2014-57 ESTABLISHING STOP INTERSECTION - 21ST STREET & EAST WHITMER STREET

Home Browse Search

Excerpts from the Traffic & Parking Commission Meeting October 23, 2014 Item#2 Request for a stop sign at the intersection of 21st Street/Whitmer Street facing Whitmer Street. Griffin Enyart explained that staff received a request for stop signs to be installed at 21st and Whitmer Streets. Staff pulled accident reports and compared the reports with traffic counts. This review showed a high accident rate at the intersection that should be correctable with the installation of stop signs. 21 st Street typically has more traffic than Whitmer Street. Staff recommends that stop signs be installed facing Whitmer Street. Nikki Garry asked about when citizens make these types of requests does the City staff no longer include the citizens letters with the Agenda packet. Griffin explained that we don't always get a letter; sometimes citizens call and make a request. If, upon investigation, City staff determines that a safety problem exists, a follow-up letter from the residents is not typically required. Citizens can call, send a letter, or email a request. Wick Anderson motioned to approve stop signs be installed facing Whitmer Street; seconded by Matt Newell, and on call of the roll, Commission Members Anderson, Wintery Ninnemann, Newell, Chervinko and Stewart voted aye. The Chairman declared the motion carried. Item#3 Request for a stop sign at the intersection of 21" Street/Moore Street facing Moore Street. Griffin clarified that Item Number 3 is part of the same request as Item Number 2. The two intersections are very similar with one another. Traffic sometimes fails to yield at either of those two intersections. Two of the accidents at this intersection were the result of drivers failing to yield to one another. The accident rate for correctable accidents at this intersection is higher than the threshold for requiring stop signs. Staff recommends that stop signs be installed facing Moore Street. Marian Winter said that all three of these areas are residential areas. The houses are fairly close together and densely populated. She happened to be in the area after school was out and children were playing in the area on the sidewalks. Any time you can slow traffic&7 would be good. Jerry Nihiser asked for a point of clarification—he thought the citizen's request was to slow traffic down on 21 st Street. Jerry thought neighbors were concerned about the Gars driving faster on 21st Street. The traffic is driving much faster on 21 st than the side streets.