Speeders beware. Leechburg Mayor Tony Roppolo has a message for motorists using Market Street as their personal speedway.

“Slow down,” he said. “I don’t want anyone injured or maimed. I don’t want any motorist/pedestrian accidents in our town. The speeding happens every day, and the police can’t be everywhere at one time.”

Market Street serves as the business district in the small borough, with establishments that include restaurants, a coffee shop and antique stores.

On Monday, Roppolo pointed out a section of Market Street near River Road where the speed limit drops from 45 to 25 mph.

“They’re flying,” Roppolo said, pointing to a car zooming past the 25-mph sign. “I’m very concerned for the residents in town who are walking our sidewalks and trying to cross our streets in the business district. It is thriving, and I’ve often heard of Leechburg being the jewel of the Valley, and I want to remain with that reputation.”

Roppolo is teaming with Leechburg police Chief Jason Schaeffer to take steps to help reduce the number of speeding motorists.

Schaeffer has identified Market and Second streets and Pershing Avenue as problem areas.

The plan is to hire a part-time officer for targeted traffic shifts in three-hour blocks.

Leechburg employs two full-time officers, Schaeffer and Mark Pollick, and two part-time officers.

“One day a week, we come in early and run traffic,” Schaeffer said.

Schaeffer said no speeding complaints have been reported to the police department by residents.

Joyce Hanz | Tribune-Review Leechburg Mayor Tony Roppolo stands next to a 25 mph speed limit sign Monday along Market Street in Leechburg. Roppolo is spearheading efforts to crack down on what he said is a big speeding problem along Market Street.  

Borough crews are scheduled to paint white speed timing lines on borough streets in the coming months.

“You need the lines for AccuTrak in order to clock traffic,” Schaeffer said.

In addition, Schaeffer said, police will change their scheduling slightly and use ENRADD (Electronic Non Radar Devices) to help catch speeders.

ENRADD equipment must be operated by certified police officers, be set up outside along the road and removed after the patrol is over.

A lack of police staffing is the biggest challenge for targeting speeders, according to Roppolo.

“Also, we are hampered that we are down to one police car,” he said.

A new police cruiser has been ordered and is expected to arrive by fall.

On Sunday, Schaeffer said, he wrote four speeding citations, with one driver cited for traveling 57 mph.

The average ticket issued in the borough is about $200, he said.

Schaeffer said many motorists pulled over for speeding on Market Street say they weren’t aware the speed limit drops from 45 mph along River Road to 25 mph in Leechburg.

“But there’s speed limit signs everywhere,” he said. “People have to understand that pretty much every small town you drive through has a reduction (in speed limit), and people don’t take into consideration the kids are out doing things.

“A town and a township are two different things. You see people walking out on our sidewalks and streets. You go out into the townships, and they’re not walking the highways.”

Schaeffer said he has heard just about every excuse drivers have for speeding over his career.

“I had one speeder I pulled over, and his excuse was his wife was pregnant and he was racing to see her at the hospital. Turns out he was single and lying,” Schaeffer said. “Another female pulled over said her excuse for driving fast was a recent breakup.”

Leechburg resident Sandy Hepler-Raypush resides in Lee Haven Towers, at the corner of Main and Second streets. She said she often sees vehicles driving down Second Street go through the posted stop sign without even slowing down.

“I’m happy to hear the police will be cracking down using ENRADD equipment. Kids ride their bikes there and need to stay safe,” Raypush said.

Leechburg Pizza Company co-owner Steve Senjan also said the crackdown on speeding is a good idea.

His full-service pizza shop is located at the end of Market Street near the Leechburg Bridge.

“The worst problem we deal with is crossing Market Street. The cars come off the bridge pretty fast, and they don’t always see people crossing,” Senjan said.

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