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Resident urges Atoka leaders to act after repeated speeding; board to reconsider traffic measures
Summary
A resident told the Atoka Board of Mayor and Aldermen that drivers routinely exceed the 20 mph limit on South Chinquapin Drive and at a nearby four‑way stop, and asked the town to consider speed bumps and more signage. The board agreed to revisit options and hold a work session.
John Stacy, a resident of South Chinquapin Drive, told the Atoka Board of Mayor and Aldermen on May 13 that drivers routinely travel well above the posted 20 mph limit in his neighborhood and that the four‑way stop at Chinquapin and Cherry Bar is often ignored.
Stacy said residents—he identified three families with children who play outside—see drivers “routinely drive double that” and described seeing a school bus and other vehicles travel 30–35 mph after the stop. “Do we want to see a child injured or worse before we take action to protect them on our streets? That answer is a hard no,” he said.
The mayor and aldermen responded that adding signage is an immediate step they can take. Alderman Poole said the board had been working previously on a protocol that could require a neighborhood vote before installing speed bumps and that the town would reconsider that approach. The mayor told Stacy the board would “bring up … a work session or actually a special call session in a couple of weeks” to consider next steps.
Public works director Wesley Alberts answered questions from the board about current and expected water and infrastructure expenses during the meeting; he also noted that some traffic‑calming requests are handled in coordination with public works and law enforcement. No formal motion to require specific traffic calming (for example, speed bumps) was taken during the May 13 meeting.
Why it matters: Residents said children play near the affected street and want a permanent fix beyond intermittent enforcement. The board agreed to revisit traffic‑calming policy and to schedule a work session where staff and aldermen can consider options including additional signage, speed feedback devices, neighborhood petitions, or other measures.
What’s next: The board directed staff to place the item on a near‑term work session agenda so members can review options and a possible neighborhood‑approval protocol before making changes to street infrastructure or traffic policy.
