By Rick Palsgrove
Southeast Editor
Groveport City Council members are concerned about the speed and volume of traffic, as well as the perceived presence of more semi-trucks, on Main Street.
“Cars are going too fast on Main Street,” said Councilwoman Becky Hutson. “I saw a little truck at the light at Hendron and Main and it was really flying. We should increase the police presence on Main Street.”
Councilwoman Jean Ann Hilbert noted that vehicles are also not slowing down for the Main Street crosswalk near the Middle School Central parking lot.
“There are kids in the crosswalk and cars come up to the crosswalk and then slam on their brakes,” said Hilbert. “It’s a crosswalk, drivers need to slow down.”
Councilman Shawn Cleary said there seems to be more semi-trucks in town and they appear to be coming from the east.
Police Chief Ralph Portier said some of the semi-trucks are actually making deliveries in town, but that Groveport police officers watch for heavy trucks that ignore the “no thru trucks” signage. He said officers also keep an eye on the speed of Main Street traffic.
In a related move, the city of Groveport will participate in an Ohio Department of Transportation and Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission program to obtain and install modern pedestrian signals at various Main Street intersections in town. ODOT and MORPC are funding the pedestrian signals, which provide count down numbers to show when the traffic light is about to change.
