[Added 10-13-2025 by Ord. No. 738, approved 10-13-2025]
This article is enacted pursuant to the authority conferred by the "Vehicle Code," Act of 1976, June 17, P.L. 1962, No. 81, Section 1, effective July 1, 1977 (75 Pa.C.S.A. § 101 et seq.), as amended and is intended to include and be subject to all provisions of Section 4902 of the "Vehicle Code," 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 4902 and all Pennsylvania Department of Transportation regulations promulgated or to be promulgated under the "Vehicle Code," by way of illustration and not limitation, under Sections 4902(1) and 6103 (75 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 4902(f) and 6103).
The following words when used in this article shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
EMERGENCY VEHICLE
A fire department vehicle, police vehicle, ambulance, blood delivery vehicle, Armed Forces emergency vehicle, one private vehicle of a fire or police chief or assistant chief, or ambulance corps commander or assistant commander, or of a river rescue commander used for answering emergency calls, or other vehicle designated by the State Police under Sec. 6106 of the "Vehicle Code" (relating to designation of emergency vehicles by Pennsylvania State Police).[1]
LOCAL TRAFFIC
Emergency vehicles and school buses, defined hereinafter, vehicles and combinations or governmental entities and utilities where their contractors are engaged in construction or maintenance on a posted highway or in a location which can be reached only via a posted highway, and vehicles and combinations going to or coming from a residence or farm located on a posted highway or which can be reached only via a posted highway.
MOTOR VEHICLE
Any vehicle or combination as defined and/or governed by the "Vehicle Code," 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 101 et seq., as amended.
SCHOOL BUS
A motor vehicle designated for carrying more than 10 passengers, exclusive of the driver, and used for the transportation of school children.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 6106.
The Borough Council has determined and hereby determines based upon engineering studies conducted by the Penn DOT on behalf of Athens Borough and otherwise that the following roads may be damaged or destroyed unless the permissible weight of motor vehicles is restricted as noted below.
Street Name
Between
Restriction
Short Street
West Pine Street (SR 1064) and Spruce Street
***
Volunteer Way
West Pine Street (SR 1064) and Longway Street
***
Pennsylvania Avenue
West Pine Street (SR 1064) and Longway Street
***
Lilly Ave
West Pine Street (SR 1064) and Longway Street
***
Magnolia Lane
West Pine Street (SR 1064) and Longway Street
***
Longway Avenue
Fourth Street and Short Street
***
Longway Avenue
North Elmira Street (SR 1069) and Spruce Street
***
Laurel Avenue
North Elmira Street (SR 1069) and Fourth Street
***
Spruce Street
North Main Street (SR 199) and Hugh Street
***
Ann Street
North Elmira Street (SR 1069) and Hugh Street
***
Hugh Street
North Elmira Street (SR 1069) and Fourth Street
***
Willow Street
North Elmira Street (SR 1069) and Fourth Street
***
Tyler Street
North Elmira Street (SR 1069) and Fourth Street
***
Wheelock Avenue
North Elmira Street a distance of 500 feet in the north east direction
***
***All trucks; except local deliveries to Athens Borough (school buses, emergency vehicles, government vehicles, utility vehicles and their contractors, vehicles and combinations going to or coming from a residence, commercial establishment, or farm located on the posted roadway, or which can be reached only via the posted roadway).
A. 
Pursuant to the findings under § 498-54, supra., and by authority of Section 4902 of the "Vehicle Code"[1] and regulations promulgated thereunder, no motor vehicle or combination shall be operated upon any of the roads listed in § 498-54 with gross weight in excess of the weight limits listed for said road in § 498-54.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 4902.
B. 
Local traffic as defined herein shall be exempted from the restrictions imposed under Subsection A above. However, if the Borough Council determines that any local traffic is likely to damage the road, the Borough Council will so notify the registrants of the motor vehicle or combination and will also notify State Police. After two business days following delivery of the notice, or after five days following mailing of the notice, such local traffic vehicles shall not exceed the weight limits except in accordance with § 498-56 hereof. Pa.C.S.A. Title 75, § 4902(a) states "School buses, emergency vehicles and vehicles making local deliveries or pickups may be exempted from restriction on the use of highways imposed under this subsection."
A. 
Individuals or entities wishing to operate vehicles in excess of established weight limits on restricted weight Borough roads may apply for a permit to do so on a form provided by the Borough, said permit application will be referred to the Code Enforcement Officer, or other designated representative of the Borough who shall:
(1) 
Place the issue on the agenda for a meeting of the Borough Council; and
(2) 
Consult with the Borough Engineer or other designated representative of the Borough, as necessary, to determine the amount of security/bond to be posted by the applicant. The amount of security shall be calculated in accordance with Title 67, Chapter 189 of the Pennsylvania Code or its equivalent; and
(3) 
Present a recommendation to the Borough Council to include the amount of security to be posted by the applicant if permit is approved.
B. 
No permit will be issued until the application is approved by the Borough Council at a scheduled public meeting and, if required, security has been posted with the Borough Secretary. The Borough Council may, by resolution, delegate the authority to approve permits and set security to the Streets and Sidewalks Chairperson or other official of the Borough.
C. 
All actions taken under the authority of this section shall be taken in accordance with the rules and regulations adopted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Transportation, as found in Title 67 of the Pennsylvania Code.
The Borough shall erect or cause to be erected and maintained restriction signs designating the restrictions at the end of the portion of road restricted as provided in this article. In the case of a restriction on a road which has not begun or ended at an intersection with an unrestricted highway, the Borough shall also place an advance informational sign at the intersection nearest each end of the restricted portion of the road which would allow drivers to avoid the restricted portion of road.
Any person operating a motor vehicle or combination upon a road or bridge in violation of a prohibition or restriction imposed under § 498-54 shall, upon conviction by a Magisterial District Justice, pay a fine consistent with the applicable section of the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code in effect at the time of the violation.