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Questions & Concerns

Warren City Council may have elected the roundabout option back in November for the intersection of Market St. and Pennsylvania Ave.

But that doesn’t mean that efforts still won’t be undertaken to change council’s mind.

Representatives from United Refining Company and the trucking companies that move United products requested that city council revisit the decision.

Dave Wortman, vice president of supply and transportation with United, said that “this group after lengthy and continuous evaluation… continue to believe that the signal replacement and geometric improvement option is far safer option than the single lane roundabout.”

He expressed concerns regarding “tanker trucks moving through this very important intersection” and acknowledged that the intersection is “extremely important” to United “and the trucking companies who move our products.”

Wortman estimated 250 trucks per day – inbound and then outbound – utilize that intersection.

“We foresee the possibility of traffic backups,” he explained, “primarily in the northbound lanes.”

Wortman questioned the safety statistics completed by PennDOT’s consulting firm which shows “statistically, improved safety for a generic roundabout. What I think they failed to consider and was not taken into great enough consideration (is the) actual volume of tanker trucks moving through this intersection.”

He asked council to reconsider and revote on the issue.

Todd Boston with Crossett, Inc., noted that “90 percent” of the company’s outgoing – or northbound – traffic is “overweight permitted” with loads in the range of 107,000 pounds.

“One of the big concerns I wanted to bring up here, once the decision is made, it is final,” he cautioned.

Boston explained that if truck traffic needed to be reduced at the intersection that their other option is to utilize the Glade Bridge and enter Warren from Ludlow St.

“That is not an approved PennDOT approved overweight lane,” he cautioned, noting that it “adds a lot of time (and) miles and exposes you to a lot more people going through those various intersections in town.”

He suggested there is “not going to be enough room for tractor-trailers to safely maneuver around that intersection” if converted into a roundabout.

Eric Ahl with Crossett pointed out one particular concern which is when the truck has to go up on the curb to make the turn and is often “one of the leading causes of rollovers.”

Councilman Phil Gilbert noted that the “apron is supposed to be there for the truck to go up on.”

Councilman John Lewis said PennDOT “never did answer” the question about how to plow a roundabout.

Mayor Maurice Cashman said he “addressed snow plowing with PennDOT.”

“They said (they will) have to teach the city how to plow those. There is a method, evidently. (There will) be a learning curve to that.”

He said he also asked about traffic backups and said PennDOT reported that traffic studies indicate it “should not be a problem” and that they will “address the timing of the lights on Market St.” to help address that issue.

Boston noted that roundabouts are not typically found on “major truck thoroughfares. This is a major artery for United Refining, a major artery for our trucks coming in and out of Warren.”

He noted that the geometric improvements with the traffic signal would “be adding extra space” but acknowledged that “trucks will still be likely hitting that curbing when they come around the corner.”

He also asked council to reconsider and revote.

Alex Keddie, CEO and owner of Crossett, noted that “our whole industry is about safety. It’s about change…. If we want to get on the map, I don’t think a roundabout does it.”

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