PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) – Residents of Chestnut Hill are increasingly concerned about the poor condition of crosswalks along Germantown Avenue, fearing it’s only a matter of time before a serious pedestrian accident occurs. A community meeting with city officials is scheduled for next week to address the issue.
Anne McNiff, executive director of the Chestnut Hill Community Association, stated that the crosswalks on Germantown Avenue are nearly invisible to drivers. She noted that the striping paint has worn off quickly over the years, and the asphalt is crumbling.
“It's an issue that has plagued Chestnut Hill,” she said. “I think consistently all up and down Germantown Avenue, there's been problems with pedestrian safety for, I'm sure, more than ten years."
A community meeting with City Councilmember Cindy Bass, the Streets Department, and others is scheduled next Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in the J.S. Jenks School Auditorium at 8301 Germantown Avenue. The meeting is free and open to the public.
McNiff emphasized residents and businesses have a simple ask: For eight to 10 intersections to be re-striped and repaired.
"Making those crosswalks visible and safe is something, I think, the community has a right to request from their public officials,” she said.