All Delhi Village Streets To Become 25mph

By Mary A. Crisafulli

DELHI - After public outcry and a roadway study Delhi Village Trustees determined Village roads require a speed reduction. All village streets not already at or below 25 mph will be adjusted to meet that standard.

Primary roads affected by the adjustment include Main Street from Gallant Avenue to the village line near Price Chopper and from Kingston Street to the O'Connor Hospital.

Several village residents attended trustee meetings pleading for a speed reduction in the interest of public safety concerns, explained Gearhart. "But even more importantly," he continued, "The safety of our kids where there are families with young children and pets." Residents pointed to studies that show low speeds lead to a reduction in young children being injured or fatally struck, Gearhart remembered.

Trustees then sent an application to the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) for a road study to be conducted. The DOT determined the change was unnecessary. "Due to support from village residents and our past experience," Gearhart said, "The board was inclined to go ahead with the change."

The village was required to pay a $1,000 state fee to change its code book to include the speed adjustment. "We try to include as many changes as we can at one time to minimize this cost," said Gearhart.

The village is responsible for changing the signage. Trustees are in the process of determining how many signs and types are needed. Once ordered, Gearhart said it is difficult to nail a timeline as they will be a special order which could take awhile to arrive.

“We are not going to make the change and leave it at that,” Gearhart concluded, “We will be conducting special patrol days where an officer will sit and just record speeds of all traffic to determine if we are having the desired effect of lowering the limits.”