Carroll Township supervisors asked to help stop speeding

Residents cited problems in the Craven Hill area and on part of Gearing Road.

Speeding drivers barreling through Carroll Township neighborhoods have left residents frustrated and afraid, prompting residents to ask township officials for help.

Several people attended Tuesday’s supervisors meeting to voice concerns about speeding from Locust Avenue to Route 88 in the Craven Hill area, as well as on Gearing Road near a sharp bend.

One resident said speeding has become a growing problem in Craven Hill.

Stan Pahkiewicz thanked police Chief John Korcek for helping last year by placing a radar speed monitor in the area.

“That worked quite well, but I am disappointed it has not been in the rounds to move it around since then,” Pahkiewicz said. “We would like to look into monitoring and doing something about speeding.”

He said the area has seen an influx of new neighbors, including families with small children and people walking dogs.

“There are a lot of new people, a lot of dog walkers, small children. I have to look very closely before I cross the street just to get the mail,” he said. “If you’re coming in from 88, I can be halfway up the hill and next thing I know someone is on my bumper.”

Pahkiewicz asked the township to install additional 20 mph speed limit signs, preferably fluorescent green, instead of the current 25 mph signs.

Chairman Ken Hillman said he understands the concern, but it’s not up to township officials to decide if a speed limit is lowered on a roadway.

Residents seeking a lower speed limit on a residential road must first ask their municipality to request a PennDOT engineering and traffic study.

PennDOT uses that study to measure traffic speeds, sight distance, crash history and road conditions before deciding whether a lower limit is justified.

Under state regulations, the posted speed generally must be within 5 mph of the road’s 85th-percentile speed, or the speed at which most drivers travel.

PennDOT can reduce the limit by as much as 10 mph below that speed if conditions such as poor sight distance, crashes or other safety concerns exist.

Any new limit must then be approved and posted with official signs.

“Before you have an incident, it should be taken care of,” Pahkiewicz said. “I want it on record. I am not the only one complaining.”

Hillman said new signs have already been ordered and the radar speed monitor will be reinstalled in the coming weeks.

“The monitor was removed during the winter months for snow removal, but it will be put back up,” he said.

Residents along Gearing Road said the speeding problem there has become even more severe.

Jim Strimlan told supervisors he no longer feels safe working outside near the road because of how fast vehicles travel through the area.

“It’s getting worse and worse,” Strimlan said. “I can’t work outside. I’m afraid of getting hit.”

Strimlan said drivers often speed into a bend in the road, creating dangerous conditions for residents who walk, mow grass or walk to take their children to school.

“Those poor innocent people could get hurt or killed,” Strimlan said. “It’s like playing Frogger.”

Strimlan asked the township to consider installing speed bumps.

Hillman said speed bumps are not an option because they do not meet state guidelines and could be dangerous because of roadway conditions.

“Speed bumps can’t go in. They are dangerous,” Hillman said.

Strimlan challenged that response. “Are they more dangerous than how people are driving?” he asked.

Hillman said township engineers have determined speed bumps would not be permitted because of the curve and limited sight distance.

“Based upon our engineer’s view, they do not meet PennDOT criteria for speed bumps,” Hillman said. “They are not approved traffic calming devices there, and if someone gets killed, it comes back on us. If it is not approved by Penn-DOT and something happens, they take our liquid fuels money.”

According to PennDOT traffic-calming guidance, speed humps are generally permitted only on local residential roads with speed limits of 25 mph or less. They are not allowed on state-owned roads.

PennDOT also recommends that a traffic study show drivers are traveling at least 5 mph above the posted speed limit before a hump is considered.

PennDOT says speed humps should be at least 12 feet long, spaced at least 250 feet apart and not placed on steep hills, sharp curves or near intersections. Warning signs and pavement markings are also required.

Hillman said the township will ask engineers to revisit the issue and see if there are other traffic-calming measures that could work.

“We are going to have them look, things are always changing and new measures come out all of the time,” Hillman said. “They change things all of the time. If there is something new or suitable for that area to slow people down, we will have them look at it. It’s not just your areas.”

Strimlan urged township officials to keep searching for a solution.

“Everyone here relies on you to help us,” he said. “We can’t take matters into our own hands.”

Korcek said speeding is an issue throughout the township, but police resources are limited.

“Speeding is a problem. It is a problem everywhere,” Korcek said.

Korcek said the department has only one officer on duty per shift, forcing police to focus on roads with the most serious crashes.

“We have one officer per shift,” Korcek said. “A lot of times they are focusing on where we have major problems, where people are getting killed and dying.”

He does not recall a fatal accident that was the result of speeding in either neighborhood in his time with the department, which spans more than two decades.

Korcek said major roads such as Route 481, Route 136, Route 88 and Route 837 have seen deadly speed-related crashes.

“Those notifications are not great to make to someone’s family,” Korcek said, recalling a crash in which a 23-year-old driver missed a curve, struck a wall and the vehicle burst into flames.

Korcek said Pennsylvania municipal police are also limited because they cannot use radar guns.

“Pennsylvania is the only state in the country that does not let municipal police use radar,” Korcek said. “We use a speed timing device, and there are only certain places where it can be used.”

Despite those limitations, Korcek said officers are trying to address the issue.

“We conducted 34 traffic stops last month,” Korcek said. “There were four warnings issued and 31 citations. Twenty of those were for speeding and five were on your (Gearing) road.”

Korcek added that many of the speeding citations have been issued to drives who have been stopped before.

“A lot of them are repeat offenders,” Korcek said. “We cited one person three times in the last month.”

Hillman assured residents the township will continue looking for ways to address speeding concerns.

“We are going to figure something out,” he said.

In other business, supervisors said Pennsylvania American Water workers will be canvassing the area to locate and inspect any lead service lines. They have received proper permits from the borough.

Branch service has also resumed. Branch chipping and curbside pickup services through their Road Department run between April 1 and Oct. 31. Branches must be no longer than 6 feet and no more than 6 inches in diameter. Residents can call 724-483-7330 to schedule a pickup, providing their name, address and phone number.