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More than 40 Meadowbrook residents attended a neighborhood meeting Thursday night to provide input on making Dubois Drive a one-way street westbound between Parker Street and Provident Drive.
The city held the neighborhood meeting at city hall where residents had the opportunity to share their concerns and ideas.
The Warsaw Traffic Commission reviewed a traffic impact analysis prepared by A&F Engineering regarding making Dubois Drive one way at its Nov. 2 meeting .
The topic was discussed as part of the Argonne Road, Center Street and Parker Street project.
Warsaw Police Department Lt. Kip Shuter said the commission considered three options during the Nov. 2 meeting, including moving Dubois Drive south of the BP station, leaving the intersection as it is, or making Dubois Drive a one-way street.
The commission approved submitting the traffic recommendation to make Dubois Drive a one-way street to the city council for approval.
The city council discussed the traffic recommendations during its Nov. 6 meeting and tabled the request to make Dubois Drive one way.
Mayor Ernie Wiggins and council members Joe Thallemer and Jeff Grose suggested the traffic commission discuss the proposal with residents who would be affected by making the street one way before the city council approves the recommendation.
If the proposal is approved by the city council, traffic intending to travel eastbound on Dubois Drive, east of Provident Drive, would be required to find an alternate route.
Making Dubois Drive one way may impact motor vehicle traffic traveling primarily on Brookview Drive and Sally Street in Meadowbrook Addition, Shuter said.
The proposed project includes making Dubois Drive one way west from Parker Street to Provident Drive, providing three lanes for northbound traffic at Parker Street, including a right-hand through, left-hand through, and through lane, and removing lane restrictions at the Parker Street entrance and BP station.
Residents voiced their concerns with making Dubois Drive one way during the meeting.
Clayton Shelburne, a Brookview Drive resident, said he was opposed to making Dubois Drive one way, although he supported a suggestion by the traffic commission to block off Brookview Drive at Parker Street so drivers would not have to go through the neighborhood to get to Dubois Drive.
"Blocking off Brookview Drive at Parker Street would make it easier for residents to get in and out of their residences rather than making Dubois Street one way," Shelburne said.
Many residents agreed blocking off Brookview Drive would be a better alternative than making Dubois Drive a one-way street.
Alan Sumpter, who lives on Pam Street, expressed his concern with safety issues in making Dubois Drive one way and directing traffic through neighborhoods.
"I have seven grandchildren and I see cars flying through my addition all the time and it would only get worse if making Dubois Drive a one-way street is approved," Sumpter said.
Grose said he has received phone calls from residents who live on Sally Street with their concerns about traffic being routed through their neighborhood.
"I believe making Dubois Drive one way will only be a band aid for the area and I want to represent your concerns and protect your neighborhood," Grose said during the meeting.
Shuter said the traffic commission would like to prevent any cut through traffic due to the proposed change.
He said the traffic commission discussed measures such as speed bumps, additional signage and publishing suggested routes and more law enforcement in the area.
City Planner Jeremy Skinner said making Dubois Drive one way will be better in the long run.
"Anything other than making Dubois Drive a one-way street is a short fix and we need to think of the intersection in the long term," Skinner said.
He said making Dubois Drive one way will require vehicles to use Center Street where the street has the ability to handle larger volumes of traffic.
Mayor Ernie Wiggins encouraged residents to attend the city council's meeting Monday to voice their concerns. The city council will meet at 7 p.m. at city hall.
