Traffic commission adds speed-indicator deployment to project list

The Morgantown Traffic Commission added a prioritized deployment of portable speed indicators to its project list and asked staff to coordinate a schedule with police and Public Works.

Commission member discussion identified the speed indicator (radar) units as an "easy" project that neighborhoods could use as a general deterrent. Commissioners debated whether the units should be rotated on a first-come, first-served basis or prioritized by neighborhood traffic patterns and summer event locations.

Drew Jacqueline, staff engineer for the City of Morgantown, said he was "still trying to get the communication, and schedule together with the police department and public works on how those are deployed," and offered to work with any commissioner who wanted to propose a prioritization. Commissioners noted the devices sometimes produce data that would be useful to staff engineering but said the primary expected use was speed deterrence rather than detailed technical analysis.

Next steps: the commission asked for a prioritization mechanism to be included in the membership survey and for staff to return with deployment options. Members suggested targeting high-summer-traffic areas such as park entrances and popular neighborhood corridors.