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Residents urge action on speeding, talks begin on lower limits and traffic calming
Summary
Residents and committee members discussed rising speeding and unsafe driving on East Virginia, North Matlac and North Franklin streets, asked the borough to study traffic-calming options including lower speed limits, temporary speed bumps and targeted enforcement.
Daryl Cook, a resident of South Walnut Street, told the West Chester Public Safety Committee on a May 2025 meeting that speeding and stop-sign noncompliance on several northeast-quadrant residential blocks has become a safety issue for children and pedestrians. “I’m fearful for the safety of my kids when they play out front,” Cook said.
Cook pressed the committee to investigate engineering and regulatory options beyond enforcement, citing commuter cut-throughs on East Marshall Street and the lack of sidewalks on affected blocks. He asked the committee to “evaluate lowering the speed limit on residential blocks without complete sidewalks to 15 miles an hour,” and noted his understanding that “the borough’s position is that by statute, the speed limits cannot be lowered below 25 miles an hour,” while also saying a traffic study might allow a lower posted limit.
The resident outlined specific locations he said are problematic: the 500–700 block of North Franklin Street, the 500 block of North Matlac Street, and the 100 block of East Virginia Avenue. He suggested temporary speed bumps as a trial and offered to gather a petition if needed. “I’m happy to put together a petition,” Cook said.
Committee members acknowledged the request and said they would review the concerns. No formal motion or vote was recorded on traffic-calming measures at the meeting; committee staff indicated the matter would be examined further and brought back for discussion.
Why it matters: Neighbors said fast-moving vehicles on residential streets without sidewalks increase risk to children and pedestrians and could require a mix of engineering, enforcement and regulatory review if the borough seeks to change posted limits or add physical traffic-calming features.
Next steps: The committee agreed to review the resident’s concerns and consider whether a traffic study, temporary traffic-calming trials or ordinance-level changes are appropriate. The transcript shows the committee will investigate the options; no final decision or schedule for follow-up was recorded.
