Farrell residents say flashing yellow traffic lights bring safety concerns

Susan Kirsch has lived on Roemer Boulevard for 30 years, but says it was only recently that she stopped parking on the street. 

“It's like living on a racetrack,” Kirsch told 21 News. “There's cars speeding all the time, and I've experienced personal loss of several vehicles.”

Kirsch took her concerns to Farrell officials at the city’s council meeting Monday, where they told her their “hands were tied.” City manager Shawn Anderson told 21 News Friday the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has control over the traffic lights, and the city cannot change them without PennDOT approval.

In July 2021, Anderson said PennDOT conducted a traffic study at the request of the city, which was seeking to upgrade some of the stoplights on Roemer. Instead, the study found the standard traffic lights were not necessary, and they were converted into blinking yellow lights instead. 

This gives drivers on Roemer right-of-way at all times, though drivers are supposed to slow down and “proceed with caution” through each intersection. Drivers approaching Roemer from Spearman, Beechwood or Indiana Avenue see a blinking red light and a stop sign instead. 

In an interview Friday, Kirsch said ever since the change, drivers aren't slowing down enough anymore, and it has impacted her personally.

“In June of this year, my husband's truck was hit from behind and pushed 10 feet ahead into the back of my car. He suffered a total loss, and I did $11,000 worth of damage to my car,” Kirsch said. “In the April before that, my car was totaled, parked in front of my house.”

According to her, she’s not alone. Kirsch told 21 News she’s counted 14 accidents where drivers have hit parked cars on Roemer Boulevard, up and down the street. Some of them, Kirsch said, have been hit-and-runs. 

“Kids on bikes and scooters are really a big concern, because one of these times, the speeder's not going to run into a parked car,” Kirsch said. “They're going to run into a bike or scooter, and then we're going to be really sad.”

Jill Harry, a press officer for PennDOT, explained to 21 News that if the city wants to change the traffic lights, it would have to start by formally requesting a new traffic analysis, which it so far has not done. 

When asked if Farrell is considering submitting such a request, Anderson said he is willing to do “whatever PennDOT requires,” but emphasized “it’s PennDOT’s decision, not ours.” He said he’s been trying to meet with the department, but has had difficulty planning a meeting that works with the schedules of leaders from the school district and the city. 

“I did tell the council I will contact PennDOT again and see if there's anything they're willing to do,” Anderson said. “After the holiday, I will contact PennDOT and see if they're willing to come out and assess it again.”