Resident raises safety concerns on Pershing Boulevard; city to review police data after petition returns fell short

Paul Kerrigan, a resident of 1525 Pershing Boulevard, told the Dayton City Commission that a steep, blind section of Pershing near Marymount has recurring speed-related crashes and frequent illegal quad-rider activity. He urged the city to visit the block and pointed to an earlier crash that removed utility poles, saying there is “virtually no police presence” on the street.

Kerrigan also criticized the city’s petition process for installing speed bumps, saying ballots are not reliably returned by neighbors and questioning how some other neighborhoods received speed bumps where he says there is minimal traffic.

City staff responded that they would have the Dayton Police Department review safety data for Pershing Boulevard. Staff provided additional detail about the petition process, saying the petition requires two-thirds of property owners to support a speed bump; the petition effort for the Pershing location received about 41% support. Staff said they conducted door-to-door outreach but were unable to increase the number of consenting property owners.

Commissioner Turner Sloss thanked staff for the additional context and said he would speak with the resident after the meeting; he said he looked forward to the safety data from DPD once staff had reviewed it.

The commission did not take formal legislative action on the Pershing request during the meeting. Staff will follow up with the police department’s safety data and may return with further recommendations depending on what the data show.