his air-conditioned home. Then their father, Robert Peters, came outside – a fellow Chevy car fan – and we had a pleasant conversation talking about cars and his fondness for boating on the Chesapeake.
Then I asked him if I could use their bathroom, thanks to the water I drank earlier. Not something I would normally do, but they made me feel as if I wasn’t imposing on them.
This guy Bob’s wife Denise also came out to greet me along with their two friendly pet dogs.
This family truly epitomized the kindness of strangers, restoring my faith in human nature – a far cry from all the road rage you hear about nowadays.
ROAD RANT (See Video)
I revisited the location in Middletown near the obsolete cloverleaf at the on-ramp from Route 352 North (Middletown Road) to Route 1 North (Baltimore Pike) and the Media Bypass.
A reader had previously complained about the need to repaint the faded solid white line on Route 1 North. PennDOT quickly responded to the complaint within days.
This solid white line on the far right lane of the pike allows cars from Route 352 North to turn into the lane protected by the solid white line which means that northbound traffic on the pike should not be crossing over into that far right lane.
Blue Route Traffic Pattern
Overnight lane closures are scheduled this weekend on I-476 South in Montgomery County to move two lanes of southbound traffic into a new pattern between the Schuylkill River Bridge and the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76) Interchange.
From 10 tonight to 5 a.m. Monday, the southbound side of the Blue Route will be reduced from two lanes to one from the river bridge to I-76 for additional traffic line painting.
In addition, the southbound I-476 “express lane,” which runs on the northbound side of I-476 from just south of the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Mid-County Interchange to I-76, will be closed 10 p.m. Thursday to 5 a.m. Friday for construction activity.
Southbound I-476 motorists are advised to allow more time for travel because backups and delays are expected to occur during the overnight operations.
I-95 Work
The right lane will be closed on northbound and southbound I-95 between the Walt Whitman Bridge and Washington Avenue in Philadelphia 9 p.m.-5 a.m. weeknights for sound wall installation.
Also, one lane will be closed on I-95 North/South between Woodhaven Road (Route 63) and Route 73 in Philadelphia 9 p.m.-5 a.m. weeknights for bridge repairs.
Aramingo Avenue
Northbound Aramingo Avenue will be closed between Westmoreland and York streets in Philadelphia for base repairs.
Northbound motorists will be detoured over Richmond Street and Castor Avenue.
Trucks will be detoured over I-95 to the Aramingo Avenue exit.
Crews are working in two-block sections of northbound Aramingo Avenue between Lehigh Avenue and Westmoreland Street to minimize the impact to on-street parking.
This work is part of PennDOT’s $11.2 million project to improve Aramingo Avenue between Lehigh Avenue and Harbison Avenue, and Harbison Avenue between Van Kirk Street and Route 1 (Roosevelt Boulevard). Crews are replacing traffic signals at 31 intersections and milling and paving the road base.
Traffic Delays
Upper Darby – Township Line Road (U.S. Route 1), traffic signal upgrades with lane restrictions between Dermond Road and Harding Drive 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays.
Concord – U.S. Route 202 North, road widening with lane closures between McComb Avenue and Cornerstone Drive 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays Monday-Aug.20.
Aston – Concord Road, milling with lane restrictions between Bethel and Pennell roads 7 p.m.-5 a.m. weekdays.
Also, milling between Bethel and Pennell roads, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Friday.
Edgmont Avenue – Brookhaven, Parkside and Chester, lane restrictions 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and 7 p.m.-5 a.m. Wednesday-Friday.
Springfield – Baltimore Pike, pavement marking with lane restrictions between Route 420 and Route 252, 6 p.m.-6 a.m. weekdays.
Nether Providence – Beatty Road, closed/detoured between Baltimore Pike and Sproul Road for bridge rehabilitation through Aug. 27.
Chester Pike (U.S. Route 13) – Ridley Township, bridge construction with lane closure between Morton Avenue and Acres Drive, 24-hour restrictions through October 2011.
Radnor – Goshen Road, road work costing $1.3 million, closed/detoured 24 hours daily between Darby-Paoli and Hunt roads for roadway reconstruction and realignment to remove a sharp curve through October. Work began March 1. Goshen Road will be detoured over Darby-Paoli Road, Bryn Mawr Avenue, Route 3, Route 252 and Goshen Road.
Concord – Baltimore Pike, bridge replacement with lane restrictions on bridge over Chester Creek 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through June 2011. Work began in September 2009.
Baltimore Pike (U.S. Route 1) – Middletown and Chester Heights, bridge replacement with lane restrictions between Darlington and Station roads, 24-hour restrictions through June 2011. Work began Oct. 12.
Road Watch/Road Rant appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.

For Aug. 1, Road Watch
PennDOT has finalized its changes to the driver record-check system to make all accident information available to school districts prior to hiring school bus drivers.
This change came in direct response to state Rep. Josh Shapiro’s request to PennDOT Secretary Allen D. Biehler after the Feb. 17 accident where Frederick Poust III, a school bus driver for the Perkiomen Valley School District, struck and killed a driver while operating his school bus.
Poust obtained a Commercial Driver’s License and was hired by the school district. This was despite the fact that he had been involved in another fatal accident in 1999 where, distracted by his handheld cell phone, Poust drove through a stop sign and into an oncoming car, killing Morgan Lee Pena, 2.
Shapiro, D-153, of Montgomery County, said he was pleased PennDOT has implemented this necessary change ahead of schedule and before the start of the school year.
“After learning of this horrible accident, I called Secretary Biehler and worked with PennDOT to change their regulations,” Shapiro said.
“Without this information, it is virtually impossible for a school district to effectively assess any application to hire qualified men and women to drive our children to school each and every day,”Shapiro said.
State Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161, of Swarthmore, said PennDOT previously offered a 10-year history of a driver’s record, but the terrible school bus accident exemplified the need for a complete driver history.
Following that accident, Lentz, a member of the House Transportation Committee, said he also worked with other legislators and Penn to change the system.
“Parents trust the state is doing everything to ensure the school bus drivers hired to transport their children to and from school are highly qualified and conscientious,” Lentz said.
“This will give school bus companies the information they need to make a completely informed decision on who they hire to operate their buses and protect children from drivers who have a record of unsafe driving – in time for the new school year,” he said.
“PennDOT’s quick and expedient response to this serious matter is commendable and no doubt appreciated by every parent with a school-age child,” Lentz said.
Shapiro initially announced this policy change in March. He was then joined by Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman and Abington School Superintendent Dr. Amy Sichel.
Effective immediately, PennDOT has expanded the driver record to include the severity of the crash and will be categorized as: fatal, indicating that at least one person was killed in the crash; injury, indicating that at least one person was injured; or property, indicating no one was injured and only property was damaged.
The records will not indicate the individual at fault for the accident, but will allow a school district or school bus company to contact the potential new driver for additional information about the accident.
Employers of commercial drivers will automatically be given a complete driving history through the PennDOT electronic service channel, rather than only a 10-year history, as was previously provided.
DRPA PROBE
Following reports of alleged misuse of toll-payer money at the Delaware River Port Authority – which operates the four bridges over the Delaware River – state Sen. Anthony H. Williams, D-8, of Philadelphia, has urged further inquiry into the matter.
He sent a letter to Pennsylvania Treasurer Robert McCord thanking him for initiating a formal inquiry and asking him to share the department’s findings with the state Senate.
Williams is Democratic chairman of the Senate State Government Committee. He said he will request the committee to hold public hearings and consider legislative remedies to ensure that proper code of conduct and conflict of interest safeguards are in place for DRPA’s future spending decisions.
McCord’s inquiry findings will be helpful in the committee’s efforts to examine this issue, Williams said.
“I’m highly concerned about these allegations because my constituents are using their hard-earned money every day to travel across bridges with DRPA tolls,” he said.
“We need to take the proper steps on the state level to ensure that the DRPA - is making proper spending decisions,” Williams said.
I 95 North
Northbound I-95 will be reduced to one lane on the Girard Point Bridge in Philadelphia today, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., for bridge inspection, PennDOT said.
Motorists traveling north on I-95 in this area are advised to allow additional travel time or use an alternate route because traffic backups will occur.
PennDOT Responds
PennDOT repainted the faded solid white line on northbound Baltimore Pike (Route 1) near Route 352 (Middletown Road) in Middletown as a result of a Road Rant from a reader which ran last Sunday.
Gene Blaum, PennDOT assistant press secretary in King of Prussia, notified the Road Watcher about the action on Tuesday.
Now, that’s what I call quick response to a road problem. Too bad, the honchos in Harrisburg drag their feet on most issues and can never come to a bipartisan compromise, like the issues related to natural gas drilling on the Marcellus Shale, public transit, et al.
SEPTA Routes 101/102
Effective Sept. 5, riders will see new names for select stations on the Route 101 and Route 102 trolley lines and the Norristown High Speed Line.
For the most part, names on these lines reflect the streets immediately adjacent to the stations. This renaming will better identify those stations which were not associated with their actual roadway location.
New and infrequent riders will benefit in addition to those who access popular electronic transit mapping sites and other GPS technologies. The station name changes are the result of SEPTA’s enhanced customer service initiatives.
For instance, the Bywood Station will be designated Avon Road; Beverly Hills will be Beverly Boulevard; Oakview will be Creek Road; and Collingdale will be MacDade Boulevard.
Traffic Delays
Radnor – Goshen Road, road work costing $1.3 million, closed/detoured 24 hours daily between Darby-Paoli and Hunt roads for roadway reconstruction and realignment to remove a sharp curve through Aug. 21. Work began March 1. Goshen Road will be detoured over Darby-Paoli Road, Bryn Mawr Avenue, Route 3, Route 252 and Goshen Road.
Concord – Baltimore Pike, bridge replacement with lane restrictions on bridge over Chester Creek 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through June 2011. Work began in September 2009.
Baltimore Pike (U.S. Route 1) – Middletown and Chester Heights, bridge replacement with lane restrictions between Darlington and Station roads, 24-hour restrictions through June 2011. Work began Oct. 12.
Road Watch/Road Rant appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.

Road Watch/Rant for July 25—--JMR
(Heat Wave Stresses Importance of not leaving kids or pets in cars)
Unless you live on another planet or are a hermit with no access to news, there’s no excuse for leaving any child or pet alone in a car in this long spell of 90-plus weather.
The inside temperature of a vehicle can reach up to 131-172 degrees Fahrenheit when parked in direct sunlight, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“It’s important to remember that temperatures inside a car on a day with outside temperatures in the mid-to-high 90s can quickly soar to nearly 200 degrees, which is hot enough to cook many foods and to kill most living things,” said Jana L. Tidwell, a spokeswoman for AAA Mid-Atlantic.
“Never leave children or pets in a parked car,” she said. “If you see a child or pet locked in a car and cannot find the owner of the vehicle, call 911 immediately.”
The risk of serious injury or death during hot weather is heightened for children left alone in vehicles, according to research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Heat stroke, a form of hyperthermia, is the leading cause of non-crash vehicle deaths for children under the age of 14. NHTSA reports at least 27 documented deaths per year due to the latter.
NHTSA and AAA Mid-Atlantic offer the following safety tips:
BULLET Never leave a child alone in a car – even with the windows partially opened – as a vehicle’s interior can still heat up quickly to deadly temperatures.
BULLET Don’t leave your children in a vehicle with the motor running and air conditioner on even for a few minutes. A child may put the car into drive or even get caught in a closing power window. Also, there is the added risk of the car being hijacked and the child being abducted.
BULLET Make a habit of looking inside the vehicle – front and back – before locking the door and walking away. Children have died because they fell asleep in their car seats and their parents/guardians didn’t realize they were still in the car.
BULLET If your spouse or guardian is taking your children to day car, ask him or her to call you to make sure the drop-off went according to plan.
BULLET Do things to remind you that a child is in the vehicle:
BULLET Leave a written note in your vehicle where you will see it as you leave the vehicle such as on the dashboard.
BULLET Place your purse, briefcase or something else you need in the back seat where the child is seated so that you will have to check that area to retrieve it when you leave the vehicle.
BULLET Keep an object in the child’s car seat, such as a stuffed toy. When the child is buckled in, place the object where the driver will notice it when leaving the vehicle, as a reminder that a child is in the back seat.
BULLET Don’t let children play in an unattended vehicle – teach them that a car is not a play area. Remember that tragedy in the Camden area where three boys died while locked inside a trunk. Always lock your car doors and keep car keys out of children’s reach.
If a child has spent a prolonged amount of time in a hot vehicle and appears to be showing signs of heat distress, call 911 immediately for medical assistance. Cool the victim as quickly as possible by applying cool water to the skin and/or ice packs under the armpits and groin area while waiting for help.
NHTSA offers additional tips on keeping children safe at: www.nhtsa.gov/KeepingKidsSafe.
ROAD RANT
I’ve never been a fan of cloverleafs or traffic circles – which I think are extremely dangerous and obsolete. Never been a fan of the crazy cloverleaf in Middletown on the way to the Granite Run Mall.
Neither apparently is a regular reader requesting anonymity who gave this week’s Road Rant about the on-ramp from Route 352 North (Middletown Road) to Route 1 North (Baltimore Pike) and the Media Bypass.
“There is a stop sign here that backs traffic up big time in the morning rush hour,” he e-mails. “People stop here and are afraid to merge onto Route 1.
“I think a lot of the drivers do not realize there is a solid (lane) line here (on Baltimore Pike) which means that traffic already traveling on Route 1 cannot cross over,” he continues.
“Therefore, cars looking to turn onto Route 1 from Route 352 should have no issue,” he says.
His main point is that the solid white line along Route 1 needs to be repainted and has been faded for a while. This may be a reason drivers are timid when turning at this intersection.
Road Watcher visited the ramp onto Route 1 North with a stop sign for only turning right – not far from a stop sign for a back street, East Old Baltimore Pike – about noontime Thursday.
The traffic on Route 1 approaching either the straightaway for Media or the entrance to the Route 1/Media Bypass was a never-ending stream – and quite fast – making it very hairy to turn right onto the pike after stopping at the stop sign.
I believe even with a solid white line separating the third and far-right lane, the oncoming vehicles often bear right to get onto the bypass even though they could stay in the center lane to get onto the bypass. Maybe that's why many motorists are reluctant to pull out after stopping.
PennDOT spokesman Gene Blaum said he would check into it to see if it should be painted.
PennDOT Cleanup
More than 186,000 volunteers cleaned 19,373 miles of roads, trails and shorelines in Pennsylvania during the Great American Cleanup of PA, which ran from March 1 to May 31, PennDOT said.
During the cleanup, 12 million pounds of trash was collected, with 3.7 million pounds collected by PennDOT’s Adopt-A-Highway program volunteers.
There were about 4,822 reported cleanup events statewide. Of the total miles cleaned, Adopt-A-Highway groups cleaned a record 12,340 miles of roadways with the help of nearly 104,000 volunteers.
PennDOT provides gloves and safety vests for Adopt-A-Highway and cleanup groups. PennDOT usually spends about $11 million annually for litter pickup with department staff.
PennDOT spokesman Gene Blaum said a check of the site online indicates there should be a solid white lane line at the spot in question, but he had to further check it out before notifying a painting crew.
SEPTA Regional Rail
SEPTA will issue new schedules for all Regional Rail Lines effective today.
In addition to the time changes, riders will also notice new easier to read Regional Rail schedules. The most noticeable change is the single color designation – blue gray – which replaces the orange signs.
Passengers may pick up the new timetables at Market Street-East, Suburban and 30th Street stations and SEPTA sales offices. They are also available on the Web site at www.septa.org or call customer service at 215-580-7800.
On the Media-Elwyn Line Time adjustments have been made to most weekday, midday and weekend trains.
On the Paoli-Thorndale Line, Train #9562 will now operate as train #562 and will run two minutes later departing Thorndale at 1:10 p.m. Train #564 will run two minutes later, departing Malvern at 1:57 p.m.
Traffic Delays
Radnor – Goshen Road, road work costing $1.3 million, closed/detoured 24 hours daily between Darby-Paoli and Hunt roads for roadway reconstruction and realignment to remove a sharp curve through Aug. 21. Work began March 1. Goshen Road will be detoured over Darby-Paoli Road, Bryn Mawr Avenue, Route 3, Route 252 and Goshen Road.
Concord – Baltimore Pike, bridge replacement with lane restrictions on bridge over Chester Creek 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through June 2011. Work began in September 2009.
Baltimore Pike (U.S. Route 1) – Middletown and Chester Heights, bridge replacement with lane restrictions between Darlington and Station roads, 24-hour restrictions through June 2011. Work began Oct. 12.
Road Watch/Road Rant appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.