Residents ask Tahlequah council for traffic fixes near Moccasin road by new school

Two residents urged the Tahlequah City Council on Monday to pursue traffic‑calming measures and routing changes on Moccasin Road near the new school, saying the roadway is too narrow and drivers travel too fast for children and neighbors to be safe. Cathy Haddock, who said she lives at 306 North Moccasin, handed the council a petition signed by neighbors and described years of concern about traffic and insufficient space for buses and emergency vehicles. “People drive too fast down that road,” Haddock said. “There's not a very safe place to walk. I wouldn't even let my grandkids in the front yard because it's just too dangerous.” Anthony Kupsek, who said he lives at 1028 West Delaware and uses Moccasin as a connector, suggested restricting left turns from Pendleton onto Moccasin and adding signage directing traffic to alternate routes. “If they could change that to only a right‑only turn lane coming out of Pendleton…there's plenty of room to take them,” Kupsek said, and he proposed right‑turn routing and signage to reduce cut‑through traffic. Mayor Susan Williams told residents the council would follow up and indicated Councilor Allen would take the lead. “Josh will get on that,” Williams said. Councilors did not vote on any changes during the meeting; council staff and school officials were referenced as having already discussed options. The speakers asked the council to consider short‑term measures such as speed bumps and turn‑restriction signage; staff directed councilors to coordinate with the school district and traffic engineers and to report back. No formal traffic orders, engineering study contracts or funding decisions were made at the meeting.