Easttown Township has provided an update on the Berwyn Route 30 Complete Streets Initiative, a project aimed at transforming Lancaster Avenue into a safer and more accessible main street for all users.
The initiative is part of the Township’s Comprehensive Plan, which seeks to make Lancaster Avenue more walkable and attractive. The plan includes recommendations to improve pedestrian and bicyclist mobility, parking, and the overall character of Berwyn’s village center.
The planning process began with a review of current conditions on Lancaster Avenue, including traffic patterns, safety issues, sidewalks, and parking availability. Feedback was collected from residents, businesses, and visitors about their experiences along the corridor. Based on this information, Easttown Township set goals such as improving safety for all users, supporting local businesses, creating a more walkable environment, addressing parking needs strategically, fostering community identity through placemaking efforts, supporting economic development, and enhancing quality of life.
Several alternatives have been developed to address these goals. The main decision involves whether to maintain the existing four-lane cross section or convert it to a three-lane layout (one lane in each direction plus a center turn lane). Each approach includes options for intersection improvements and streetscape enhancements.
For the four-lane options:
– Maintaining two travel lanes in each direction would preserve current traffic capacity but offer limited opportunities for wider sidewalks or bike lanes.
– Intersection realignments and signal timing adjustments could provide modest improvements in flow or pedestrian safety but do not significantly enhance walkability.
For the three-lane options:
– Reducing Lancaster Avenue to one lane each way with a center turn lane creates space for on-street parking and wider sidewalks.
– Introducing roundabouts at key intersections is expected to maximize safety benefits.
– These alternatives are projected to improve pedestrian safety and support local business vitality but may slightly increase vehicle travel times due to reduced road capacity.
Community engagement played a significant role in shaping these alternatives. In spring 2025, Easttown Township conducted surveys and hosted pop-up events that drew input from hundreds of people. Residents shared concerns about speeding traffic, narrow sidewalks, confusing intersections, limited gathering spaces or parking—issues that have been addressed in the proposed alternatives.
According to Easttown Township’s analysis: “The analysis shows that the 3-lane alternatives can deliver major safety and walkability benefits without causing significant new congestion. This allows the community to consider the full range of benefits—safer crossings, more walkable spaces, and support for local businesses—while maintaining efficient traffic flow.”
Next steps include coordination with PennDOT scheduled for December 2025; additional briefings with the Board of Supervisors planned through September 2026; another community workshop anticipated in May 2026; and release of a draft plan by June 2026.
Further details about project background as well as summaries of public engagement are available through memos provided by Easttown Township.
