Schwank, Argall, Community and Business Leaders, First Responders Meet on Route 222

December 18, 2014

BLANDON, Dec. 18, 2014 – Heeding the growing concerns about the safety of Route 222, state Sens. Judy Schwank (D-11) and David Argall (R-29) met here last night with local leaders to work towards solutions that would make the highway less deadly.

The gathering included representatives from Berks County law enforcement, including District Attorney John Adams; PennDOT; local chambers of commerce; Berks County officials; township officials; and business leaders.

“Twelve people have died driving on Route 222 in the past six years and there’s growing concern the highway will grow more dangerous as roundabout construction begins,” Sen. Schwank said during the meeting. “We cannot just hope that 222’s Nov. 19 fatal accident was the last one. We need to act now.”

“We must find solutions to curb the trend claiming innocent lives,” said Sen. Argall. “I’m grateful for the input and expertise shared during the meeting that can put us in the right direction and save lives in the future.”

After Sen. Schwank urged increased police enforcement and reduced speed limits, the group of leaders agreed that additional enforcement should begin to be explored.

PennDOT said it would examine lower speed limits, flashing signs and other enhancements to try to improve the safety of the corridor.

Leaders agreed it would take many additional years to build a limited-access highway to relieve the stress and problems of Route 222 but they said that a new road would still be pursued as a long-term solution.

“The common theme is that we must do more and we must do it now,” Argall said.

“People are justified in their concern about the impact of the new roundabouts,” Schwank said. “Still, we need to move forward with a plan that addresses these issues now, not in 25 years.”

The dangerous five-mile stretch of Route 222 under review is between the intersections of Route 73 in Blandon to Route 662 in Fleetwood.

In addition to the previously mentioned community leaders, representatives from the Pennsylvania State Police, Northern Berks Regional and Fleetwood police departments, North Central Highway Safety; Greater Reading and Northeast Berks chambers of commerce; Fleetwood School District; Berks County Commissioner Kevin Barnhardt; Maidencreek and Richmond townships; Fleetwood Borough; U.S. Rep. Charles Dent; state Rep.-elect Barry Jozwiak; and Redner’s, Quality Carriers and Venezia Bulk Transport attended the meeting.

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Schwank Bill Would Provide Equitable State Police Coverage for Municipalities Without Law Enforcement; Generate New Money for Roads, Bridges

April 10, 2013

HARRISBURG, April 10, 2013 – State Senator Judith L. Schwank said today that a bill she has proposed would help ensure that state police have sufficient resources to provide public safety services.

Schwank (D-Berks) said Senate Bill 841 would offset funds the state provides to municipalities from motor license revenue in the same amount as the value of the state police coverage to any municipality with a population of 5,000 or more.

“The funds would then be available to help fix Pennsylvania’s deteriorating roads and bridges,” Schwank said, “And, just as important, making this change creates an incentive for larger municipalities that now rely on state police protection at the expense of state tax payers to end that practice.”

In an informal survey she conducted earlier this year, Schwank said 74 percent of the respondents said they support requiring municipalities that rely on state police coverage to pay for it.

However, Schwank said, her proposal would not apply to state police patrols on interstate highways.

“Interstate patrols primarily serve the general traveling public, and not the business and residents of the municipality where the highway is located, so those patrols would be excluded from the offset calculations,” Schwank said. “I believe this legislation can encourage regionalization of police forces and free up state police for use in other areas of enforcement.”

Gov. Corbett has proposed transferring $619 million from the motor license fund to help pay state police costs in his 2013-‘14 budget.

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