[ back ]
Burton reconsiders curbing truck traffic
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - October 01, 2009)
Burton reconsiders curbing truck traffic
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
A local business owner appealed to Burton Village Council Monday to reconsider its push to prohibit right turns for commercial trucks onto Ford Lane.
"We can't tolerate this," said Paul Rzeszotarski, owner of Burton Lumber and Fuel Co. "I'll lose my business."
Council is considering an ordinance that would require southbound trucks on North Cheshire Street to bypass Ford Lane, circle around Burton Square and return down North Cheshire Street to make a left turn onto Ford Lane. Some members of council said the detour is necessary to preserve new curbing installed at Ford Lane.
Council agreed Monday to visit the site to get a better understanding of the situation and revisit the issue at an October meeting.
Mr. Rzeszotarski said his business, which is used for fueling by the trucks, would see sales go elsewhere if council takes that action. He said traffic also backs up to Ford Lane from the square at evening rush hour, which would discourage truckers from wanting to circle the square just to fuel.
Mr. Rzeszortarski estimated that he serves about 60 semi-tractor trailer trucks a week. He said much of his business is repeat customers, who have been coming for 20 years.
Councilman Jeffrey Coleman said he had a "real hard time believing" that loyal customers would abandon the business because they would have to drive a little longer to get there.
But Councilman Craig Ronyak said a check of curbs around the village would show that it is not just trucks that skip the curb. He said truck drivers are better drivers than most and that snowplows will cause more damage than any trucks going to Mr. Rzeszotarski's business.
Mr. Ronyak said he also would not want all the added truck traffic circling the square. "All the curbs are beat up," he said. "Are you going to do it to all of them?" He said some drivers cut corners and skip the curb, while others do not.
"I don't think we should penalize a business here," Mr. Ronyak said.
Charles Hauser, a resident and candidate for Village Council, said he had been a truck driver with more than 2 million miles travelled. He agreed with Mr. Ronyak that truck drivers are better than most motorists.
He said he has personally watched cars drive up on curbs as they round corners, just after new curbs were installed. He said the problem at Ford Lane is that other motorists pull up so far that trucks have a difficult time making the turn.
Police Chief Richard Smigelski said the village may be able to move back the stop signs on Ford Lane to give truckers more room to turn.
Mayor Thomas Blair Sr. called for council to table the issue for now and take time to walk the area to get a better idea of the situation.
In the current economy, he said, it does not make sense to make it more difficult on a business and possibly chase them away.
He said he also has concerns that the proposal could increase traffic around the square. He said council should continue the discussion at the next meeting. "There are points for and points against" the legislation, he said.
[ back ]
