Speeding troubles in Millbrook call for fast solution

MILLBROOK — Deputy Mayor Stan Morse brought to the board’s attention two complaints from residents regarding speeding in Millbrook at the Village Board meeting on Thursday, July 12. One resident inquired of Morse whether speed bumps might be appropriate on 9 Partners Lane, while another resident suggested speed bumps for Reservoir Drive. Morse brought the issue to the attention of the board hoping to find a suitable solution. He explained to the board that the village worked with the Department of Transportation (DOT) four years ago and much of the work done focused on speeding, traffic control and signage. “They were very helpful to us and we got a lot done,” said Morse. “Speed bumps on 9 Partners Lane came up about four years ago. The DOT discouraged us from doing just that. There were several reasons such as standards for the state highway construction. Apparently, according to New York state law, you do not put speed bumps on through streets or public roadways.”Speed bumps are only allowed on private roadways; New York state law does not allow them on public roads.“The DOT recommends that speed bumps not be put on public roadways because they may cause people damage,” said Morse. “Local governments have been found liable for injuries to motorists resulting from unreasonable speed bumps.” Morse suggested the board try a potential traffic blitz for a period of time in areas around the village with fast traffic.“I am not an advocate for a heavy traffic blitz — the concentrated police officer on every corner for a short period of time,” said Trustee Edward Cox. “I would prefer to see a consistent application of the laws that we have on the books. You put on these traffic blitzes and everyone knows it’s going to end in a week and it doesn’t change anything.”Cox also said that if Millbrook chooses to enforce its laws it must support the police officers who will be on the street enforcing them. Traffic calming is a concept that Cox discussed to the board. The term is used when choosing methods to calm traffic. This includes narrowing roadways and applying road stripping and speed bumps.“The drawback to road stripping is that as far as aesthetics, the residents don’t like it,” said Cox. “So I am not going to advocate for anything that the residents don’t like; they live there. What I would advocate is an enforcement of the laws.”Mayor Laura Hurley said that when there is heavy patrol in areas most people who are stopped are the same residents who complain about the speeding, since the residents are the ones who are using the road the majority of the time.“To be consistent we would be putting someone up in a location for six hours or more a day, but it’s just not practical,” said Justin Scribner, Millbrook’s officer-in-charge. “It’s tough to come up with a definite answer for this.”Scribner said that the police would do their best to monitor the traffic in these trouble spots.“The reality is, I don’t think you are going to catch everybody,” said Cox. “Speaking from a law enforcement point of view, the goal is you would like to see the people police themselves and drive within the speed limits. But there is always somebody who is not going to do that. We all live on a street somewhere where we see someone who speeds. It’s not right, but we are not going to be able to catch them all.”