Speeding motorists in Sewickley cause concern for Laughlin Children's Center officials

MaryAnn Perkins understands speeding is a problem in every town.

Speed limits are more like suggestions for aggressive drivers.

What she is most concerned about is the safety of the youths at Laughlin Children’s Center along Frederick Avenue in Sewickley. The center sits between Walnut and Broad streets.

“It is a speeders’ haven,” the center’s director of operations told borough council June 11. “The Sewickley Police Department (is) aware of this as I have complained to them many times about the situation.

“They have, to their credit, tried several times to assist us in slowing down the speeding vehicles on Frederick Avenue. I thank them for their attempts for this. However, nothing works. … This is a severe problem, and it is only a matter of time until an accident happens.”

The center serves about 1,500 children ages 2-18 annually through its year-round occupational and speech therapy programs. It also offers a preschool from September through May.

Perkins was accompanied to the council meeting by psychology department director Sharon Campbell and speech department director Patti Bennett, who also voiced concerns about speeding in front of the center.

Campbell said people coming up from Broad Street turn onto Frederick as they are making a bend on a NASCAR track.

“That is the most dangerous part,” she said.

Perkins also included testimonials from staffers who say they witnessed near collisions.

Council President Cynthia Mullins told the center’s leaders that the borough takes pedestrian safety seriously.

“Speeding in our residential streets is always a concern,” she said. “Council as well as the (borough) manager, mayor and police chief will be working to improve the situation.”

Borough engineer Mike Galet said Sewickley already had plans to address speeding through raised crosswalks, similar to speed humps, as a way to do some traffic calming.

It’s part of an estimated $100,000 project that also involves Americans with Disabilities Act compliant sidewalk ramps throughout the borough.

To help offset cost, the borough has applied for a $50,000 federal Community Development Block Grant that would be distributed by the state Department of Community & Economic Development.

A raised crosswalk would be installed on the Broad Street side of the Frederick Avenue intersection. One would also be placed about halfway along Frederick Avenue near a playground.

Galet said he hopes to hear back from the state within the next few months. The project could go out for contract bids soon after that.

Raised crosswalks could cost between $7,000 to $10,000.

“It depends on the time of year and who the contractor is,” Galet said. Three of those crosswalks are expected to be installed along Bank Street later this year. It is unclear when they may be put in by the center.

Police efforts

Police Chief Dave Mazza said he could not recall any traffic accidents by the center in recent years.

However, he said officers were posted several times at the center to watch for speeders.

Police also had the electronic traffic sign that shows drivers their speed posted along the avenue.

Mazza said the speed limit along that road is 25 mph. However, the limit is not posted.

The chief said the stretch of road the center sits on is not suited for other traffic enforcement measures.

“Municipal police in Pennsylvania use VASCAR to determine an average speed,” Mazza said. “In order to effect a traffic stop and issue a citation for speeding, the average speed determines by the (system) must be at least 11 mph over the posted speed limit, and the minimum distance needed is 100 feet.

“The dynamic of that section of Frederick Street presents hurdles for speed enforcement.

“In an effort to combat those hurdles, we came up with a rotating list of elementary schools where an officer in a marked patrol car is present and visible during peak traffic times. In addition to increased officer presence, we utilize a digital speed trailer in areas of concern.”

VASCAR (Visual Average Speed Computer and Recorder) involves painted lines and a computer or stopwatch to time a vehicle between two points.

Mazza said he believes the raised crosswalks will slow down motorists.

“I’ve seen them in other municipalities and they are effective,” the chief said.