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Safety on Route 41:
Atglen poised to act on truck ban
March 4, 2004
Jennifer Marie Savage
ParkesBurg Post Ledger

The Atglen Borough Council appears ready to act on a ban of "through trucks" on area roadways, including Route 41, after they tweak the resolution to fit their needs. The amended resolution will be voted on at the council's April meeting.

The ban on through trucks is being proposed by S.A.V.E. (Safety, Agriculture, Villages, Environment) and would include other roadways, such as routes 10, 372, 926 and Strasburg Road. Municipalities that border the roadways are being asked to support the ban with a resolution.

Councilors Dirk Hagen and Carol Moyer said they were concerned local businesses with trucks that use the roadways would be impacted and, when told the ban did not apply to local businesses, Hagen asked for a definition of "local."

"Is New Holland local?" he asked.

Mona Schutsky, Atglen's representative on the ad-hoc citizen's committee that researched the truck ban, said the "local" area would likely be designated by Gov. Rendell, if and when he approves the measure.

"I think you're making it more complicated than it is," Schutsky said. "It is just until something else is done, let's do this simple thing to get trucks off the roadway and, hopefully, save some lives."

About 10 residents who attended the council's meeting Monday night said they supported the truck ban, though Gail Murphy, borough manager, said the council was not prepared to sign the resolution that night.

Another concern to the council and Murphy was the "requirement of enforcement" of the ban, as stated in the sample resolution provided by S.A.V.E.

"We don't have the resources for that, " said Murphy.

Atglen Borough currently contracts police services from Parkesburg Borough and typically has only one officer on duty for a 10-hour period each day, and Hagen added he didn't think the State Police would enforce such a ban.

"We have laws on the books now that are not enforced," said Hagen. "The State Police don't conduct speed (details). They're getting away with speeding and overweight, why wouldn't they not get away with this?"

Schutsky said she knew the enforcement issue was a concern to most municipalities and said the resolution could be amended to fit a particular municipality's situation.

"By supporting this, you're making a statement that you want to redirect growth," she said.

The council unanimously approved having Murphy amend the resolution and bring it back in April to be voted on.

Since Schutsky first discussed the truck ban with the council in February, West Sadsbury Township has rejected adopting the resolution. However, Schutsky said Monday night that East Bradford Township passed the resolution. "And that was without us making any kind of presentation...they just went ahead and did it."

Schutsky said previously that six other municipalities have adopted the resolution.

© ParkesBurg Post Ledger 2004