M'burgh Village to Battle Speeders

MIDDLEBURGH - It is almost travel season and that means one thing in the Village of Middleburgh: more speeders on Main Street.

Main Street is a state road with a speed limit of 30mph, but not enough people obey that speed limit, village officials said Monday night.

"It's really upsetting," said Trustee Amanda Fernandez, who lives on Main Street. "Total disregard," she added, noting that there are two schools on the street.

After discussing several options (all of which were quickly dismissed), board members approved a resolution asking the state Department of Transportation to do a speed study on Main Street to reduce the speed limit from 30mph to 25mph.

Mayor Tim Knight said many residents complained to him about speeding and enforcement in the village.

It is a "chronic problem...People are driving too damn fast on Main Street," he added.

The Mayor said he has spoken to the Sheriff's office about more coverage, which they provide.

Coverage is not enough, Trustee Bob Tinker said.

"You have to start handing out tickets (instead of just warnings). When you do that, that's all that works."

The cycle keeps repeating over and over, Mayor Knight said. "It's a cycle that keeps occurring."

Several options were offered to reduce speeding and all were quickly dismissed.

Among the suggestions that were rejected were: a raised crosswalk (rejected as too dangerous), a village constable (rejected because of cost), another traffic light on Main Street, and speed cameras.

Streets Superintendent Cole Keyser said he would "highly recommend staying away from a raised crosswalk." The raised walks would be dangerous and increase traffic on the back streets.

As for the constable, Trustee Tinker said he has been discussed for years but was never feasible even when a retired police officer offered his services free of charge. "We tried everything in the books." The cost would be "at least $100,000."

Another traffic light has been discussed and would be too costly and the state would not approve it.

Speed cameras require a special act of state legislation, Mayor Knight said.

The village does have some speed radar signs and they do help officials said, and will be moved around.

Trustee Tinker noted that the speeding is not just by people driving cars but many are trucks and tractor-trailers.

The speeding starts in the village and leads out of the village, officials noted.

Trustee Fernandez added that it is not just a Middleburgh problem and is everywhere.

"People have to be accountable."