West Penn Township officials have approved a traffic study and agreed to post the roads with weight restrictions in an attempt to prohibit truck traffic.

On a 2-1 vote at a special meeting on Monday, the township's board of supervisors authorized Alfred Benesch & Company, the township's engineering firm, to complete the study. Supervisor Ted Bogosh voted no.The board's action comes after township solicitor Holly Heintzelman addressed the issue with supervisors earlier this month on whether the township can prohibit truck traffic on Blue Mountain Drive.The board wanted to adopt an ordinance similar to that of neighboring East Penn Township to prohibit truck traffic.Heintzelman cautioned supervisors that adopting an ordinance is merely the first step.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 with a weight limit, 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 require it.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 study must 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 Kepner'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."Supervisors authorized Heintzelman to develop an ordinance related to road bonding.Bogosh said the township could request water extraction users to continue to donate as they have in the past.Supervisor Anthony Prudenti asked if the township could do local truck traffic-only signs.Supervisors Chairman Jim Dean said the purpose is to promote the health, safety, and welfare of the township."I say we go through with this," Dean said.However, Bogosh said, "For safety matters, this doesn't do anything."Dean countered, "Sure it does, it's a safety issue."