State Sen. Michael Stack speaks at a press conference announcing a $250,000 traffic enforcement grant for the Roosevelt Bouelvard Accident Reduction Initiative.

State Sen. Michael Stack and Nick Martino (Acting District Maintenance Services Engineer for PennDOT’s 6th District) present a $250,000 state grant for increased police monitoring and enforcement on Roosevelt Boulevard to Capt. Al Martin of the 7th Police District.

PHILADELPHIA, October 28, 2005 - State Sen. Michael Stack, state Rep. Michael McGeehan, 7th Police District Captain Al Martin, and state Department of Transportation representative Nick Martino appeared together today at the corner of Roosevelt Boulevard and Red Lion Road to announce a $250,000 state grant for increased police monitoring and enforcement on Roosevelt Boulevard.

“In 2002 the Philadelphia police department decided to step up their enforcement efforts on this road,” said Stack (D-Philadelphia). “They instituted the Roosevelt Boulevard Accident Reduction Initiative, which led to decreases in fatalities, injuries, and total accidents. In the program’s first two years, the number of fatalities fell from 21 in 2001 to 9 in 2002 and 7 in 2003. This spring, my office learned that the good results of this program were threatened by budget problems.”

Philadelphia police officials informed Stack that the Roosevelt Boulevard Accident Reduction Initiative was set to run out of funds in September of this year. In addition, the targeted patrols had been cut back to three days a week.

Stack worked with state officials and the Philadelphia Police Department to secure the $250,000 grant from PennDOT to continue the initiative and increase the police patrols to five days a week, from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

“Good, safe roads benefit businesses and residents,” said McGeehan. “Roosevelt Boulevard is the major artery of Northeast Philadelphia. Any improvements to the Boulevard, will have a ripple effect on all communities in the Northeast.”

“We will be able to monitor and conduct enforcement on Roosevelt Boulevard at peak traffic times, during the work week’s morning and evening rush hours,” said Martin. “When people see the patrols they will slow down, and we will be able to catch dangerous drivers before they cause an accident.”

“Governor Edward G. Rendell believes that providing an efficient and safe highway system is crucial to Pennsylvania’s communities as well as its economy, and this investment will help to enhance safety on the Roosevelt Boulevard,” said Martino, the Acting District Maintenance Services Engineer for PennDOT’s 6th District. “We plan to continue working with the Philadelphia Police Department to make travel as safe as possible for the thousands of motorists who use the boulevard each day.”

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