Tag: Craig Totaro

News

Street Paving and Traffic Light Updates‏

Construction Update

We wanted to share some updates we have obtained from various sources regarding street paving and traffic lights in and around Gladstone Manor.

STREET PAVING:

Craig Totaro, Borough Manager, has provided an update regarding the street paving in Gladstone Manor. While the beginning of the project has begun with prelimiary markings, the full scale work has been postponed until mid-November with an expected end of November completion. All work is weather dependent.

TRAFFIC LIGHTS:

Regarding the traffic light at the entrance to the Manor. This is part of a $4.1 million Optimization project to improve traffic flow and safety by upgrading and synchronizing 20 signalized intersections and installing more than 80 ADA curb ramps along a three-mile section of Baltimore Avenue and a half-mile section of Springfield Road in Springfield and Upper Darby Townships, and Clifton Heights, Lansdowne and East Lansdowne Boroughs, Delaware County. The project is scheduled to finish in summer 2016.

Traffic signals will be improved at the following cross streets along Baltimore Avenue: Bishop Avenue, Delmar Road, Oak Avenue, Church Street, Springfield Road, Diamond Street, SEPTA Route 102 trolley tracks, Marple Avenue, Jackson Avenue, Scottdale Road/Burmont Avenue, Martin Drive/Mansfield Avenue, Lansdowne Avenue, Wycombe Avenue, Union Avenue, Giant Supermarket, Penn Boulevard/Fourth Street, and Church Lane. Improvements to cross streets along Springfield Road includes Broadway Avenue, West Madison Avenue and West Maryland Avenue/Pennsylvania Avenue/Woodlawn Avenue/Clifton Avenue. Turn signals will be installed at Baltimore Pike and Oak Avenue and Lansdowne and Baltimore Pike. Included and in concert with the new traffic light at Madison Avenue in Clifton Heights, a traffic light will also be installed at South Springfield Road and the Trolley Line area.

The new traffic signal system will be connected to the existing fiber optic network which will improve traffic flow along both state highways. In addition, PennDOT’s contractor will widen Baltimore Avenue’s intersections at Bishop Avenue, Springfield Road and Lansdowne Avenue to further improve traffic flow at the three locations.

News

Help Save 84 Years of Gladstone History

In January 2011, Lansdowne’s Borough Manager, Craig Totaro, contacted the GGCA requesting that we schedule a meeting so he could discuss a proposed street light replacement with residents. Since these are an important part of the charm and personality of our community, and since these lights sit inside a homeowner’s property line, we proceeded with notifying residents about and urging their attendance at the upcoming meeting.

On February 9, 2011, Mr. Totaro, met with Gladstone residents to discuss the removal (no longer a proposal but a done deal) of these historic lights and replacement with new lighting. Residents were allowed to vote on color and style for the street light replacement. In response to the obvious displeasure of the resident-attendees, Mr. Totaro suggested that the lights could be given to residents to be repaired and installed at their own expense in their front lawn. He further indicated that the GGCA could conduct a lottery to decide who would receive the lights. These statements were made in front of a roomful of Gladstone residents.

Despite repeated phone calls and emails by the GGCA and individual residents, and nearly 7 months later we have 2 problems:\

  • A number of lights have still not been installed due to apparent delays in materials causing us to wonder how closely this project is being managed. Near the Island and on good portions of Mansfield Road and Madison Avenue we have no working lights or no lights installed at all, creating a significant safety concern. Other lights appear to be working sporadically, also creating a safety concern.
  • Mr. Totaro now says that the lottery for the street lights was just an idea. He has said that the new plan is to sell the lights to the highest bidder.

Some members of Borough Council are attempting to find an acceptable resolution to this problem. But we also need your help. We have been advised that our concerns will be addressed at the next Borough Council Meeting. It is important that we have as many residents as possible attend to ask questions and show support for this community issue.

Please make every effort to attend the next Borough Council Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at 7:30pm in Borough Hall located at 12 E. Baltimore Avenue.

Borough Council Meeting regarding Gladstone Manor Lights

In January 2011, Lansdowne’s Borough Manager, Craig Totaro, contacted the GGCA requesting that we schedule a meeting so he could discuss a proposed street light replacement with residents. Since these are an important part of the charm and personality of our community, and since these lights sit inside a homeowner’s property line, we proceeded with notifying residents about and urging their attendance at the upcoming meeting.

On February 9, 2011, Mr. Totaro, met with Gladstone residents to discuss the removal (no longer a proposal but a done deal) of these historic lights and replacement with new lighting. Residents were allowed to vote on color and style for the street light replacement. In response to the obvious displeasure of the resident-attendees, Mr. Totaro suggested that the lights could be given to residents to be repaired and installed at their own expense in their front lawn. He further indicated that the GGCA could conduct a lottery to decide who would receive the lights. These statements were made in front of a roomful of Gladstone residents.

Despite repeated phone calls and emails by the GGCA and individual residents, and nearly 7 months later we have 2 problems:\

  • A number of lights have still not been installed due to apparent delays in materials causing us to wonder how closely this project is being managed. Near the Island and on good portions of Mansfield Road and Madison Avenue we have no working lights or no lights installed at all, creating a significant safety concern. Other lights appear to be working sporadically, also creating a safety concern.
  • Mr. Totaro now says that the lottery for the street lights was just an idea. He has said that the new plan is to sell the lights to the highest bidder.

Some members of Borough Council are attempting to find an acceptable resolution to this problem. But we also need your help. We have been advised that our concerns will be addressed at the next Borough Council Meeting. It is important that we have as many residents as possible attend to ask questions and show support for this community issue.

Please make every effort to attend the next Borough Council Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at 7:30pm in Borough Hall located at 12 E. Baltimore Avenue.