Maggie Thomas has concerns about the traffic on Bower Hill Road and posted this on a Mt. Lebanon Facebook group. I am reposting this, along with the November 1, 2017 Agenda for the Traffic Board Meeting, with her permission.
You may recall that I have previously posted my concerns about traffic along Bower Hill Rd., particularly on the stretch between Cochran and Washington Roads. Since my last post, I raised this issue before the Traffic Review Board and also received records requested via right to know requests. This issue will be taken up again at this week's Traffic Review Board meeting, and the Board needs to hear from concerned residents. If you share my concern, please consider attending or, if you cannot attend, email the Board members. Some information for your consideration:
• More than 40,000 vehicles travelled Bower Hill Road between Cochran Rd. and Washington Rd. in one week, making the daily average over 6,000 cars.
• Over 20,000 of those vehicles exceeded the posted speed limit of 25 mph.
• 50 of those 6,000 cars were travelling over 50 mph.
• Five vehicles were travelling over 65 mph, including one vehicle travelling 94 mph.
• As of late September, 82 traffic citations have been issued along this stretch of road in 2017.
• As of late September, the MLPD is aware of 16 accidents along this stretch of road in 2017. The MLPD is aware of 24 accidents along this stretch of road in 2016. I suspect there are many more than are not reported.
• The MLPD has evaluated this data and concluded that there is a low percentage of enforceable violations. I interpret this to mean that increasing police presence will not remedy the safety issues and instead, we need some form of infrastructure to prevent vehicles from speeding and ignoring the crosswalk.
The meeting will be held this Wednesday, November 1 at 7:00 p.m. at the Municipal Building.
You may recall that I have previously posted my concerns about traffic along Bower Hill Rd., particularly on the stretch between Cochran and Washington Roads. Since my last post, I raised this issue before the Traffic Review Board and also received records requested via right to know requests. This issue will be taken up again at this week's Traffic Review Board meeting, and the Board needs to hear from concerned residents. If you share my concern, please consider attending or, if you cannot attend, email the Board members. Some information for your consideration:
• More than 40,000 vehicles travelled Bower Hill Road between Cochran Rd. and Washington Rd. in one week, making the daily average over 6,000 cars.
• Over 20,000 of those vehicles exceeded the posted speed limit of 25 mph.
• 50 of those 6,000 cars were travelling over 50 mph.
• Five vehicles were travelling over 65 mph, including one vehicle travelling 94 mph.
• As of late September, 82 traffic citations have been issued along this stretch of road in 2017.
• As of late September, the MLPD is aware of 16 accidents along this stretch of road in 2017. The MLPD is aware of 24 accidents along this stretch of road in 2016. I suspect there are many more than are not reported.
• The MLPD has evaluated this data and concluded that there is a low percentage of enforceable violations. I interpret this to mean that increasing police presence will not remedy the safety issues and instead, we need some form of infrastructure to prevent vehicles from speeding and ignoring the crosswalk.
The meeting will be held this Wednesday, November 1 at 7:00 p.m. at the Municipal Building.