99-115 DESIGNATING FOUR-WAY STOP INTERSECTION - WEBSTER AND CLAY STREETS

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EXCERPTS FROM MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE TRAFFIC AND PARKING COMMISSION Wednesday, October 13, 1999 ITEM#3 Request for an all-way stop at the intersection of Clay/Webster Streets. Newell mentioned that the speeds and volumes are shown on the map attached to the Agenda. Webster is clearly the dominating street at the intersection. There are school crossing zones. There have been no accidents and the sight distance is generally poor. Staff believes that an all-way stop is not necessary at this time. Sister Glenda Bourgens, 742 East Clay Street, is the Administrator at St. James Church. They are concerned about the safety of the children in that traffic speeds coming down Webster are unpredictable. Children need to be safeguarded in this situation. They solicited signatures from public school bus drivers on a petition asking for stop signs at this intersection. They also have signatures from parents of the children who attend the school. Ms. Liz Ballog, Rural Route 8, supports the school bus drivers because they have reported that they have a difficult time making the trip to Washington and John's Hill, which are two other schools in this area. Father Martin Mangan, 742 East Clay, is the Parish Priest at St. James Church. There is a 4-way stop at Webster and Decatur, two blocks away. If there is a stop there where there are children, there should be one here. On the weekends, a lot of elderly people cross the street because of Masses. Newell explained the criteria he used to base his recommendation that installation of a 4-way stop is not warranted. Ms. Francie Johnson, 1440 East Logan, drives through this intersection a lot. It is very congested a couple of times a day. It is very difficult to see when the parents park to pick up their children. Traffic cannot be seen on Webster to turn because of the parking and traffic. She supports a 4-way stop. Mr. Allen L. Davis, 3215 East Greenlake Drive, agrees with Johnson. Cars take a route from Maffit Street traveling north instead of turning west to Wood Street, so they go west on Clay to avoid a long delay at Wood and Maffit. They go west on Clay to continue on to Wood. The concern about speeding at this intersection is a matter of preventing a tragedy. Mr. Gary Minich, 2444 North Main Street, is a member of the Church. He also has always been of the mind that there needs to be a stop sign at this intersection. The traffic does not respect