Many communities would be well served by a periodic traffic study aimed at evaluating changing conditions and needs, and new development affecting their roadways.

Slippery Rock Borough Council has begun discussing such an endeavor, but council President Dave Miller made a good point during initial comments on Tuesday: A study should not be done just to have a study; it must be a precursor to action.

Since a study would not be free, the spending of the money must be justified by borough leaders’ willingness to implement over time some, if not all, of the recommendations that the study produces.

However, even prior to an official study, council members have identified some possible improvements that no doubt the study — if it is given the go-ahead — would address.

One of the biggest issues on which the analysis likely would focus is traffic flow in the area of Slippery Rock University. Other major traffic issues mentioned Tuesday included changing some two-way streets to one way, new traffic signal technology that allows traffic signals to communicate with each other, and widening some streets to rectify turning problems.

The borough wouldn’t have the finances to embark immediately on all phases of what the study would identify. However, having a completed study in place, the council could establish a calendar of work that over a number of years might correct some of the most-pressing problems, with minor issues being addressed as time and extra money permit.

Councilman Ron Steele expressed the important point that whatever changes eventually considered must factor in emergency vehicles’ needs.

The council did not give approval for the study Tuesday. Instead, Miller asked council members to prepare a list of suggestions related to the streets evaluation and bring that information to the council’s January meeting for further discussion.

The council gave no timetable for voting on the study or advertising for study proposals from companies qualified to do the work. But this is a good time for discussion to take place so that the study can be ready to begin presumably to evaluate winter challenges as well as traffic issues during better weather conditions.

“I’ve been thinking about this (study) for quite a while,” said Councilman Royce Lorentz, who likened some borough street corners as being more suited to horse-and-buggy traffic, rather than motorized vehicles.

All communities should seek ways to improve themselves. However, in too many communities, officials, content with the status quo, fail to consider ways to be friendlier to traffic and the people traveling in and out of the community — or doing business there.

If it’s deemed financially feasible at this time, Slippery Rock officials should approve the study and look forward to its findings.

Slippery Rock has made many strides in recent years. A comprehensive traffic study is a logical next step.

Other Butler County communities should take notice.