Residents of Methyl Street in Pittsburgh's Beechview neighborhood are voicing concerns after a number of parked cars have been hit, with locals petitioning for traffic-calming measures to be introduced. WTAE reported that Longtime resident Paul Skelly, who has lived in the area for nearly three decades, has seen his car sideswiped on multiple occasions, prompting him to call for action. "I would ultimately like to see speed bumps in the street, maybe a one-way street," Skelly expressed his desire for preventative solutions to the traffic issues plaguing his street, in a statement obtained by Pittsburgh's Action News 4.
According to Skelly, being struck by a hit-and-run driver attempting to navigate around a school bus had resulted in his car's bumper getting torn off, which was captured on surveillance video. Having contacted city authorities about the ongoing hazards two years earlier, he has been met with frustrating silence, revealed in an interview with CBS News. Skelly's not standing alone in his grievances, as neighboring residents also report multiple incidents of vehicular damage resulting from the narrow nature of the street.
The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police has acknowledged the situation, confirming that the driver responsible for Skelly's most recent incident has been identified, KDKA disclosed. Beyond holding the accountable parties responsible, the repetitive nature of these accidents continues to strain the pockets and patience of residents like Skelly, who has faced a thousand-dollar deductible for each occurrence. "This is happening entirely too much, and this is costing me a lot of money," Skelly stated, as CBS News detailed, in defense of his plea for stricter traffic control measures implementation.
Focused on addressing these growing concerns, Pittsburgh's Department of Mobility and Infrastructure has reportedly conducted a safety study on Methyl Street, with a spokesperson for Mayor Corey O'Connor's office stating that they are "aware of the concerns." As councilman Anthony Coghill shared with CBS News, potential changes, including the installation of speed bumps or the conversion to a one-way system, are being explored in an attempt to prevent future damage. These collective efforts seek to preserve not just the vehicles but also the peace of mind for those who call Methyl Street home.
