Hundreds of Media residents cross Baltimore Avenue and Providence Road daily to go to school, access public transit lines or visit State Street and other borough attractions.  Pedestrian crossings on Baltimore Avenue can be precarious in busy traffic. Providence Road, with large residential neighborhoods on either side, has only four designated crosswalks on its one-mile stretch through Media. Its Five-Points intersection can be a confusing puzzle to cross.

Overloaded roads and frustrated drivers can lead to poor driving decisions:  roll-throughs at stop signs, cut-through traffic and speeding vehicles in quiet neighborhoods, and double-parked delivery vehicles.  Another traffic hazard is cell phone use, which increases distracted driving and collisions. Jaywalking pedestrians and bicyclists who weave unpredictably across lanes or ignore traffic signals also create dangerous conditions.

Street safety for pedestrians and bicyclists has emerged as a concern in recent focus groups and surveys.  In the 2017 Media Borough Economic Development Survey, 61% of respondents cited bicycle safety concerns; in the 2015 Comprehensive Plan Survey a surprising number of respondents found crosswalks (34%), roads (24%) and bicycle routes (57%) either “somewhat safe” or “not safe.”  In response, Media Borough Council sought funding for a plan and a strategy to address these concerns. This summer the borough will select a traffic consultant to lead the planning process.

The Media Borough Traffic Calming Plan will include recommendations for specific and appropriate measures that can be implemented to increase safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists in the borough. The study will focus on Baltimore Avenue and Providence Road but will also assess other problem areas such as Orange, Jefferson and State Streets, as well as the overall transportation system. A traffic calming plan may comprise a range of engineering, enforcement and educational strategies including:

• The physical design of streets, sidewalks and crosswalks
• Devices that can be built into street design such as bulb-outs (curb extensions) and pedestrian islands
• Improved access to parking
• ADA measures
• Landscaping and streetscaping
• Lighting
• Signage
• Pavement markings
• Vehicle-activated signs
• Public and school outreach
• Increased police enforcement efforts

The chosen consultant will work with borough staff, officials and the public to determine the measures most appropriate to Media’s conditions and needs.  They will conduct public meetings, collect data, observe how travelers move through the borough and draw upon existing reports, studies and local and regional plans.  The resulting plan will make specific and appropriate recommendations that can be implemented within the next 5 to 10 years. Borough ordinance—particularly zoning and SALDO regulations—will be reviewed and revised for consistency with the plan.  
We will always have traffic in Media, but the Traffic Calming Plan will make the borough safer for travelers using our streets, sidewalks and public transit network.