Committee approves 4-way stop at West Town Avenue and Brad Street over staff recommendation

The Waukesha City Building & Grounds Committee voted 4–1 on June 2 to convert the intersection of West Town Avenue and Brad Street to a four-way stop, overriding staff’s recommendation to keep a two-way stop but reorient the control.

Alex, an engineering staff member, said the city follows the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which uses traffic volume and crash history to justify all-way stop control. “On the traffic volume front, the warrant analysis says that you need 300 vehicles on the major road per hour for 8 hours of the day... In our case, we've got around 400 vehicles per day,” Alex said, noting the measured volume is far below typical MUTCD thresholds. Staff also found one crash in five years and recommended maintaining a two-way stop but rotating the control so West Town, not Brad Street, would be controlled.

Joe Piper, Alderman for the Fourth District, told the committee he had discussed the request with neighbors and observed speeds and sight concerns firsthand. “My hope, my ask, is that we can convert this to a 4 way stop and slow people down coming down the hill,” Piper said, citing neighborhood support.

Committee members debated reliance on engineering warrants versus neighborhood reports. Rick Lemke said he deferred to Piper’s experience and outreach to neighbors. A motion to install a four-way stop passed 4–1.

The record does not show a full roll-call of votes by name beyond an “aye” from Rick Lemke; the committee chair recorded the outcome as 4–1. Staff had recommended against a four-way stop, citing MUTCD criteria, but the committee took the action based on local judgment and resident complaints about speed and visibility.

The committee did not attach further engineering conditions in the meeting record; staff will follow standard procedures for sign installation and placement.