No left turns?
Yeah, right!

By Lauren Fritsky
Times Staff Writer

Bustleton residents made their stance loud and clear.
Under no circumstances would they permit the city Department of Streets to test out banning left turns from eastbound Grant Avenue to northbound Roosevelt Boulevard.
Residents heard of the department’s proposal, suggested as a way to curb gridlock at the intersection, at the June 27 meeting of the Greater Bustleton Civic League.
Had the civic group given its blessing, the three-month trial would have taken effect Aug. 1.
Charles Denny, assistant chief traffic engineer for the streets department, outlined the plan. The department is concerned about cars backing up traffic in the intersection, which got an "F" — the lowest rating — for its poor level of service.
"One of the problems on the Boulevard is the gridlock caused by left turns," Denny said.
Drivers traveling eastbound on Grant and wishing to enter the northbound Boulevard would instead be directed down Blue Grass Road. They’d be fed back onto the Boulevard nearer to where it intersects with Conwell Avenue. The suggestion was developed through the task force that is studying the safety of Roosevelt Boulevard.
To prevent cars from cutting through neighborhoods to get to the Boulevard, the streets department planned to also prohibit left-hand turns down other residential roads during certain times of the day when traffic volume is heaviest.
But some residents said the intersection of Grant and the Boulevard seems to be doing just fine, thanks to the installation of red light cameras there two years ago. The devices snap pictures of vehicles that drive through red lights.
Others clamored for different solutions to the gridlock. Among their suggestions were changing the turn-signal length or sequence.
Many residents suggested adding split-phase turn signals to the intersection, but Denny said that would add extra time to the turning cycle, which would eventually back up more traffic on the Boulevard. One resident suggested simply barring left-hand turns into the inner lanes of the Boulevard to prevent cars from queuing and blocking the intersection. But Denny said that change would be hard to enforce.
Maureen Greene, corresponding secretary for the civic group, sensed an air of superiority from the streets department and said that officials often dismissed suggestions from residents about roads that they drive every day.
She pointed to the city’s refusal to accept $1 million from State Farm Insurance — which some years ago pegged Grant and the Boulevard as one of the most dangerous intersections in the county — to conduct a traffic study of how to make the area safer.
"We could have educated people," Greene said. "But the city said, ‘You’re stupid, we know what we’re doing.’"
Greene also said that sending cars to Blue Grass Road could prove dangerous since the roadway winds through an industrial area with many trucks. She also challenged Denny’s promise that the streets department could prevent cars from cutting through neighborhoods to get to the Boulevard.
"You can make no-left hand turn signs on every God-damned block of Bustleton, and (drivers will) still find a way to do this," she said.
Denny said the group’s loud disapproval of the banning of left-hand turns from eastbound Grant Avenue killed the proposal that night.
"I think I got the message," he said. "(The proposal) is stopped."
In other news from the civic meeting:
• The board informed the group that the city’s Zoning Board of Adjustment approved the addition of self-serve laser technology beds to a car wash at 9400 Bustleton Ave.
The group is still waiting for agreements to provisos set forth for two zoning cases. One involves the addition of auto sales to an auto body shop at 103 Geiger Road. The other is Beit Harambam Synagogue, which is building an addition at 9981 Verree Road.
• Barry Stucker, who chairs the GBCL’s rules committee, told the group about an interfaith 9/11 memorial service held each year at Temple Beth Ami Synagogue and Maternity BVM Church. The board voted to donate $200 to the event.
This year’s event will take place Tuesday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m., starting at BVM, at 9220 Old Bustleton Ave. Guests will then proceed to the synagogue. For more information, call Temple Beth Ami at 215-673-2511.
• Harry Citrino, co-chair of the GBCL’s health, education and recreation committee, spoke to the group about the 10-year tax abatement. Citrino wants City Council to pass an ordinance that forces the next mayor to put the money collected on transfer taxes from sales of new homes in escrow instead of spending it. ••
The Greater Bustleton Civic League will recess for the summer. Its next meeting is set for Wednesday, Sept. 26, at 7:30 p.m., at the American Heritage Federal Credit Union, 2060 Red Lion Road. The league can be reached throughout the summer for zoning and other neighborhood matters at 215-676-6890 or GBCL@prodigy.net
Reporter Lauren Fritsky can be reached at 215-354-3038 or lfritsky@phillynews.com