SEVEN FIELDS — Borough council hopes to enact new regulations to make Route 228 less noisy for residents.

Tractor trailers driving east on Route 228 through Cranberry Township hit the top of a hill near the intersection with Franklin Road.

As they drive down the hill and cross into the borough, many truck drivers use an engine brake, known as a “Jake Brake,” to slow their momentum. The brakes often make a lot of noise.

The ordinance that council will consider at its next meeting would prohibit “the use of engine brake retarders with improperly maintained, defective or modified exhaust mufflers” that create “excessive noise.”

Borough manager Tom Smith said the borough has received numerous complaints about loud engine brakes as the area near Route 228 continues to develop.

“Borough council felt it is a quality-of-life issue,” Smith said.

If passed, signs would be posted on Route 228 alerting drivers of the ordinance and the Evans City-Seven Fields Regional Police Department would be able to write citations.

If convicted, the drivers or trucking companies would face a penalty of no more than $300, according to the ordinance.

Since it is a state road, the borough had to file a request with the state Department of Transportation before it could propose an ordinance, Smith said. After completing an engineering and traffic study, PennDOT officials granted permission allowing the ordinance.

The criteria for a road to be eligible for the ban include having a speed limit of less than 55 mph, a downhill grade that does not exceed 4 percent within any 500-foot section and no history or pattern of rear-end or runaway truck crashes, according to PennDOT’s website.

The borough does not have weight limits or other restrictions on large vehicles on any of its roads. The majority of truck traffic that passes through the borough uses only Route 228, Smith said.

Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 8 at the municipal office, 2200 Garden Drive.