HERMITAGE Some prefer a dead-end street

Opening the eastern end of the street will cause serious traffic problems, residents said.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- Some residents of McConnell Road prefer to keep the residential street a dead end.
Jim Galantis and Paul Belfore appeared at a city commissioners meeting Wednesday to oppose a plan to make McConnell a through-street, linking Pa. Route 18 on its western end with North Keel Ridge Road at its eastern end.
As its stands, the only access to homes on McConnell Road and its side streets is off Route 18.
Galantis said people speed on the limited-access street now and he fears making it a through-street will make traffic worse as motorists try to use it as a shortcut between Route 18 and Keel Ridge Road.
City officials said municipal development regulations will require that the developer, Thomas McConnell, provide a second access to McConnell Road as part of an expansion of the residential area.
There are 54 homes there, and McConnell plans to develop 30 more lots.
That's too many for a single-access route, according to city regulations.
Gary Hinkson, city manager, said the development plan calling for opening McConnell Road to Keel Ridge has been approved by the city.
The developer could have asked for a variance from the development regulations but didn't do so, he said.
What could be done: One option is for residents to petition the city to make the new section of McConnell Road a one-way route for eastbound traffic, Hinkson said.
That would require a traffic study and a separate ordinance but homeowners could pursue it, he said.
Galantis' and Belfore's concerns didn't sit well with another city resident.
Another opinion: Andy Chako of Lillian Drive said the city is congested with traffic because it doesn't have enough through-streets and all traffic is channeled onto state roads running through the city.
"What about the people who already live on two-way and through-streets?" he asked.
& quot;They don't want me to drive on their streets, but they want to drive on mine, & quot; he said.