Recent Crash Prompts Action from Perkiomen Valley School District

In the wake of involving a school bus on its way to , on Big Road/Route 73 in Lower Frederick Township, the Perkiomen Valley School Board approved sending a letter to the township supervisors about installing a school bus crossing sign with flashers. (See PDF)

"(There have been) three accidents throughout the last two years involving buses on the way to West," Superintendent Dr. Clifford Rogers said at the board's Monday night work session. One crash, which happened directly in front of the school in February 2010, was fatal. Frederick Poust, who was driving the school bus involved in the crash, .

After the fatal accident, an electronic speed monitoring display device was installed by the school, Rogers said. There has not been a major change in traffic speeds, Rogers said, "so the next step is an S-3 school bus crossing sign."
PennDOT said the posted speed by the school (50 mph) did not need to be reduced.

In the letter the district requests the following of the Lower Frederick supervisors: " ... the Township’s submittal of a signed and sealed TE‐669 application form, along with a flasher plan to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for review. The School Board is willing to entertain a cost sharing arrangement for this project as well as join in any Township request for possibly available state funding."

Board member Gerry Barnefiher suggested copying state legislators when sending this letter, as their help and attention will be needed in this matter.

Solicitor Brian Subers agreed, but suggested contacting the legislators via separate correspondence.
"I think we could do something differently for the request for state funding," Subers said. "We would want to do something with the township, change some language (in the letter)."

Board member Randy Bennett said contacting PA representatives in addition to the Lower Frederick supervisors "could be seen as an end-run around the Lower Frederick people, or pressuring them)."