Traffic Panel Tables Stop Sign At Jefferson And McKinley Streets
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Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Warsaw Traffic Safety Commission Wednesday tabled a decision to install stop signs on the east and west sides of Jefferson and McKinley streets. The commission previously tabled the decision to install the stop sign at the intersection for further review at its Nov. 6 meeting. The need for installing the stop signs came from issues with drivers not yielding at the intersection, and increased pedestrian traffic that will be generated from Krebs Trailhead Park on McKinley Street, according to Kip Shuter, Warsaw traffic commission administrator. Jeremy Skinner, city planner, said there still needs to be traffic counts at the intersection to determine if the stop signs are necessary. “We don’t have an accurate look at the pedestrian volume that we may be embarking on and could start to do some pedestrian counts in June when more people are out,” Skinner said. The commission Wednesday decided to table the decision for stop sign installation. The Warsaw-Winona Lake Bicycle Advisory Committee will be approached about looking into installing bike trail signage at McKinley and Jefferson Streets to help stop vehicle traffic in the area when bicyclists are present. The commission also will talk with Michiana Area Council Of Governments to obtain traffic counts on McKinley Street, and consider an engineering study be conducted to determine if stop sign installation is warranted at the intersection. There currently are “cross traffic does not stop” signs at the Jefferson and McKinley intersection. There could possibly be push-button-activated cross walk signs for pedestrians at the intersection if a study warrants it. The push-button-activated signs are currently on Center, Detroit, Fort Wayne and Main streets. Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer said he supported the push-button crossing signal system that would not stop traffic with a stop sign. “I think this is a tough decision. I go through there a lot and I wonder about stopping semis that come down Jefferson Street towards the foundry, and all of a sudden they take off and are making noise,” Thallemer said. “Safety is the number one priority. Trucks come down the road and they are flying and the speed of the vehicular route is part of the problem.” Thallemer suggested the city obtain an engineering study to look at not only the truck route issue at Jefferson and McKinley, but also consider putting bike path crossing signage there. “The nice thing is its winter and there aren’t as many people out now and we have time to study this before bicyclists start using the path,” Thallemer said. Shuter agreed and said it would be beneficial to have traffic engineers look at the intersection. “If we install a stop sign there and are stopping cars even this time of year without pedestrian traffic in this kind of weather, we need to weigh whether we need the stop sign or not,” Shuter said. Also during the meeting Mike Klondaris, commission member, suggested a speed board be installed on North Detroit Street to slow traffic down. Thallemer read oaths of office for 2014 for traffic commission members Klondaris, Cindy Dobbins, Joel Beam and Greg Schroeder. Dan Robinson and Steve Foster were absent during Wednesday’s meeting. In other business, Shuter presented a 2013 traffic accident report that will be presented to city council and board of works. The report states WPD investigated 867 motor vehicle crashes resulting in 189 injuries and one fatality. The report also states Detroit Street (Ind. 15), Lake City Highway (U.S. 30) and Winona Avenue saw the highest numbers of motor vehicle crashes. Also in 2013, WPD officers wrote 1,953 traffic tickets, including 83 DUI arrests and 1,929 warning tickets. WPD also issued 1,679 parking tickets.
