95-06 ESTABLISHING STOP INTERSECTION

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EXCERPTS FROM TRAFFIC&PARKING COMMITTEE MEET-ING DECEMBER, 1994 ITEM#1 Ordinance requesting that a stop sign be put up at southbound 24th and Locust. Newell stated that this request came from the Norfplk & Southern Railroad after an employee had an accident while traveling south on 24th Street toward the company entrance south of Locust Street. He was hit by someone turning left off of Locust onto 24th Street. Historically,there have been very few accidents at this intersection. Newell stated the predominant traffic is making an eastbound left off of Locust and a southbound right off of 24th. Staff recommends placing a sign to stop southbound traffic going straight to the south because this movement is not expected. John Plotner asked if that is a bona fide entrance to the company. T'he last time he was in the area, he did not think it was because of the junk cars and debris around it. He thought it belonged to Sol Tick. He would not have a problem with placing a stop sign as Newell suggests. Newell stated it is not a heavily-used entrance, since the traffic count only indicated 60 vehicles in a 24-hour period. In this situation, he felt that the southbound volume is mostly turning right going northbound and the volume continuing south is very light, so if the stop sign were placed here, it would have a very good chance of being honored. Doug Ripley stated that it looks to him like most traffic is traveling southbound and westbound. He thinks it is unusual to put a stop sign on a through street, since the eastbound traffic should know that they should stop. Newell believes the predominant tra�c is a"Z"route along Locust which is offset at 24th. He was hoping that placing a stop sign at this location would alleviate the surprise of someone continuing to the south. Ripley is concerned that traffic cuts the corner both eastbound and westbound. Newell stated that this problem would be hard to stop,since most of the people who drive this route have been doing it for years. Ripley does not see the stop sign as solving the problem. Newell suggested the sign here because the problem rarely occurs. Ripley asked if a yield sign could be placed to designate the right of way. Newell believes a yield sign would work. He does not think that the southbound maneuver is predominant, and that a yield sign would probably be ignored. A stop sign is required in this case, since the traffic cannot see other traffic until they are stopped at the intersection. Sgt. Schultz believes that since it is a "T" intersection, the traffic on Locust should yield traffic to 24th ' Street. Newell stated the movement which is hazardous comes from the traffic traveling south. He believes they would honor a stop sign on southbound 24th. The eastbound cars have a normal tendency to II jo through the intersection and assume that all vehicles coming south are turning right on Locust. "They i are surprised when cars coming from the north continue to the south. � Schultz believes if a sign is to be placed at this intersection, it should be a stop sign. It was moved and seconded (Ripley/Plotner) to accept staff recommendation to install a stop sign far southbound traffic to enhance the safety of the intersection. There being no one opposed, the motion carried.