Verona Officials Hope to Halt Speeders on Allegheny River Boulevard

Verona officials are hoping to slow down traffic on the borough's section of Allegheny River Boulevard, and they expect police to take measures to do so soon.

The area has a posted 25 mile-per-hour speed limit. Many drivers, according to officials, drive much faster than that.

“I can’t even get their license plate, that’s how fast they’re going,” council President Sandy Drabicki-Bell said.

“They’re flying through the red light at Center Avenue and the boulevard.”

The speeding has caused a number of accidents in the past, officials said.

Council discussed several measures at its August regular meeting Tuesday night.

Among the possibilities are increasing the visibility of one of two existing speed limit signs, posting additional, larger signs, and setting up a digital speed indicator.

While they didn’t discount any of the options, council members agreed that one of the best solutions would be an increased police presence.

“What you need to do is set up a police car and really hammer it for a few weeks,” Councilwoman Peggy Suchevich said.

Mayor David Ricupero said patrol cars will become a constant presence along Verona’s stretch of the boulevard.

Police chief Ron McLemore said additional signs would provide backup for enforcement of the posted speed.

“That aids us in saying there’s a speed limit,” he told council.

With both the police chief and the mayor’s involvement, Drabicki-Bell indicated she expects to see steps taken soon.

“Something’s going to be done,” she said. “(Ricupero) said he’s going to do it, then he’s going to do it.