High traffic, speed irk residents of Poland Township road

By Denise Dick

POLAND — For years, Miller Road was a quiet country lane that saw little traffic apart from those who lived there. For the last several weeks, though, residents say there’s been a nearly steady stream of vehicles along their street every Saturday.

The township park between Miller and Cowden roads opened in late August and the Poland Youth Soccer Association began playing games there.

The club includes about 950 children and teens, and games run from morning to afternoon every Saturday. At those times, motorists enter the park on Cowden and exit on Miller. Both are one-way on Saturdays.

“There’s probably 20 to 25 cars in a line just about all day Saturday,” said Vincent Genova, a Miller resident.

That makes it difficult to get in and out of driveways, residents say.

Before the park opened, traffic was minimal, Genova said.

Now?

“There’s no comparison,” he said.

Traffic volume isn’t the only problem. It’s the speed, too.

Last month, a group of road residents sought help from the trustees to slow vehicles down. Because Miller is a Mahoning County road, the township asked the county engineer’s office to erect 25 mph speed limit signs.

But residents say it’s still a problem.

Two homeowners posted their own signs imploring travelers to exercise caution.

“Please slow down,” one sign reads. “We have kids too. Thank you.”

“Please slow down,” says the other. “Sometimes our kids get loose.”