The Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners and Mayor Joseph R. Marx Jr. continued a discussion and debate Sept. 8 about the future of Water Street. Board Vice President Jeffrey Warren made a motion to introduce a traffic-calming study on Water Street. This led to a lengthy conversation among the commissioners, especially when the issue of possibly closing Water Street temporarily was mentioned.

Solicitor Jack Gross said the board could not vote on a motion for Water Street that night because it would have needed to be advertised and added to the board of commissioners agenda ahead of time in accordance with the Sunshine Law.

Warren had asked for a traffic-calming study of Water Street from Lehigh Street to Eberhart Road, using Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Local Technical Assistance Program. The study would be consistent with PennDOT’s traffic handbook and recommendations from an engineer with extensive experience to introduce traffic-calming measures for Water Street. Commissioner Elizabeth Fox seconded Warren’s motion.

Warren said if funds were required for this project to be completed, he would like to see those funds allocated and approved in the 2026 budget.

“We added $30,000 to review a recreation center plan. I think this road is equally important,” Warren said.

Marx asked the board for support for the temporary closure of Water Street and to find a safe alternative for the residents who live there. He noted there has been litigation for the event that took place on Christmas night in 2024.

Marx couldn’t comment any further for legal reasons.

Darktown resident Edward Tomcics was killed while crossing the street Dec. 25, 2024.

Marx also discussed the busing issue for students who live on Water Street.

He, board Secretary Randy Atiyeh and Warren have attended school board meetings this year with the hope of persuading the board to provide a better school busing option for those six children who live on Water Street and attend Whitehall-Coplay School District.

Their request was denied for several reasons, he said. The district told them they can’t take a conventional school bus down Water Street due to the size and scope of the bus as well as the 5-ton weight limit on the lower bridge. Marx said the district also denied their request for a school van to pick up those students.

Marx said the school district agreed to a bus stop at Eberhart Road and Water Street. The current designated pickup point for the children who live on Water Street is on Lehigh Street.

Marx said he and the commissioners were not aware of the bus stop location until this year. The only way the students get to the bus stop is to walk on Water Street, which has no ramps or sidewalks. They walk up the ramp toward the Lehigh Street bridge.

Back in January, residents of Water Street attended the commissioners meeting after Tomcics’ death on Christmas night. The parents of children on that street asked the board to provide a safer bus stop for these children, explaining they had to walk to and from Lehigh and Second streets every day. The parents told the board back in January they take their kids to school because of the risks posed on Water Street.

Marx also noted the students could walk on the Ironton Rail Trail and go through an unimproved path to get to Lehigh Street, which is a concern during the winter months because the snow isn’t plowed on the trail, and there’s a risk of black ice.

Marx said Water Street does not currently meet township standards. At its smallest point, it’s approximately 18 feet wide, with Marx stating that township standards are currently 33 feet. Some township streets are 30 feet wide, but Marx said there’s no safe passage on Water Street without curbs or sidewalks.

“I just want these kids to have safe passage to a bus,” Marx said. “These children should be treated like every other child in the school district, and they should have safe passage to a bus.”

Marx noted a lot of thought has been put into the temporary closure of Water Street. He said he has witnessed videos from the citizens of Water Street of tractor-trailers on the street, which are not allowed by the township and noted by signage on the Lehigh Street bridge and the 5-ton weight limit rule for the street.

He has also witnessed cars passing other cars on Water Street, exceeding the posted 25 mph speed limit.

“Until we can get a handle on this situation and figure out a way to calm traffic safely and give pedestrians a safe path of travel, this is my recommendation,” Marx said of his suggestion to close the street.

Marx reported there will be a gate on Eberhart Road and Water Street where Lehigh comes into it, which Marx added was donated by a Whitehall resident. The children will have safe passage with the temporary closure.

Marx said this has been cleared by the police and fire departments and emergency management services. They have also been in contact with GPS services so no cars or trucks will be sent down Water Street should the temporary closure go into effect.

“I was elected by the people to protect all the people, and I will do so,” Marx said. “This issue has been going on for a lot longer than I’ve been around, and it’s never been correctly addressed. I’m going to do my very best to address the situation.”

Solicitor Jack Gross noted the mayor has the full authority to temporarily close any street in the township.

Commissioner Ken Snyder asked Warren if the entire board could review the option in an executive session, review legalities and the information provided by legal counsel before deciding to take action. Snyder also argued possible litigation for the situation would change their course of action.

Gross noted several times the board could not vote on a motion for Water Street that night because it would have needed to be advertised and added to the board of commissioners agenda ahead of time in accordance with the Sunshine Law.

Warren withdrew his motion after a lengthy debate among the board.