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Resident urges action after crash; council agrees to traffic study on East Center Drive and sidewalk gaps
Summary
A Lemoore resident described repeated crashes on East Center Drive and urged immediate enforcement and traffic-calming measures. Councilmembers and staff said a formal traffic study is required; staff also outlined efforts to pursue grants and incentives to fill sidewalk gaps near new developments.
A Lemoore resident told the City Council on Jan. 21 that repeated crashes on East Center Drive — including one that struck his mother’s car and sent a neighbor’s child from bed — have left neighbors “sick and tired” and demanding action.
Dan Winters, during public comment, said crashes involving suspected drunk drivers occur about three times per year and warned the city it had a month to act before residents escalate to protests. “We need more cops sitting and patrolling. … Put speed bumps,” Winters said. He said residents had previously submitted names and were frustrated at the lack of follow-up.
The council and staff discussed near-term and longer-term responses. City staff said any traffic changes — including new stop signs or other measures at specific intersections — require a traffic study by the city engineer and cannot be implemented immediately. City Manager Marissa Trejo (identified in the meeting as city manager) said the city is pursuing state grant opportunities and other incentives to close sidewalk gaps created by staggered development.
Councilmembers also raised a separate resident request for a crosswalk at 19th and Avalon and asked about a stoplight at Liberty. Staff said some planned private developments (notably the Maverick site) will build sidewalks to their property lines and that gaps between property lines will remain until adjoining parcels develop. Staff said the city is exploring grants and incentive programs to encourage property owners to install curb, gutter and sidewalk or to finance the work through utility assessments or phased billing.
Why it matters: councilmembers framed the issues as both public-safety (pedestrians and children walking near busy streets) and equity (the high cost of forcing individual property owners to fund long sidewalk runs). Councilmembers said the traffic study and grant-seeking are intended to produce defensible, implementable steps rather than ad hoc fixes.
Council direction and next steps: staff said they will commission a traffic study with the city engineer and continue work with Townsend Public Affairs on state funding requests that could address sidewalk gaps and related safety measures.
