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Oswego committee signals support for all-way stop at Fifth Street and Bluegrass Parkway
Summary
After reviewing crash and traffic data, Oswego Committee of the Whole members expressed unanimous support for installing an all-way (four-way) stop at Fifth Street and Bluegrass Parkway, though staff said the intersection does not meet all MUTCD warrants and no formal vote was taken.
The Oswego Committee of the Whole signaled unanimous support Thursday for adding an all-way stop at the intersection of Fifth Street and Bluegrass Parkway after trustees reviewed crash and traffic data and heard public concerns.
Staff presented the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) warrant analysis used to evaluate all-way stop installations and the police department’s field data. Public Works staff said the intersection has recorded 12 reported crashes since 2022 (one in 2022, five in 2023, two in 2024 and four so far in 2025). Police analysis cited failure to yield as the primary contributing factor in at least eight of those crashes.
Public Works staff noted that, under the MUTCD criteria, the intersection met the crash-experience warrant but did not meet other relevant warrants. In particular, Fifth Street generally meets the MUTCD’s 8-hour major-street volume threshold, but Bluegrass Parkway does not meet the minor-street 8-hour volume requirement. Staff also reported that the sight-distance and other warrant criteria were not met for installing an all-way stop under current standards. The presentation noted recent improvements at the location, including flashing pedestrian beacons and tree trimming installed in fall 2023.
Police Chief (unnamed) said the department’s speed measurements on Fifth Street showed average speeds of about 34.23 mph northbound and 32.11 mph southbound, and added, "speed probably isn't playing an issue into these accidents because these crashes, most of them have been a failure to yield issue." The chief also said enforcement of intersection- and speed-related violations is handled in the department’s routine traffic enforcement workload.
Trustees and several speakers described frequent pedestrian traffic near area schools and recent crashes, and urged action. President Kauffman said, "Given the extreme, in my mind, very extreme number of accidents, 12 in the past couple of years ... I think it's a no brainer that we add a stop sign to this intersection." Trustee Karen McCarthy Lang, through a statement read by a staff member, said, in part, "I believe having an always stop at Bluegrass And Fifth will help decrease the accidents that we saw significantly increase that year."
Public Works staff cautioned that unwarranted stop signs can produce poor compliance, increased midblock speeds, and congestion; staff recommended following MUTCD criteria and said future signal warrants should be reassessed after ongoing and planned development and construction are complete. As staff put it, data collection and signal-warrant analysis would be repeated after development activity subsides.
Because the Committee of the Whole does not take formal votes, members did not make a motion; President Kauffman said, "I think we've achieved, 100% consensus here." No formal motion or vote was recorded. The committee closed the item and adjourned a few minutes early for a retirement celebration.
Votes at a glance: no formal motions or votes were taken in the Committee of the Whole on this item; trustees expressed unanimous support by consensus.
