Thoughtful Planning for a Better Easttown: Action vs. Ideas
Recently, there has been some discussion online about the township's use of planning studies, suggesting they are a form of wasteful spending. As a supervisor who has served this community, I believe it's important to clarify the role these essential processes play in responsible governance. The suggestion to "Stop the Studies" is a catchy slogan, but it would unfortunately "Start the Spending" of local tax dollars by cutting us off from major funding sources.
The central point that has been missed is this: Professional studies are a mandatory prerequisite for securing most state and federal grants.
In local government, the formula is clear: First comes the study, then comes the grant, then comes the solution. This isn't unnecessary red tape; it’s the responsible process required to turn a small investment in planning into a massive return for our taxpayers.
Let’s look at the facts of our success with this exact model:
The New Firehouse: The comprehensive planning and needs assessments we conducted were critical in securing grants that significantly reduced the cost to Easttown taxpayers.
Sidewalks & Connectivity: Our ability to add safe, walkable routes in our community was made possible by studies that demonstrated the need and provided the engineered plans required by grant-making authorities like PennDOT.
These projects, and many others, saved residents hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars. They were not accomplished by just having an idea; they were accomplished by following a proven process of professional planning, strategic grant applications, and successful implementation. To abandon this process would be to leave millions of dollars in Harrisburg and Washington, D.C., instead of bringing them home to improve Easttown.
Good Government is More Than a List of Suggestions
Posts have listed several "obvious" solutions to traffic. As a board, we have of course considered these. However, governing effectively requires more than just ideas; it requires a deep understanding of how to implement them safely and legally.
Traffic Light Retiming: Any changes to lights on state roads like Lancaster Avenue require coordination with and approval from PennDOT, which in turn requires a formal traffic engineering study.
Speed Bumps: These are not permitted on certain classes of roads, can impede emergency vehicle response times, and often shift traffic problems from one street to another. Deciding where they are appropriate requires careful engineering analysis, not just a vote.
Old Studies: A study from eight years ago is often outdated. Traffic patterns change, grant requirements evolve, and basing a multi-million dollar project on old data would be irresponsible.
Posts mix in statistics about police traffic stops and crime rates, but these are unrelated to the need for a traffic calming and infrastructure plan. Our excellent police force enforces the laws on the roads we have today. Our job as supervisors is to plan and secure funding for the safer, more efficient roads of tomorrow.
Experience in municipal government teaches you that there are no "magical solutions." Progress is the result of diligence, collaboration, and a deep understanding of the complex systems that make a community run. It typically takes a new supervisor one to two years just to learn these intricate processes.
My commitment is to continue using this proven, fiscally responsible approach. An investment of a few thousand dollars in planning to win a million-dollar grant is the best deal a taxpayer can get. That isn't waste. That is vision, and that is action that delivers real, lasting results for Easttown.