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Tuesday, June 18, 2013
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Should flip-up stop signs stay up permanently?
by Rick DeClue · News · September 14, 2012
The West Branch City Council wants input into whether the city needs changes to control traffic at the intersection of Oliphant and Main streets.
The current temporary, or flip-up, stop sign for traffic eastbound and westbound on Main Street is used before and after school. Children at the elementary school mostly use the crossing.
According to Council Member Jim Oaks, this sign was put in place approximately 35 years ago, after discussions with the Iowa Department of Transportation.
Council Member Mark Worrell said residents asked to make the intersection a permanent three-way stop — mostly to address speeding traffic. According to both Worrell and Oaks, this is a question that has been considered by the city and studied several times over the years. Worrell asked for public input from both sides of the issue, noting that he has only heard from supporters of new stop signs so far.
Oaks said it has generally been demonstrated that you do not control speed with stop signs. He said that the issue might be stronger enforcement of current laws, such as the 20 mph speed limit at this location.
West Branch Police Chief Mike Horihan said a current concern is people driving while distracted. He said there have been several incidents recently with distracted drivers simply “blowing” stop signs. He also emphasized that pedestrians have the right of way at all times.
Adding permanent stop signs would create three stops in three blocks. Mayor Don Kessler said that he has watched traffic at the intersection during Procter & Gamble shift changes, and that stopping this flow could be a problem. It was also noted that in the event of a closure on I-80, West Branch serves as a bypass for all traffic, including trucks.
Council Member Jordan Ellyson said she believes there are more young pedestrians now. She said children – especially younger ones – do not distinguish between temporary and permanent stop signs, despite safety education efforts by the schools. In addition, she noted that the city is preparing for another run at Safe Routes to School Grants. Taking action on the stop sign may demonstrate the city’s efforts at improving safety. Council member Colton Miller added that after-school activities like the track teams mean additional student crossings outside of the daily before-and-after school hours.
West Branch School Superintendent Kevin Hatfield said that he wanted to go on record in support of permanent signs at this intersection. He also agreed to provide the city with counts of students living south of Main Street likely to use the crossing.
Oaks said citizens are aware of school hours and pedestrian traffic. To his knowledge, there has only been one accident at the intersection over the years. It involved a summer school student who reportedly “dodged out” from between two parked cars. The student did not suffer serious injuries.
He also noted that different towns handle school crossings differently. He said Solon has recently installed an overhead traffic light that blinks red during the required school hours, but yellow during off hours.
Worrell responded that the city had looked into a light several years ago, with a cost estimate of $20,000. This included bringing power to the intersection. Worrell doubted that the cost has decreased.
Oaks then asked whether SRTS funds might be used for a light. Ellyson said she believed they could.
City Engineer Dave Schechinger was asked whether there were specific requirements for this situation. He said there are many possible options up to a push-button crossing similar to the crossing on Parkside Drive near the Visitors Center.
The council asked City Administrator Matt Muckler to work with Schechinger to prepare specific options, with cost estimates if possible, for further discussion at its next meeting. |
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