Motorists asked to slow down on West Penn roadway

Motorists are being asked to watch their speed when traveling on a roadway in West Penn Township.

The township’s board of supervisors last week asked police Chief Brian Johnson to see what he can do to slow drivers down on Zion Stone Road.

Supervisors said that’s whether it means having Johnson run speed, or look to reduce the speed if the road meets the criteria in a residential district to lower it to 25 mph.

The board fielded several requests to reduce the speed limits last year.

In April, resident Gary Steigerwalt told the board he’d like to see the speed reduced on Route 895.

Township solicitor Paul J. Datte said at that time there are two possibilities: If the homes are along a significant stretch, then the township is permitted to declare it a residential district; other than that, he said the township would need to conduct an engineering study.

Supervisor Tim Houser said at that time he agreed with Steigerwalt that the speed limits on township roads should not be 55 mph.

The board announced earlier that month that a traffic study must be conducted in order for the speed limit to be reduced along 895.

At that time, supervisors said the township received a response from the state Department of Transportation that the township will have to conduct a traffic study for 895 and Summer Valley Road.

That issue was with regard to a request by Nicole Bailey, who lives along 895, who asked supervisors last month to have the speed limit reduced along that portion.

Per PennDOT’s response, the township had to tell them what speed they would like to see it reduced to.

Township secretary Katie Orlick said she requested 45 mph and a no passing zone from Route 309 to Dorset Road.

PennDOT noted that speed limits are typically established based on recent crash history, as well as the 85th percentile speed, which is the speed at or below which 85 percent of the motorists are driving under normal roadway conditions during daylight hours.