Our concern is keeping the kids safe.”

Jennifer Weiffenbach, Cottage Avenue resident

PORTSMOUTH — Standing on a step stool so they could reach the microphone, three young girls who live along Cottage Avenue pleaded with the Town Council Monday night in hopes of getting drivers to slow down on the narrow road.

Jenna Weiffenbach, 9, Ava Mosher, 10, and Abby Bryske, 11, presented the council with a petition from residents concerned about the safety of the 16 children who live on the street as well as the friends they play with.

“There lies the uniqueness of our street,” said Jennifer Weiffenbach, Jenna’s mom. “Our concern is keeping the kids safe.”

While the posted speed limit on Cottage Avenue is 15 mph, drivers are regularly seen going anywhere from 25 to 45 mph in both directions, the girls said.

They may even be understating the problem. 

Last Friday police installed a digital speed/message board on Cottage Avenue, said Patrolman Patrick O'Neill, the town’s traffic officer. The sign can collect data on drivers’ speeds and even send alerts to his phone, Officer O’Neill said.

Since Friday, about 85 percent of the vehicles tracked on Cottage were traveling 25 to 30 mph — over the speed limit — with a few going much faster.

“We had one person going 51 and another going 60,” Officer O’Neill said.

Council President Keith Hamilton suggested that police ticket more drivers. “It seemed to have worked on Wapping Road,” he said. “Tickets for me are a pretty good deterrent.”

Officer O’Neill agreed, saying if residents get a speeder’s plate number and leave a message with him at the police station (683-0300), he can send them a warning letter through the mail.

“It has been a deterrent. They’ve used it in Common Fence Point,” he said.

While they didn’t get the speed bumps they were looking for — Deputy Director Brian Woodhead of the Department of Public Works says they’re not kind to snowplows — the girls did convince the council to approve the installation of stop signs on Cottage Avenue at Walnut and Chestnut streets.

‘Girls were so nervous’

The three girls received praise from council members for their presentation and, in an e-mailed message to The Portsmouth Times, Ms. Weiffenbach said she was proud of them as well.

“The girls were so nervous and so determined to get this needed change to happen!” Ms. Weiffenbach wrote. “They are so excited to have done it, as many told them they would never get taken seriously as they are kids.”

The girls wrote the letter they presented to the council, did all the leg work and researched the options, she said.

“I’m so proud of them and pleased they see that making a difference is doable for anyone with determination,” she said.