Harrison commissioners try to address trucks using Rambler Drive as a shortcut

Keeping truck traffic off Rambler Drive poses a problem for the Harrison commissioners.

Residents have complained about big trucks using the residential street between Saxonburg Road and Freeport Road.

Commissioner Eric Bengel brought up the complaints at the commissioners’ meeting Monday. He suggested solving the problem by putting up signs that say “no trucks, local deliveries only.”

However, Solicitor Emily Mueller said for that to be effective, it would have to be done by drafting and approving an ordinance. Doing that would require an engineering study the township would have to pay for and would involve PennDOT, she said.

“PennDOT sets the regulating what engineering studies are required,” Mueller said.

A suggestion to place weight limits for trucks using the street ran into the same issue, the requirement for an engineering study.

Going through the regular process means getting an engineering study set up with PennDOT, doing the study, reviewing the results then drafting, advertising and approving the ordinance.

All of that would take weeks and not provide the immediate relief residents want.

Bengel said he doesn’t see why the township can’t put up a “no trucks” sign anyway to make truckers stop and think twice about turning onto the street.

“You can put up any sign you want,” Mueller said, “but, the problem is enforcing it.”

She said if the township does that without passing an ordinance, police would not be able to write tickets for truckers using the street.

Commissioners chairman Gary Meanor did not dismiss the idea, however.

“It may be a solution without going through everything,” Meanor said.

He said he believes that truckers end up using the street because of malfunctioning GPS devices or devices that are simply wrong in their directions.

One drawback to making such a move could be that posting Rambler for no trucks might result in truckers using other parallel residential streets, Meanor said.

Still, Meanor said posting such a sign might get truckers’ attention and alleviate the problem.

He said it is something that he wants the commissioners to think about and have further discussions before making a decision.