Public Hearing Scheduled for Speed Limit Reduction on Part of Whitehall Road

After concerns from residents and data collection by police, Ferguson Township is considering lowering the speed limit on a portion of West Whitehall Road.

The ordinance would reduce the maximum speed from 30 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour in the Fairbrook residential area, between Tadpole Road and Fairbrook Drive. A public hearing will be held during the Board of Supervisors regular meeting on Sept. 4.

Residents expressed concerns in July about speeding in the area. Ferguson Township police placed speed sensors in the area and determined that excessive speeding is an issue.

Township Manager David Pribulka said at the supervisors Aug. 20 meeting that between July 30 and Aug. 4, 14 vehicles were recorded going in excess of 66 miles per hour.

‘We had some pretty high speeders out,’ Pribulka said.

“People do speed through that neighborhood,’ added Supervisor Laura Dininni. ‘Some people slow down through there and other people really do not.”

David Modricker, director of public works, said that the area meets the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code’s definition for a residential district. If an area meets that definition, it can be posted at 25 miles per hour without further speed studies.

Police Chief Chris Albright said that in the meantime the department planned to move an electric sign board to the Fairbrook area warning drives to obey speed limits.

Township officials hope that the speed reduction combined with enforcement will signal to motorists that they are in a residential neighborhood. Digital display signs would be temporarily posted to alert drivers of the speed limit change.