CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP — Drivers may soon be given an extra reminder if they are speeding, thanks to a new policy the township has adopted.

On Monday, May 2, supervisors unanimously voted to approve a permanent radar speed sign installation policy. The policy would allow homeowners associations to apply for the solar-powered speed-deterring equipment to be installed in their neighborhoods.

Kelly Maurer, traffic engineer and director of public works, said the township has had success with radar speed sign programs in the past and this policy would help areas of concern in the community.

“We already have a successful radar speed sign program,” Maurer said. “We have five permanent locations in the township and we have four that move remotely.”

Maurer said the radar speed signs have been implemented for the past decade, which not only serve as a reminder for drivers to slow down but allow engineers and police to study the data to determine which areas may need extra patrolling.

Until now, the township has not had an official policy that allowed areas to request the permanent use of speed deterrents.

To qualify for the permanent signs, the area would need to have roads where the 85th percentile speed is 10 miles over the speed limit and there are more than 1000 vehicles traveling on the road per day.

“We don’t want to put these on every side street and in every neighborhood,” Maurer said. “We want to focus in on the need.”

The new process would require an official HOA request and a traffic study be conducted to see if the road qualifies for the permanent fixtures. If it does qualify, the HOA then would sign an agreement with the township that cites both parties are to split the cost of instillation and future repair or replacement of the traffic sign.

The cost per sign is $5,800, and each road needs two signs.

The public works department has conducted a pilot program with the Cranberry Heights HOA starting in June 2023, which Maurer said has been “very successful.”

“I thought this (area) was the perfect type of project of trying to get speeds reduced in the development,” she said.