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Just about each month, the Weirton Traffic Commission convenes a meeting to consider requests for changes to traffic and parking regulations in the city.
Many of those months, there is at least one request going before the commission focused on the matter of speeding (real or perceived) on a street or neighborhood.
They come from residents and elected officials alike, many noting concerns for the safety of people in those areas as they feel motorists are driving too fast for a particular street, or not paying attention, with the fear of people - especially young children - being hit.
Such a request went before the commission this past week, with Ward 1 Councilman Tim Connell focused on Thurman Avenue, which the commission is now recommending be lowered to a 15 mile per hour limit from its existing 25 miles per hour.
Connell has stated on more than one occasion, he would like to see speed limits in all residential areas of the city lowered to 15 miles per hour.
To be honest, it's probably not a bad idea.
Over the years, city officials have offered lower limits on a case-by-case basis, so you have some neighborhoods at 15 and others at 25. There may even be a few at 10 or 20.
As it's been pointed out, Main Street, portions of which are two lanes and portions of which are five lanes, also has a 25 mile per hour limit, as does Three Springs Drive.
I would think we would want residential areas, where there is likely to be more pedestrian traffic, kids at play, pets in the yard, and cars parked along the streets, to have lower speeds.
There are a few ways the city could potentially address this situation.
One, continue to address it on a case-by-case basis, as complaints or requests are submitted. The problem with that is you have piecemealed speed zones, where one may drive along one street at 15 only to then turn onto another where they can go 25.
That would just cause confusion.
Another option would be to pass a ordinance establishing a blanket speed limit of 15 for residential neighborhoods. The one stumbling block I could think of there would be in those residential areas along Pennsylvania Avenue, Colliers Way or other state-owned roads. The side streets could be changed, but the city would have little to no say on a speed limit on a state road.
Realistically, this could also be part of the development of Weirton's new strategic plan. City officials met in April to begin setting up such a formal policy. The plan would offer guidance for the future of the community - not necessarily on zoning and land use plans as has been done with the Unified Development Ordinance - but as a roadmap to beautify and promote Weirton.
Strategies for improving safety would be included, and it would make sense to have a section on speed limits to offer guidance for current roads and future developments.
Speed limits may seem like a minor thing to tackle when planning for the future, but it could also be a critical factor when people are looking at where to establish their home or a business in a community. Are they going to feel safe in a particular area? Will they have concerns about their children playing in the neighborhood?
It's something to consider when planning for the future, either for your family or for the community itself.
(Howell, a resident of Colliers, is managing editor of The Weirton Daily Times, and can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com or followed on Twitter/X @CHowellWDT)