Delta: York Township seeks traffic study on W. Main Street speed

7/28/2004

DELTA - York Township trustees want a traffic study along a stretch of West Main Street where the posted speed limit is 50 mph.

The speed limit should be reduced, said Trustee John Trowbridge, who has concerns about the safety of motorists who travel the busy highway as well as residents who live along there.

Mr. Trowbridge, who travels a lot around the state, said he has observed that the speed limit inside a community's corporation limit often is lower than 50 mph.

The street is situated in the township but within Delta's village limits. It would be up to council members to decide whether to pursue the study. Village officials have obtained three estimates, ranging from $7,000 to $9,000, for the traffic study, said Gary Baker, Delta village administrator.

In addition to gathering information that could be used to determine whether the speed limit should be reduced, the study would look into the township trustees' recommendation that a caution light be installed to warn motorists about ambulances entering the road in that area.

Cost estimates will be forwarded to the trustees. It hasn't been determined whether the study will be conducted or whether the village and township would share in the costs.

Joe Rutherford, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Transportation, said a traffic study would indicate what the speed limit should be, based on information gathered, such as on the amount of traffic, the number of driveways, the nature of the area - whether it is residential, business, sparsely populated.

There are two mobile home parks and two industries in the half-mile stretch where trustees would like the speed limit lowered to 35 mph. Trucks are "pulling into that highway all the time," said Mr. Trowbridge.

In addition, ambulances responding to emergency calls pull onto the highway which is State Rt. 2. Life squads are housed in the new York Township building on Fulton County Road FG, about 150 yards from the highway. The life squads have been housed there since late last year.

Mr. Rutherford said that depending on the outcome of the study, the speed limit could be reduced, but it might not be reduced to 35 mph.

That stretch of highway hasn't experienced any recent hikes in the number of crashes or speeders, said Mr. Baker, a member of the Delta Community Fire Department. He recalls five serious accidents in that area in the last 35 years.