State College Council Considering Traffic Ordinance Updates to Address Safety Issues

State College is considering several revisions to its vehicle and traffic ordinance, including an update clarifying the standard speed limit, to address safety concerns raised by residents and borough police in recent months.

The proposed changes also include prohibiting U-turns on a portion of Corl Street and the addition of a stop sign at a West Calder Way intersection, according to information presented to Borough Council and the Transportation Commission this week.

Under the current traffic ordinance, each street with a 25 mph speed limit is supposed to be listed. But after receiving a complaint from a resident that the speed limit was not posted, borough staff reviewed the ordinance and found a number of streets that should be listed with a 25 mph limit were not, transportation engineer Ron Seybert said.

The proposed change would clarify that all borough streets are 25 mph unless otherwise noted.

While most streets are already have posted speed limits, signage will be installed on those where it is missing. Seybert said it will not be a major project and can be completed by borough staff.

“We’re really not changing anything in the ordinance, we’re just cleaning up the formatting and making sure we’re catching all of those streets that should be posted 25 miles per hour,” Seybert said, adding that speed limits must be posted to be enforceable.

Six borough streets, where the speed limit is already 35 mph, are listed as the exceptions:

– South Atherton Street between Prospect Avenue and the south borough line

– Blue Course Drive between Whitehall Road and the west borough line near Bayberry Drive.

– East College Avenue between the east borough line and High Street

– Park Avenue between the east borough line and Atherton Street

– University Drive between the north borough line near Hastings Road and the south borough line near Marylyn Avenue

– Whitehall Road between the east borough line near Campbell Road and the west borough line near Blue Course Drive

Another change would add a stop sign eastbound on West Calder Way at the H Alley intersection. A garage near the corner limits sight distance for drivers on a private drive running alongside The Metropolitan opposite H Alley and they are are unable to see vehicles traveling west to east on Calder Way, Seybert said.

Transportation Commission member John Lesieutre said the stop sign is “sensible” but asked why a stop sign is not also being added westbound.

“We don’t see a lot of traffic going westbound on Calder, but if that gets to be an issue we could look at posting as an all-way stop,” Seybert said.

The final proposal would prohibit U-turns n either direction on Corl Street between Osmond Street and Highland Alley, a change prompted by pick-up and drop-off at Corl Street Elementary School.

“Unfortunately, it’s been witnessed more than once that vehicles attempt to make a U-turn in that area where students are being dropped off,” Seybert said. “The police have actually suggested this and recommended it so a proper study was done.”

U-turns prohibited signage would be posted on the block. U-turns are generally permitted on streets unless otherwise posted, Seybert said.

Borough Council heard an overview of the proposed changes on Monday and the Transportation Commission unanimously recommended approval after a review on Tuesday.

The revisions will be presented to Borough Council on Aug. 17 for final approval.