CLARKS SUMMIT — Residents had a chance to weigh in on solutions that could make roads in the Abingtons safer for motorists and pedestrians.
More than 25 people offered their input during a public outreach meeting Thursday at The Gathering Place, where officials from Bowman Consulting Group and the nonprofit Valley in Motion presented data on crashes in Lackawanna County and the Abingtons and engineering solutions for them.
There were more than 11,000 crashes in the county over the past five years, nearly 400 of which had a serious injury or fatality, Rob Gates, a senior transportation planner with Bowman, said at the meeting. He added that speed is usually a factor in crashes that result in serious injuries or death.
The most frequent crash areas in the Abingtons are North Abington Road from Yale Boulevard to Grove Street in Clarks Green, which had nine crashes; South State Street from Grove Street to Lansdowne Avenue in Clarks Summit, with 39 accidents, five of which were fatal or had serious injuries; and State Street/Old State Road to Grove Street, also in Clarks Summit, which had 25 crashes, according to Gates. The majority of the crashes were rear-end collisions.
Last year, State Street in Clarks Summit had an average traffic volume of 17,820 vehicles and 745 trucks, according to data from the state Department of Transportation, while North and South Abington Road in Clarks Green had an average of 5,879 vehicles and 187 trucks.
Officials offered multiple solutions for the streets, which included turn lanes at intersections, roundabouts, lower speed limits, rumble strips, bicycle lanes, medians, wider edge lines, lighting, crosswalk signs, stop-sign warnings and curb extensions. People who attended were invited to place cards with potential solutions on them into cups under labels reading “would work well” and “would not work well” in front of a high-crash road. They could also suggest roads they think need improvements.
Gates invited the public to provide feedback on roads they believe are dangerous. Residents mentioned Winola Road, a portion of Route 11 known as the Notch and Edella Road as problem areas.
Gates said there is an existing Transportation Improvement Plan for Winola Road.
Others pointed to issues with pedestrians and traffic at crosswalks. Some said more public education is needed and wondered if it is possible to make streets more walkable to public areas like schools and libraries.
One person said more public education is needed for pedestrians to use roads safely.
Rob Gates, senior transportation planner with Bowman Consulting Group, talks about solutions to make streets safer at a public meeting as part of Lackawanna County’s Safe Streets project Thursday, June 19, 2025. (Christine Lee/Staff Photo)
Valley in Motion President Gus Fahey speaks during a public meeting while Rob Gates, senior transportation planner at Bowman Consulting Group, looks on as part of Lackawanna County’s Safe Streets project Thursday, June 19, 2025. The meeting allowed residents to provide input on ways to make streets in the Abingtons safer. (Christine Lee/Staff Photo)
People put cards with solutions to improve streets in cups in front of roads identified as having the most accidents in the Abingtons during a public meeting as part of Lackawanna County’s Safe Streets project Thursday, June 19, 2025. (Christine Lee/Staff Photo)
Valley in Motion President Gus Fahey addresses the crowd during a public meeting Thursday, June 19, 2025 on ways to make streets in the Abingtons safer, part of Lackawanna County’s Safe Streets project. (Christine Lee/Staff Photo)
Police Chief Christopher Yarns said during the meeting his department plans to install solar-powered flashing pedestrian signs. The borough received a $4,958 grant through Lackawanna County’s Community Re-Invest Program to install three signs on State Street. Yarns said after the meeting he is awaiting approval from PennDOT to install them.
Yarns also noted that some recent vehicle-pedestrian accidents involved jaywalking.
The meeting was part of Lackawanna County’s Safe Streets project, under which the county has embraced “Vision Zero,” a multinational road safety strategy that aims to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries. The Lackawanna County commissioners approved a contract with Bowman last year for the project, for which Valley in Motion is a subcontractor. Also working on the project are Environmental Planning and Design and NV5.
Most of the contract’s cost is funded by the federal Department of Transportation through the Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant Program. Valley in Motion President Gus Fahey said municipalities can apply for Safe Streets funding.
County officials and the engineering firm conducted surveys and focus groups late last year and earlier this year to gather feedback on problem traffic areas for pedestrians, bikers and motorists. The results will allow officials to apply for federal funding for the Safe Streets initiative.
Clarks Summit Borough Council President Gerrie Carey said after the meeting that she is grateful the county is looking into solutions for traffic problems.
Fahey said the feedback will be used to develop recommendations. County Planning Department Manager Mary Liz Donato anticipates a draft plan by September, after which Fahey said the county or municipalities can apply for funding.