Lower Merion Township and Narberth Borough are asking residents to help reshape one of the Main Line’s busiest corridors, writes Denali Sagner for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
The municipalities have received a $340,540 federal grant to study a seven-mile stretch of Montgomery Avenue from Spring Mill Road to City Avenue. This road has experienced hundreds of crashes in recent years.
Between 2020 and 2024, 532 reportable crashes occurred along that stretch, with additional minor incidents pushing the total even higher. Officials say the new study, funded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All program, will evaluate 35 intersections and recommend comprehensive improvements rather than isolated fixes.
Safety concerns range from outdated pedestrian push buttons and poor crosswalk lighting to speeding, weaving, and dangerous left turns. The initiative builds on Lower Merion’s 2025 Comprehensive Safety Action Plan, which aims to eliminate roadway fatalities and cut serious injuries in half by 2030.
Residents shared personal stories at a recent public meeting, including Bryn Mawr Hospital social worker Kim Beam, who described a recent near-miss while walking to work. Township leaders are now encouraging the public to complete an online survey before preliminary recommendations are unveiled at a future meeting.
To learn more about the Lower Merion project and how to participate, visit The Philadelphia Inquirer.
