200 Tickets Issued As Lower Bucks Co. Truck Ban Underway

MORRISVILLE, PA —In the first two months of enforcement of the prohibition of trucks weighing more than 10 tons on South Pennsylvania Avenue, Morrisville Borough police have issued more than 200 tickets and are educating truck drivers about alternate routes.

State and local officials credit a new truck ban with finally decreasing commercial truck traffic in a residential area in Morrisville Borough.

Enforcement began in January, and to date, Morrisville Borough Police have stopped more than 300 trucks and have issued 228 citations, Police Chief Rich Ciampa said.

At a recent press conference at Morrisville Borough Hall, State Sen. Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and State Rep. Jim Prokopiak (D-140) praised the progress made to improve the lives of residents and keep our roadways safe.

“The issue of excessive truck traffic in Morrisville Borough impacted the daily lives of residents for far too long,” Santarsiero said. “Working closely with Morrisville Borough and PennDOT, we’ve been able to find a solution that will alleviate the issue for residents along South Pennsylvania Avenue and protect the busy road from damage by heavy trucks.”

The new regulation took effect in December, following the installation of signage by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

Signs along South Pennsylvania Avenue alert drivers that trucks, loaded or unloaded, weighing more than 10 tons are prohibited on the residential street and must take Philadelphia Avenue to Tyburn Road.

“This represents an important milestone in our effort to combat excessive truck traffic in Morrisville," Prokopiak said. "Working together with State and local officials, Morrisville Police, as well as Northpoint and Waste Management, the erection of signage limiting the weight of vehicles on Pennsylvania Avenue is another part of the solution to the truck traffic, combating a significant issue for Morrisville. As a result, the residents of Morrisville have begun to see reduced truck traffic along Pennsylvania Avenue, increasing quality of life and safety in Morrisville.”

In 2022 and 2023, Sen. Santarsiero worked with Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie and PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll to request a change in the highway designation from Intermodal Corridor to Major Collector to further limit truck traffic while also working with Google Maps to change the preferred driving directions for drivers exiting the Keystone Trade Center.

After hearing from Morrisville residents and borough council members about the excessive heavy truck traffic traveling at high speed through the residential neighborhood where children walk to and from school, Sen. Santarsiero and the borough requested a PennDOT traffic study, Morrisville Borough Council President Helen Hlahol said.

She said the study was completed in November 2021 and resulted in a reduction of the speed limit on South Pennsylvania Avenue from 55 mph to 45 mph between Tyburn Road and 3rd Street in Falls Township.

Further, Sen. Santarsiero continued to advocate for a speed limit reduction along South Pennsylvania Avenue between Philadelphia Avenue and Post Road. In June 2022, the speed limit was reduced from 30 mph to 25 mph, she said.

Morrisville Borough has received support and assistance from Waste Management and the NorthPoint Development project at the former U.S. Steel site.

In both 2023 and 2024, Waste Management provided Morrisville Borough with $65,000 to cover the costs of a Motor Carrier Officer. NorthPoint provided a Chevrolet Tahoe vehicle for the officer to use. Motor Carrier Officers receive training to inspect commercial trucks for safety and weight compliance.

“If you have concerns, bring them to the borough,” said Mayor Gary Wallace. “This is a prime example of residents voicing their concerns, and the Borough and elected officials taking action to help residents.”

A recap of the history of this issue can be found on Senator Santarsiero’s website.

(State Sen. Steve Santarsiero)