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Norristown council debates resident-initiated traffic-calming policy and tables final action
Summary
Council discussed a revised resident-initiated traffic-calming policy that lowers the initiation threshold to 50% but drew debate over whether 'residents' or 'property owners' should initiate studies; an amendment changed the language, but the council later voted 4-3 to table final adoption pending more information.
Council members spent the longest portion of the May 5 meeting debating a proposed resident-initiated traffic-calming policy (Resolution 26-39) that would change how neighborhood petitions for measures such as speed bumps or curb extensions are started.
Public-works staff (Sean) presented the revised policy and said it was intended to streamline the process. The draft calls for 50% of affected property owners to initiate an engineering study, and then 75% of the properties directly affected to approve implementation. "So we went to give it to where, make it easier for that block to start the study, but then give, still give some kind of, you know, leeway for the actual owner that will be affected," Sean said.
Councilman David McMahon (Committee member, speaker 6) proposed an amendment to allow 50% of residents experiencing the conditions — rather than property owners — to initiate a study, arguing renters are often the ones facing day-to-day issues. "My proposal would be that the study should be initiated by the people experiencing the circumstances," he said.
Supporters said the change would allow blocks with high tenant populations to move forward. Opponents warned about verification difficulty and transient tenants. Staff and several council members urged caution, noting that property-owner signatures are easier to verify and that the council can still step in if residents cannot meet thresholds.
The council voted on the amendment to change the initiation language; the record shows the amendment carried on a roll call (the transcript records a 5-2 count at one point). Later in the meeting, however, Councilwoman Jasmine Griffin moved to table the policy for further study, citing numerous outstanding questions; the motion to table passed 4-3, postponing final adoption.
Staff said studies would be conducted by the municipal traffic consultant at municipal rates and that cost and technical criteria (including 85th/80th percentile speed checks and crash data) would determine whether calming devices are appropriate. The policy includes a three-year review window for measures once implemented.
The council directed staff to provide more information on historic applications, cost estimates and recordkeeping before bringing the item back.
