PILOT PROGRAM — Members of Weirton Council and the city’s Traffic Commission met in a work session Wednesday to discuss possible alterations to the speed limits in the city’s residential areas. Discussions were spurred from a request by Ward 3 Councilman Jesse Keeder to consider lowering limits to 15 miles per hour in all dead-end streets and cul-de-sacs. -- Craig Howell

WEIRTON — Members of Weirton Council are going to survey the residential streets in their wards to determine if adjustments to speed limits in those neighborhoods would be justified.

Council and the Weirton Traffic Commission met in a work session Wednesday evening, hoping to find some direction after a series of requests for lower speed limits, including one from Ward 3 Councilman Jesse Keeder focused on dead-end streets and those with cul-de-sacs.

Under state law, residential speed limits are set at 25 miles per hour unless otherwise posted. Several requests have suggested altering the limits to 15 miles per hour.

“The majority of calls I get are about speeding in residential areas,” Keeder explained, noting the safety of children was among his concerns for raising the issue.

Keeder noted he had compiled a list of 28 streets in his ward which he would like to be considered for such an adjustment.

Ward 2 Councilman Ralph Cunningham said he also has numerous streets in his ward which are dead-end, noting all streets branching off of North 20th Street as an example.

Traffic Commission Chair Romie Castelli said, while he understands the consideration for safety, the commission felt it needed input from council on a specific approach.

“Do you want to do it ward by ward? Do you want a blanket change?” he asked.

City Attorney Vince Gurrera said there is the potential approach of enacting a blanket ordinance, stating speed limits in residential areas are 15 miles per hour, unless otherwise posted; however, some expressed concern as to how the public would be informed of such an adjustment.

Public Works Director Allen Hess expressed concern about the potential costs of posting new signage in the event such a change is enacted, saying there would be a cost of $50 per speed limit sign and a cost of between $25 and $30 for each pole.

“That’s a lot of money,” Hess said.

Police Chief Charlie Kush said his officers have been increasing patrols and the use of radar, at the city administration’s request, along with the use of the city’s speed trailer when it has been requested. A new speed-measuring device has been purchased by the city, although it has yet to be delivered, and the prospect was raised of ordering more such smaller pieces of equipment, which officials say are smaller and less visible.

“I don’t know what the answer is,” Kush said. “A lot of times, it’s the people who live there. They’re the ones doing the speeding.”

City Manager Mike Adams suggested each member of council survey their wards, bringing them their top five streets of concern when it comes to speeding, and patrols and speed data collections can be scheduled in each area to assist in determining whether further action is needed.