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Village puts brakes on right-turn ban
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - October 29, 2009)
Village puts brakes on right-turn ban
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
A plan to prohibit commercial trucks from right turns on Ford Lane in Burton Village went out with a whimper Monday.
Village Council elected not to take any action on a resolution that would have banned trucks traveling south on North Cheshire Street from turning right onto Ford Lane.
"Let it die a slow death," Councilman Jeff Coleman said after council members remained silent when the matter was up for its third and final reading.
The issue was raised after the village completed a repaving project along North Cheshire, which included the installation of new curbing.
Some council members, including Mr. Coleman, had asked council to consider the prohibition in an effort to protect the new curbing. They said trucks turning right at Ford Lane rode up on the curb and caused damage.
But some members of council argued that it was unfair to target truck drivers.
Councilman Craig Ronyak said a review of curbs around the village showed that all have some damage. He attributed that to a wide range of vehicles, rather than just trucks. "All the curbs are beat up," he said. "Are you going to do it to all of them?"
He said he believes truck drivers are better drivers than the average motorist and said snowplows tend to cause more damage than trucks.
The plan also faced opposition from a local businessman, Paul Rzeszotarski, who operates Burton Lumber and Fuel on Ford Lane.
Mr. Rzeszotarski appeared before council in late September to appeal to council to reconsider action on the turns, saying such action would harm his business.
"We can't tolerate this," Mr. Rzeszotarski said. "I'll lose my business."
He said his fueling business would suffer as regular customers would choose to go elsewhere rather than be inconvenienced by the turn prohibition.
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. Ronyak said forcing trucks to go around the square only would add to the rush-hour traffic and create an even longer wait for people.
Charles Hauser, a resident and candidate for council, said he is a former truck driver and personally witnessed numerous cars ride up on curbing as they make their turns.
He said the problem at Ford Lane is that other motorists pull up so far that trucks have to make an extra wide turn to clear the cars.
Mr. Coleman said the best solution may be a suggestion from village Engineer George "Chip" Hess.
Mr. Hess suggested that the village extend the center-line striping on Ford Lane so motorists will be guided away from the center of the road to allow more room for trucks to turn.
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