Urgent Safety Fears Exposed: What Vermilion Township Is Doing About State Route 60

Listen to the full meeting here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YDgTNn8SnThUB35UyftGYy3s3SZ4z097/view?usp=drivesdk

Vermilion Township hosted a Town Hall-style meeting on Tuesday, August 20th, to discuss safety concerns and highway usage along State Route 60. The event, held at the Vermilion Township Hall, was spearheaded by Trustee Kenn Baughman and drew the attention of residents and local authorities alike. The meeting aimed to gather input from the community and formulate a comprehensive list of concerns to present to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT).

Trustee Baughman emphasized the importance of community involvement in addressing these issues, stating, “It shouldn’t take multiple traffic fatalities on our roads to get the needed safety improvements in place.” He urged residents to share their experiences, suggestions, and any safety concerns they have encountered along State Route 60, particularly between Kneisel Road and Sailorway Drive, where traffic and accidents have been on the rise.

Attendees included Township Administrator Keith Sexton and Erie County Sheriff Paul Sigsworth, both of whom contributed valuable insights into the current challenges and potential solutions for improving road safety. Topics discussed ranged from the need for better stop signs and weed control to the potential installation of traffic lights, roundabouts, and other speed control measures.

Recent data from ODOT revealed that the average daily traffic on State Route 60 between Sailorway and Kneisel is 10,800 vehicles, with a 1% to 3% annual increase. Despite the growing traffic, many safety enhancements, such as traffic lights at key intersections, are not currently warranted under existing criteria. However, residents and officials alike expressed the need for proactive measures to prevent further accidents.

Trustee Baughman also requested that residents alert him and other local authorities about any safety issues on township roads that need attention, reinforcing the Township’s commitment to ensuring the safety of its roads.

The feedback and data gathered during the meeting will be compiled and forwarded to ODOT in hopes of drawing attention to the issues faced by the community. As the discussion progresses, residents are encouraged to remain active participants in advocating for the necessary improvements.