Commission approves three neighborhood traffic controls, denies one; creates school zone and OKs Midtown stop

The Traffic Commission on July 21 approved all-way stop control at Pennyworth Drive and at Georgian Way at Northwest 100th and Fortieth Street, denied a similar petition for Savannah Riverway at Northwest 100th and Fortieth Street, approved a new school zone for Sunset Hill Elementary and approved an all-way stop at North Hudson Avenue and Northwest Eighth Street in Midtown.

Commissioners said they weighed neighborhood petitions, engineering guidance and alternative speed-abatement tools before voting. "None of the locations meet any of the MUTCD warrants for all-way stop control," a Traffic Services Division staff member told the commission, noting the three petitioned intersections sit within about 900 feet of one another.

The parcel of decisions began after resident Laurel Johnson described growth in her neighborhood and urged action: "We just need stop signs to slow the people down," Johnson said, adding that the area has a pool, playground and bus stops. Commissioners discussed engineering criteria, petition support and alternative measures such as the city's ASAP speed-abatement program, which staff described as offering speed humps or driver-feedback signs.

On item 5a, a motion to approve all-way stop control at Pennyworth Drive and Northwest 100th and Fortieth Street was moved by Commissioner George and seconded by Commissioner Mark Martinez. The commission voted unanimously in favor (6–0). Staff had reported an 85th-percentile speed of about 26 mph from a three-day radar survey and said traffic volumes and speeds did not meet MUTCD…