Upper Burrell to discuss allowing ATVs on some township roads

Upper Burrell Supervisors are considering allowing all-terrain vehicles to use locally owned roads.

The Gilpin Township Supervisors approved a measure earlier this month to designate certain township roads as “joint use” for motor vehicles and ATVs, and that appeared to inspire Upper Burrell to explore enacting a similar measure.

Both Gilpin and Upper Burrell are rural municipalities with a number of residents owning ATVs, said Upper Burrell Supervisors Chairman Ross Walker.

Westmoreland County has the distinction of having the higher number of active ATV registrations in the state at 7,506 as of July 1 with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, according to the agency’s records.

DCNR is responsible for overseeing ATV registration, which enables ATVs to travel legally on approved state forest trails and on private land not owned by the operator, but where they have permission to ride.

“In such a rural township like Gilpin, it would be fun to take your ATV to visit your neighbor,” Walker said.

Gilpin Supervisors Chairman Charles Stull said earlier this month that ATV riders there “already had been using the roads respectfully but were being pulled over as it is illegal without this ordinance in effect.”

Upper Burrell’s township-owned roads, with speed limits ranging from 20 mph to 35 mph, would be suitable for ATVs, Walker said. The township owns about half of the 44 miles of road within its boundaries.

The township also could make money from ATV permit charges. Walker suggested charging about $75 annually for residents and $100 for nonresidents. ATV owners would be required to have state DCNR registration and plates as well as insurance.

There are some details to work out such as ATV signage of a triangle identifying it as a slower moving vehicle and lights, Walker said.

In Gilpin, the township administration is securing appropriate ATV signage on roads from DCNR and will need to apply for and acquire permits from Gilpin police.

Upper Burrell Supervisors plan to discuss the issue at its Wednesday, Aug. 5 meeting. It starts at 7 p.m.