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Residents press council for new stop signs; committees approve stop-intersection ordinances
Summary
Residents from Preston Drive and River Farm Road urged the committee for new traffic controls. The committee approved ordinances adding stop intersections; members requested DPW/traffic engineers' reports and police monitoring.
Residents from Preston Drive and River Farm Road pressed Cranston officials on March 13 to add stop signs or otherwise tighten traffic control after multiple complaints of speeding and safety concerns.
During the public-comment portion of the session, multiple nearby residents — identified in the record as Denise Robillard (78 Preston Drive), her husband George Robillard/Ovlar, Shantri Narku and Aileen Ku (82 Preston Drive) and Robert Santouri (27 River Farm Road) — described repeated high-speed cut-through traffic, drivers ignoring a relocated stop sign and near misses with children playing and people walking dogs. Robert Santouri said he has video of vehicles "flying through" an intersection and a past T-bone crash; residents said they wanted additional signage and enforcement.
Councilwoman Herion introduced ordinances creating formal stop intersections after the public comments: Ordinance 022503 (multi-way stop intersections) and Ordinance 022504 (stop intersections). Committee discussion referenced specific requests: moving a relocated stop sign and re-placing it closer to Preston Drive, installing a stop at the corner of Vale Avenue and River Farm Road, and adding a stop at Vail and River Farm Road. Council members noted that the city uses reflective signage and has options for illuminated or fixed-light signs; the request from residents was for reflective signs to avoid light disturbance to nearby homes. Solicitor staff confirmed state law allows multiple sign-enhancement options but that the committee should consider neighborhood impact when choosing illumination.
The committee approved the stop-intersection ordinances on roll-call votes and asked the mayor's office and police to monitor the affected locations. Council members asked DPW/traffic engineering to provide reports as a follow-up. Councilwoman Herion asked that DPW place a reflective Stop sign at the requested location and that police increase enforcement while DPW's traffic analysis is completed.
The measures passed the committee; committee members said they would forward the ordinances to the full Council. Residents were advised to expect follow-up from DPW and city policing.
