Traffic study to begin in Oakmont within the next few months

A traffic study to examine pedestrian and automotive travel in Oakmont is expected to take place during the upcoming school year.

Council plans to hire Pittsburgh-based David E. Wooster and Associates in August for the estimated $31,000 project, which includes analysis of traffic along Allegheny Avenue, Third Street and Cedar Way from Hulton Road to College Avenue.

“We have asked Wooster to revise the scope of the project based on some additional information,” borough Manager Scott Fodi said. “We discussed the parallel roads to Allegheny Avenue, the flow of traffic along (Allegheny River) Boulevard as well as Allegheny Avenue.”

Oakmont traditionally has traffic backups along Allegheny Avenue and Allegheny River Boulevard at Pennsylvania, College and California avenues.

“We want to see if there’s a way to mitigate those backups,” Fodi said.

Money for the traffic study was allocated in this year’s budget. It could begin in September if approved next month.

Fodi said the data gathering is expected to take about four weeks, and council could have a report by the end of the year.

Councilwoman Carrie DelRosso, borough liaison to Riverview School District, said the study needs to take place during the school year to gauge student traffic.

“The biggest concern is continuing to manage the safety of all residents, including the students, and effectively manage the traffic flow,” she said. “The longer people have to wait (in traffic) the more it entices people to speed up. We have a successful business district with successful restaurants, and want people to come in and use routes successfully without running into problems.”

The traffic study was talked about for nearly two years.

Council held off on moving forward with it last year after adjusting Cedar Way traffic patterns a few times, and waiting for Oakmont Bakery to open its new location near the intersection of Third Street and Hulton Road across from Riverview High School.

The former bakery site along Allegheny Avenue closed for good in early February. Its new location opened the following day. A yoga studio, juice bar and business office are expected to go into the old site.