Hamburg weighs 20 mph limit on borough streets

HAMBURG-The council is considering lowering the speed limit to 20 m.p.h. on borough roads that are under municipal control. The discussion about continuing problems with speeders arose after residents of Mulberry Street again came to the borough council meeting to renew their plea that the town "do something" about what they say is a dangerous situation on their street. The homeowners claim that not only is there a large volume of vehicles exiting the Heritage Lakes condominium complex, but vehicles also travel on Mulberry Street at speeds well over the limit. Represented by John Gramignano, they again suggested closing the road that leads from the development, contending that it was not created to be a through street. Site plans drawn in 1985 for the development do not show the private road as closed. Mayor Paul Marino said, "We need to dig deeper to put a request in to get further information." The site plans anticipated traffic exiting and entering the development from Route 517, not from Mulberry Street. Police Chief Eugene Kresge spoke of ongoing problems with speeding over the past couple of years throughout the borough. "We don't want anybody to get hurt," said Marino. He said he, too, is seeing cars being driven too fast, "even in my own development," and acknowledges that it is a "town-wide problem." Marino said when the council decides on a speed limit, he would like to see it painted directly on the roadways.