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Police explain criteria for 4-way stops; council asks staff to draft ordinance and coordinate with county on crosswalks
Summary
Police described MUTCD-based criteria for 4-way stop signs and the township discussed adding signs, crosswalks (subject to ADA curb-cut requirements on county roads) and addressing construction-truck parking on local streets.
The Township Council discussed an ongoing program to address about 68 intersections classified as unsigned or “uncontrolled” and asked police and staff to provide information needed to prepare an ordinance and next steps.
Police officers — identified in the meeting as Chief Calamari and a lieutenant who oversees traffic — told the council the list totals roughly 68 uncontrolled intersections in town. The lieutenant said roughly 50 are on the east side and about 18 on the west side of town and described when a 4-way stop is warranted under national guidance: “They do want certain to to warrant it, they want a 4 lehi intersection with 5 or more reported crashes in a 12 month period … and then they want … 6 or more reported crashes in a 36 month period,” the lieutenant said while citing the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and Federal Highway Administration best practices.
Police also explained that installing a 4-way stop can be counterproductive when traffic volumes or speed differentials are large: stop signs are less effective on higher-volume roadways and may not be recommended for a major through street. Council members asked whether the township could simply add stop signs; police and staff said the MUTCD criteria guide recommendations and that the county controls some roads, which constrains local action.
On crosswalks, police said county roads will not install crosswalks where there are no ADA-compliant curb cutouts and that, where curb cutouts exist, staff will work with the county for possible crosswalks. The lieutenant confirmed the requirement: “The county … will not put a crosswalk anywhere where there's not cutouts to do that.”
Separately, council members raised safety concerns about construction dump trucks parked on Fillmore during a project. The lieutenant said crews were told not to park on the roadway during pre-construction meetings and that officers would patrol to enforce the rule when trucks block sightlines at driveways and intersections.
Council members directed the police and administration to provide the information the township attorney needs to draft ordinance language and to return with a list and recommended actions at a future meeting.
