East Deer commissioners oppose idea for bike lanes along busy Freeport Road

East Deer commissioners put the brakes on a plan to install bike lanes along Freeport Road as part of the township’s leg of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail.

Chairman Tony Taliani said he opposes the idea because of the effect on already-tight parking on the west side of the road.

“We cannot give up a single parking space in the township,” Taliani said.

Commissioners agreed that the trail bike lanes should be off Freeport Road. They believe that Friends of the River, the advocacy group that oversees the trail, should be talking to Norfolk Southern Railroad.

It’s something Friends is willing to engage in, but plans likely would take decades, said Courtney Mahronich Vita, director of trail development.

“We will continue to reach out to the railroad, but that is considered extremely long-term planning,” she said.

“We want to offer some near-term solutions because we know people already bike this corridor, and we want to create the bike lanes so everyone is moving safely with traffic.”

Also, Vita said, in some areas there isn’t space near the railroad to accommodate bike trails.

Plans for the bike lanes were part of an original study completed by East Deer and Tarentum.

In that blueprint, Freeport Road is noted for use of the trail corridor to link East Deer and Springdale Township.

Vita said the project wouldn’t cost East Deer any parking spots.

“That was something we diligently looked into,” she said. “PennDOT was OK with narrowing portions of the road. It varies in width along the way, and this would make the widths consistent.

“We would be utilizing space within PennDOT right-of-way.”

Friends will continue discussions with the township and will host public outreach sessions.

Commissioner Joe Novosat said he opposes the plan because, as he sees it, the township would be giving up at least 12 feet of space and that could create a problem, particularly for tractor-trailer traffic along the road.

Taliani concurred, adding, “And they think that the township should maintain it (bike lanes).”

“Norfolk Southern (Railroad) should allow them to put the trail along the railroad tracks,” Taliani said. “It is such a simple solution.”

“The liability is a little scary,” Commissioner Ed Kissel said of the maintenance aspect.

Harmar officials have voiced similar opposition for trail plans that would call for elimination of the center turning lane in the township’s business district to make way for the bike lanes.