More News

The Brentwood Town Council voted down Tuesday a request by residents to install a speed hump on 37th Street, but said it would revisit the issue after police conduct a 60-day survey of speeding along the road.

Residents along the 4300 block of 37th street submitted a petition to the council requesting a speed hump. But some council members said after talking to residents, their biggest concern wasn't speeding but pedestrians walking in the street along a stretch of the block. It lacks a sidewalk.

Councilman Vernon Bretemps, who lives along the street, said speeding has decreased significantly since the fire department moved from down the street to the Bunker Hill Fire Station on Rhode Island Avenue.

"The problem, the real problem, is we have 200 feet there that we don't have sidewalks on. Whoever is walking, what with children or adults, they have to walk in the street," he said. "I think our money would be better spent building a sidewalk."

Town Administrator Peter Jones said Brentwood police have gone to the street block at different times with radar guns, but reported no one driving at an excessive speed.

"I'm not saying the residents who signed the petition aren't correct in their concerns, but there is a question mark as to if it's really needed," Jones said. "A period of time is needed just to check to see what the situation is a little more accurately."

Resident Nina Young said she's spoken with many residents who have complained about speeding along the block, and blames commuters, not town residents, who cut through the town on their way to and from work. The posted speed limit is 25 mph.

"I've seen many times, in the morning and in the evening, cars coming at a very high speed through that area," Young said. "We need the police officers there at the times when people are coming to and from work. This is a very serious situation."

Although the council voted down the speed humps, it asked police officers to patrol, in an inconspicuous manner, the block for speeding during the morning and evening rush hour.

Councilwoman Marlene Robinson urged the town to send letters to residents along the block about humps. None of the residents who started the petition was at Tuesday night's meeting.

E-mail Elahe Izadi at eizadi@gazette.net.