Traffic study to reduce speed along 895 to be conducted

A traffic study that could lead to the reduction of the speed limit on Route 895 in West Penn Township will soon get underway.

It was announced at last week’s board of supervisors meeting that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will conduct a traffic and engineering study of the roadway within the next four to six weeks.

Once the study is complete, PennDOT said it would notify the township of its findings.

Supervisors announced last month that a traffic study must be conducted in order for the speed limit to be reduced along 895. At that time, board members said they received a response from PennDOT that the township will have to conduct a traffic study for 895 and Summer Valley Road.

That came after resident Nicole Bailey — who lives along 895 — asked supervisors in March 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 that 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.

Resident Gary Steigerwalt told supervisors last month that he’d also like to see the speed reduced on 895.