Resident warns of heavy tractor‑trailer traffic on First Street; council agrees to review truck routes and speed limits

A Trenton resident told the City Council on Oct. 16 that heavy tractor‑trailer traffic on First Street and nearby Baltimore Street is creating safety hazards near a local school and through a residential neighborhood.

"I've counted in one hour just this week, we had 120 trailers come through," resident Barry Blankenship said at the meeting, asking whether the council could reroute trucks away from his neighborhood.

Council members acknowledged similar complaints have been raised previously. Vice Mayor Woodry and others said the city attorney should review ordinances used by neighboring jurisdictions that designate truck routes, and a council member flagged inconsistent speed limits — noting Third Street is posted at 25 mph while First Street reads 35 mph — as an additional factor to examine.

Mayor Perry and others expressed support for adding the truck‑route review to staff work and told Blankenship staff would follow up. The council did not vote on an ordinance at the meeting; members directed staff to research legal options and report back.

Blankenship also asked whether the public could be allowed to attend work sessions for quick questions without waiting for the regular council meeting; council members agreed in principle and asked staff to add that item to a future work‑session agenda.

Next steps: the council asked the city attorney to research model truck‑route ordinances and directed staff to examine speed limits and return with recommendations.