Board solicitor Holly Heintzelman told the West Penn Township board of supervisors last week that residents have asked if the township can prohibit truck traffic on Blue Mountain Drive, and if it can adopt an ordinance similar to that of neighboring East Penn Township to prohibit truck traffic.

"The bottom line on this is that if you adopt an ordinance, that's only the first step," Heintzelman said.She said East Penn's ordinance appears to ban truck traffic with a gross weight in excess of 20,000 pounds, but says the township is authorized to issue permits in accordance with the Pennsylvania Code, and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.Even if West Penn were to impose a weight limit on trucks, Heintzelman said the township would still have to issue permits per the statute. The township may prohibit the operation of vehicles on a highway or bridge whenever it determines that hazardous traffic conditions or other safety factors requireit. School buses, emergency vehicles and vehicles making local deliveries may be exempted from the restrictions, she said.The township may issue permits for movement of vehicles of the size and weight in excess of the restrictions, Heintzelman said.It appears that the township may not refuse to issue a permit if there is no reasonable route available, she said. Heintzelman said to impose a weight restriction on a highway or bridge,an engineering and traffic studymust determine that the highway or bridge may be damaged or destroyed unless restrictions are placed.Heintzelman said Alfred Benesch & Company, the township's engineering firm, has performed a road structure engineering study with regard to Keppner's Road, Blue Mountain Drive, Dorset Road and Retreat Road.Benesch's recommendation is that a 15-ton weight limit should be placed on all four roads, she said. But to place a weight restriction, Heintzelman said the township must follow all the steps of the posting and bonding procedures for municipal highways."However, in my opinion, setting up this program will require a substantial commitment by the township engineer and township solicitor to get the program up and running," she said. "After the program is established, someone will have to be designated to issue permits, collect security, monitor the roads and the security amounts, and generally keep the program running."