Green Tree considers speed humps, rumble strips and resident surveys for School Street traffic calming

Green Tree councilors and residents discussed a traffic-calming plan for School Street at the Feb. 16 workshop that would rely on resident feedback, temporary trials and coordination with public works before installing permanent speed humps.

The borough relayed results of a Worcester & Associates traffic study and said the public safety committee will meet on Feb. 23 to develop next steps. A councilor (S9) proposed surveying School Street residents to gauge appetite for speed humps; "if majority of people want speed humps, we just make recommendations where they should be," the speaker said.

Members noted practical constraints: temporary modular speed humps can be installed first to test effectiveness; the borough should check with maintenance about snow removal impacts before installing permanent humps; roadway slope limits (an 8% figure was referenced) may affect placement; and a referenced truck or weight restriction on School Street (as discussed by council) could limit options and requires clarification.

Alternatives offered included rumble strips and improved signage or pavement markings. One councilor said rumble strips can slow traffic with less intrusion than vertical humps, and another suggested temporary devices allow the borough to assess noise and traffic impacts before committing to permanent infrastructure.

Next steps: the public safety committee will convene to refine a resident questionnaire and coordinate with public works on maintenance and snow-plowing implications. No formal decision to install permanent devices was made at the workshop.