SIDEWALK TALK - September 2026 - Newsletter
Long Lane Gets a Professional Safety Study
Great news - The Willistown Police Department is spearheading a professional engineering study for Long Lane. Chief Heims and Officer Bills met with Don Forbes and Peter Batchelor this week to confirm they will contact Pennoni Engineers to conduct a Pedestrian Safety Study.
Here’s the timeline: Police will submit traffic data to Pennoni this week, and engineers should be surveying Long Lane shortly after – assessing sightlines, grade contours, and pedestrian circulation patterns.
This study will deliver concrete, actionable recommendations to make Long Lane safer for everyone who walks there.
Thank you to the 70+ Willistown residents who signed our Long Lane Petition last month. Your participation made this possible.
South Valley Road: Progress
Earlier this year, we asked Willistown Township to clear trees and shrubs near the Fox Hollow Trail on S. Valley Rd. This vegetation was blocking a safer crossing point for pedestrians trying to access the trail from Valleybrook Road.
As previously reported, the township removed the trees and shrubs, but roots and uneven soil remain making the crossing still a bit treacherous and unsafe. A Walkable Willistown member is in touch with the Chief of Public Works who explained there is a utility in this area impacting removal of the tree stumps, but he agreed to make additional improvements including adding top soil and grass seed to level our the crossing area.
We continue to monitor this area and will provide updates.
Map View of N. Cedar Hollow Rd. and W. Central Ave. - THE PETITION STUDY ROADS
Pedestrian Safety Study UPDATE - N. Cedar Hollow Rd. and W. Central Ave.
This summer, over 150 Willistown residents signed a petition calling for a Pedestrian Safety Study on N. Cedar Hollow R. in Paoli – a campaign sponsored by Walkable Willistown to address community safety concerns. We just heard back from PennDOT and discovered that state roads and township roads are treated identically when it comes to PEDESTRIAN SAFETY STUDIES. We're now adding the township road - W. Central Avenue to our request, creating a comprehensive safety study that addresses both roads.
We're taking our petition directly to Willistown Township, asking them to fund a professional engineer to study both N. Cedar Hollow Road and W. Central Avenue.
Bringing in State Leadership
We've also reached out to State Senator Carolyn Comitta and State Representative Melissa Shusterman for guidance and support. We're awaiting their response and will update you as soon as we hear back.
Why This Matters
These roads are critical connections for our community. Safe pedestrian and bike infrastructure on N. Cedar Hollow and W. Central would make it possible to walk and bike to the hospital, train station, downtown Paoli, and the Chester Valley Trail—transforming how we move through Willistown.
Thank you for your continued support. Together, we're building the safe, walkable community we deserve.
Willistown Country Fair Overflows with Visitors to Our WW Tent
What an amazing turnout - thank you all for being there!
Yard Signs are Here!
We’ve hit 50 yards! Every sign is a reminder that our community cares about safe streets. Add yours today – free sign, we deliver. The more visible we are, the harder it is to ignore.
Upcoming Events:
Expect a Comprehensive Circulation Study presentation in the Fall. We'll share updates as soon as they're available.
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