Jeannette aims to curb truck traffic on residential streets

Commercial trucks traversing residential neighborhoods in Jeannette are damaging city streets, and officials hope increased education and potentially fines will curb that activity.

Sgt. Derek Manley said he intends to start commercial motor vehicle enforcement next month after he wraps up the lengthy certification and training process through state police. He will be looking for commercial vehicles that stray from the city’s truck route, as well as ones that exceed weight limits and other infractions.

Police Chief Donald Johnston Jr. said the city has seen an increase in trucks using Route 130, or Harrison Avenue, to avoid Route 30 traffic. Those trucks then sometimes find their way into neighborhoods.

“A lot of these commercial trucks are not following the specific truck routes,” he said. “They are using residential streets and increasing damage done to roads.”

There are more than 700 state troopers and municipal officers in Pennsylvania who have specialized training in inspecting commercial vehicles and their drivers to make sure state and federal regulations are being followed. They also are certified to weigh the vehicles.

In the event of an issue with a commercial vehicle, without a trained officer, Jeannette police had to hope a certified state trooper was available to do an inspection. If there wasn’t, city police were limited on the type of violations for which the driver could be cited, possibly amounting to as little as $25 per ticket, Manley said.

But with the training, Manley will be able to issue violations that carry higher penalties, potentially reaching into the thousands. Officials hope that will be a deterrent and keep commercial traffic on the designated routes, mostly state-owned roads, that are marked by signs.

“We’ve been receiving numerous complaints from residents,” Johnston said. “Calls have gone up dramatically since traffic increased on Route 30.”

City engineer Ed Antonacci said residential streets typically have less asphalt than a road designed to handle trucks. Continued commercial vehicle traffic on a residential street can cause the road to crack, which could lead to water infiltration, he said.

Commercial vehicles typically carry 18,000 pounds per axle. The average weight of a car is 4,100 pounds, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Commercial trucks have been spotted on streets they shouldn’t be — like North First and North Second streets and Gaskill and Hacker avenues, at times getting stuck, which can prompt an hourslong ordeal that takes up police time to manage traffic while waiting for a tow truck. Johnston said drivers sometimes get directions from general GPS services rather than using one geared toward designated truck routes.

Manley will have to perform at least 70 inspections annually. He hopes to do random enforcement details in addition to responding as needed.

The weight limit on a bridge on South Second Street near city hall, which is not part of the truck route, recently was reduced to 9 tons. Johnston said he stopped a truck traveling on it Wednesday but had to let the driver go while Manley continues with his training.