W. Penn needs to conduct traffic study to reduce speed along 895

A traffic study must be conducted in order for the speed limit to be reduced along Route 895 in West Penn Township.

Supervisors said at last week’s meeting that the township received a response from the state Department of Transportation that the township will have to conduct a traffic study for Route 895 and Summer Valley Road.

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

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

The board asked township secretary Katie Orlick to request 45 mph from Route 309 to Dorset Road, and to request no passing zones as well.

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.