Traffic control orders recommended by Oxford Village Police Chief Mike Neymanowski were approved by council last week.
A suggestion by citizens and government officials to make the intersection of Pontiac and W. Burdick streets a multi-way stop in order to enhance public safety was rejected by the chief, who stated ‘it is not necessary…at this time.?
Currently, only traffic headed north on Pontiac Street must stop.
The Traffic Improvement Association (TIA) conducted a traffic evaluation at the intersection by collecting vehicle counts and reviewing the crash history.
During a 24-hour period, an automatic traffic counter recorded 3,673 vehicles eastbound and 4,662 vehicles westbound on W. Burdick Street along with 1,762 vehicles northbound on Pontiac Street.
Based on these numbers, TIA determined ‘there are not a sufficient number of vehicles on the minor street,? in this case Pontiac Street, to warrant multi-way stop signs
Also, TIA reviewed the traffic crash history for the intersection from Sept. 1, 2003 through Aug. 31, 2006 and discovered there were 10 reported crashes.
However, there was only one crash ? a head-on left-turn crash ? that was ‘correctable by stop signs.?
In order to warrant a multi-way stop there must be at least five crashes in a 12-month period that were correctable by stop signs.
Neymanowski took the opportunity to remind both council and the public that ‘stop signs are not made to slow traffic down.?
‘Wouldn’t a stop sign on Burdick there create more accidents and backup at the light?? asked Councilwoman Teri Stiles.
‘Yes,? the chief replied.
Councilman Chris Bishop noted that making that intersection a multi-way stop would in fact encourage more people to cut-through using Pontiac Street.
He explained that right now some people don’t use it as a cut-through because ‘it takes them forever? to turn off Pontiac onto W. Burdick.
But if they knew there was a ‘guaranteed stop? on W. Burdick Street, Bishop said they would use Pontiac Street more often.
The sign prohibiting left turns between 2 and 4 p.m. for westbound Lakeville Road traffic onto Baypointe Dr. in the Oxford Lakes subdivision will be removed, per the chief’s recommendation and council’s approval.
‘That sign was purposely put there when we had the high school over there,? Neymanowski told council. ‘We did get a substantial amount of high school traffic that liked to cut through Oxford Lakes.?
But now that the high school’s been moved and replaced with the middle school, cut-through traffic ‘is substantially less,? according to the chief.
Neymanowski, who lives in Oxford Lakes, said he attended a homeowner’s association meeting and it too recommended the sign’s removal.
In its place, a ‘No Outlet? sign will be posted to dissuade motorists who ‘aren’t too familiar? with the subdivision from cutting through, the chief explained.
Neymanowksi said he doesn’t know if the new sign will make a substantial impact, but ‘at least it will be there.?
‘If we put ‘no outlet,? then maybe they’ll think twice about driving through,? noted village President George Del Vigna, who also lives in Oxford Lakes.