The City Avenue Special Services District (City Ave District) announced that it has hired John Collins, a long-time officer of the Lower Merion Township Police Department, as its Director of Operations & Public Safety. John takes over this position from Pete Herzog, who retired in January 2014 after 15 years of dedicated service to the community.
In this role, John is responsible for managing and directing the City Ave District’s public safety activities and physical improvements. He will supervise the District’s successful Community Service Representative program, which provides invaluable support to the community, decreasing crime by more than 60% in the past decade. In addition, he will oversee the one-call Emergency Notification program that allows the District to report concerns and alert the entire community if necessary in an emergency.
John will also be responsible for the streetscape and physical improvements within the District, aimed at making the area more walkable and pedestrian-friendly. Specifically, over the next five years, the District has plans for $10 million in improvements, with initiatives such as the installation of Traffic Adaptive Signals on City Avenue from I-76 to Route 30 and along St. Asaphs Road and Presidential Blvd.
Prior to joining the City Ave District, John spent nearly 30 years as an officer with the Lower Merion Township Police Department, working on a number of projects related to traffic safety, including developing departmental policies on traffic safety and adapting new and existing designs related to pedestrian and bicycle safety. He also has strong community connections, having served as a liaison with community civic associations as a way to address issues of traffic and public safety.
“John’s background in public safety, traffic design, and community engagement provides the perfect mix to support the City Ave District’s diverse needs related to physical improvements along with ongoing public safety projects,” said Terrence Foley, President & CEO of the City Ave District. “John’s experience allows us to continue to enhance the experience offered in City Ave to our residents, business tenants, and visitors as move forward and continue to re-envision the future of this important corridor.”
