The speed limit on a busy stretch of roadway in West Penn Township will be lowered significantly.

Township supervisors last week unanimously adopted a resolution to reduce the speed limit to 25 miles per hour from 55 mph on Dairy Road, from Route 309 to Fox Lane.

That came after supervisors repealed a motion from the board’s May 6 meeting to reduce the speed limit to 25 from 55 mph on a stretch of Dairy Road in both directions between Route 309 and Strauss Valley Road.

Earlier this month, township police Chief James Bonner recommended the reduction in both directions between Route 309 and Strauss Valley Road.

At that time, supervisors unanimously approved a resolution to bump back the speed there, with signs to be placed every half-mile in each direction, with costs estimated at about $150 per sign.

However, board Chairman Tony Prudenti said last week that since the board’s last meeting, he drove that road and didn’t understand how that fits that criteria.

Prudenti said that essentially there are two ways to change a speed limit on a township road; one is due a speed study, or use PennDOT’s criteria of having a house every 300 feet, which he said he felt there were some areas that didn’t meet that,

“I’m not 100% sure, and I don’t want something to come back to bite us,” Prudenti said. “I think we need to rescind that study.”

Township road foreman Jeremy Frable said his suggestion is that the township not do the whole road, which would negate the need for a speed study.

After the board’s vote, resident Bill Varano said it’s all about safety.

Varano stressed that Dairy Road has been getting everything from baby strollers with mothers pushing them, to hikers, joggers, and more.

Supervisor Glenn Hummel said he understood where Varano was coming from.

“It always bothers me that we’re handcuffed that there’s some things we can’t do,” Hummel said.