PennDOT Plans $10M Safety Overhaul for Delaware County Roadway After Fatal Hit-and-Run

The project aims to improve pedestrian safety along a crash-prone stretch of MacDade Boulevard following a 2024 tragedy.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 10:41pm

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Heavily blurred, sweeping brushstrokes of color representing the motion and energy of a busy suburban street, conceptually illustrating the need for improved pedestrian safety measures.A community's call for safer streets leads to a major infrastructure overhaul, aiming to prevent future tragedies on a dangerous suburban roadway.Glenolden Today

PennDOT is planning a $10 million safety project to improve pedestrian safety along a three-mile stretch of MacDade Boulevard in Ridley Township, Delaware County. The project comes after years of serious crashes on the busy corridor, including a fatal hit-and-run in 2024 that killed 17-year-old Damien Hocker. PennDOT is working to secure funding and finalize plans, with construction expected to begin in 2029.

Why it matters

The planned safety improvements, including new traffic signals, crosswalks, and pedestrian islands, are a direct response to the tragic death of Damien Hocker and aim to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The project highlights the ongoing challenges of pedestrian safety on busy suburban roads and the importance of community advocacy in driving infrastructure changes.

The details

The $10 million safety project will span a three-mile stretch of MacDade Boulevard from Fairview Road to Knowles Avenue, covering parts of Ridley Township and Glenolden Borough. Planned improvements include new traffic signals, crosswalks, a pedestrian island, countdown timers, and flashing beacons. PennDOT is also considering lead pedestrian intervals, which give pedestrians a head start before vehicles get the green light.

  • On April 16, 2024, a driver fatally struck 17-year-old Damien Hocker as he walked from the gym to his father's home.
  • Ridley Township received a $1.4 million state grant on March 25, 2026, to support the project.
  • Construction is expected to begin in 2029.

The players

PennDOT

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the state agency responsible for maintaining and improving the Commonwealth's transportation infrastructure.

Elizabeth Hocker

The mother of Damien Hocker, a 17-year-old who was killed in a 2024 hit-and-run on MacDade Boulevard. Hocker is a board member of the PA Safe Roads PAC and a member of the Families for Safe Streets of Greater Philadelphia advocacy group.

Damien Hocker

A 17-year-old who was fatally struck by a hit-and-run driver while walking from the gym to his father's home in 2024.

Sharang Malaviya

The senior manager for the Traffic Engineering & Safety Division at PennDOT.

Ridley Township

The local municipality in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, where the safety improvements on MacDade Boulevard will take place.

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What they’re saying

“It's devastating. Damien was my only child, so my life just completely changed in the blink of an eye.”

— Elizabeth Hocker, Damien Hocker's mother

“Every time we lose a young person like Damien, we're losing all of their potential. That's why it's so important to make changes to our roads.”

— Elizabeth Hocker, Damien Hocker's mother

“We met with the Hocker family, and their advocacy motivated us. If we can't do the road diet, what else can we deliver here?”

— Sharang Malaviya, Senior Manager, Traffic Engineering & Safety Division, PennDOT

What’s next

PennDOT said it is still working to secure funding and finalize plans. Construction is expected to begin in 2029.

The takeaway

This project highlights the importance of community advocacy in driving infrastructure changes to improve pedestrian safety. The tragic death of Damien Hocker has motivated PennDOT to take action and invest in safety improvements along the dangerous MacDade Boulevard corridor, demonstrating how grassroots efforts can lead to meaningful change.