SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — A group of Slippery Rock University students is looking to the township to make Harmony Road safer for pedestrians.

Jessica Johnson, vice president of student affairs with the SRU Student Government Association, asked the township supervisors Monday night to do something about the half-mile stretch of Harmony Road between Kiester Road and The Grove apartment complex.

The Grove, which opened in 2014, has 201 apartments and capacity for 603 people. It joined South Rock Apartments, Campus Side Apartments and Pine Glen Apartments on that same portion of Harmony Road.

Many of the SRU students who live on the road have expressed concerns about the lack of sidewalks and street lights as they walk to and from campus, Johnson said.

Because of worries over safety, some students choose to drive to campus, which creates more traffic and takes up valuable parking spaces on campus.

She said, “This is not a good situation to be putting on our students or your residents. It is only a matter of time before someone is hurt or worse.

“We are hoping you see this as your responsibility and duty to your residents.”

Supervisor Paul Dickey said the township's planning commission would investigate what it might be able to do.

Under the township's zoning ordinance, new developments such as The Grove must build sidewalks along their properties and are responsible for maintaining those sidewalks and clearing them of snow, Dickey said.

However, the other apartment complexes on the road were built before the ordinance was in place.

“The township does not have a sidewalk ordinance at this time that would force these people to do that,” he said about the other apartments putting in sidewalks.

As for lighting, it could be possible for some of the property owners to install lights close to the road, he said.

Megan Reed, general manager of The Grove, was at the meeting and said she would look into adding more lights.

“If there was a light put down near the corner of your property there, it would go a long way to help,” Dickey said.

Supervisor Terry Doerr said the white lines on the west side of the road need to be repainted.

The road was paved with an extra wide shoulder on one side that can be easily plowed in the winter. It should give pedestrians some room to walk.

“It's got a 4- or 5-foot (wide) spot there that cars aren't supposed to drive on,” Doerr said.

Rita Abent, executive director for university public relations, said Harmony Road is an important health and safety issue for students.

She said students, township officials and apartment owners need to work together to see what can be done.

“I do think they opened the door to having conversations and help trying to figure out what we can do,” she said.

Though no action is set for Harmony Road, the township is planning work to make the area surrounding SRU campus safer.

Township engineer Dave Neill said the township has received a grant for a $760,000 project from the state Department of Transportation for improvements to Kiester Road between Harmony Road and the main entrance to SRU. The project will include improvements to sidewalks, lighting, drainage and crosswalks.

The work is expected to begin next year, he said.