Big Rigs Banned On South Pennsylvania Avenue

MORRISVILLE, PA —Trucks weighing more than 10 tons will soon be prohibited fromtraveling on South Pennsylvania Avenue, PennDOT officials announced during State Sen. Steve Santarsiero’s annual road tour last week.

The ban will protect scores of residents in the area from the adverse impact of excessive heavy truck traffic.

“For residents who live along South Pennsylvania Avenue or on the neighboring streets, the roadway is a vital part of their day-to-day lives,” Santarsiero said. “When Morrisville Borough residents and officials first brought the issue of excessive truck traffic on S. Pennsylvania Avenue to my attention, it was clear it would take time to find the right solution to balance the interests of residents and area businesses. The prohibition of trucks on South Pennsylvania Avenue will bring relief to residents and ensure the structural integrity of the roadbed remains intact.”

The new regulation will prohibit trucks, loaded or unloaded, weighing more than 10 tons to travel on South Pennsylvania Avenue between Philadelphia Avenue and Tyburn Road.

Signage will be installed in the coming months to inform drivers of the restriction, at which point Morrisville Borough will begin enforcement.

"After years of our residents enduring the noise, debris, property damage, and overwhelming traffic from the countless trucks traveling on South Pennsylvania Avenue, trucks weighing over 10 tons will soon be banned from using this route," Mayor Gary Wallace said.

Wallace thanked Santarsiero, State Rep. Jim Prokopiak, PennDOT, and borough officials for the ban.

"This marks a huge win for Morrisville and improving the quality of life for our residents," Wallace said. "This will bring much-needed relief to our community, restoring peace and safety to our streets.

Wallace said that while it will take some time to get all the necessary signs installed and ready for enforcement, he hopes to have them up by Halloween and definitely by Thanksgiving.

The issue of excessive heavy truck traffic on South Pennsylvania Avenue has been ongoing for a decade, prompting an escalating series of actions by PennDOT and local officials to alleviate the issue.

In November 2021, a PennDOT traffic study was completed on S. Pennsylvania Avenue approaching Morrisville Borough from Falls Township, demonstrating the need to reduce the speed limit from 55 mph to 45 mph between Tyburn Road and 3rd Street in Falls Township, resulting in a reduction of speed for drivers entering the borough.

Following the 2021 speed reduction, Santarsiero worked closely with PennDOT to advocate for a speed limit reduction along South Pennsylvania Avenue between Philadelphia Avenue and Post Road in the borough.

In June 2022, the speed limit was reduced from 30 mph to 25 mph. Additionally, PennDOT agreed to supply and install signs, without cost to the Borough, and paint speed limit markers onto the surface of the road.

“The speed reduction was a critical step to addressing the concerns of Morrisville residents and improving safety along South Pennsylvania Avenue," Santarsiero said. "I was pleased to advocate for PennDOT to cover the costs of the signs so the burden would not fall on the borough.”

During his annual road tour in August 2022, Senator Santarsiero highlighted the continued concerns of residents about the size and scale of truck traffic along the residential street.

At that time, PennDOT and the senator discussed the need to change the highway designation from Intermodal Corridor to Major Collector.

The change in designation required approval from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission and was necessary to allow for PennDOT to implement certain traffic calming measures along the roadway.

Santarsiero met with PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll in February 2023 to share concerns about S. Pennsylvania Avenue and the need to change the designation. He also worked with the Bucks County Commissioners to advocate for the change in designation, ultimately granted by DVRPC in September 2023.

At the same time, Senator Santarsiero joined with other elected officials and Bucks County Commissioners in sending a letter of support to Google Maps to change the preferred driving directions for drivers exiting the Keystone Trade Center and traveling to Route 1 from South Pennsylvania Avenue to Tyburn Road.

Google Maps agreed to change the default route, reducing the number of trucks traveling through the Borough.

Additionally, PennDOT and Morrisville Borough worked with Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission to update signage in Trenton for trucks to use Route 13 after entering Morrisville.

“We want to thank our State Sen. Steve Santarsiero for working with us in interceding with PennDOT to reduce excessive truck traffic,"Morrisville Borough Council President Helen Hlahol said. "This latest positive change will greatly improve the quality of life for all residents of Morrisville Borough and help fulfill our long-term vision of revitalizing our historic and wonderful river town community.”