Resident presses Opa-locka commission for four-way stop at Jan Avenue and Ahmad Street; city orders radar speed signs and a stop-sign study

A resident asked the City of Opa-locka City Commission on Oct. 8 to install a four-way stop at the intersection of Jan Avenue and Ahmad Street, citing numerous crashes over several years. The resident, Aldia Dominguez, said she had asked repeatedly and disputed a city crash report that listed only eight collisions at the site over nine years.

Dominguez also spoke in favor of a proposed mental-health unit for the police department and asked that human resources be involved when the city’s attorney reviews terminations.

City staff told Dominguez they have ordered traffic-calming devices and that delivery is pending. Public Works Director Austin (first name not provided in the record) told the commission the ordered devices are radar-enabled speed-monitoring signs; the city plans to install them on the four corners of the intersection about 20 feet from the stop signs. The manufacturer expects a shipment date of Nov. 26.

The commission also discussed a stop-sign study. Adelina Gross, the city’s CIP manager, said a consultant contract was executed and the stop-sign study for Agyang and Ahmad (Jan Avenue/Ahmad Street) is the top priority; the consultant expects to complete the study in about three weeks after starting next week and will meet with Miami-Dade County traffic engineering to pursue stop sign installation.

Staff said the county previously denied the city’s request because it had “insufficient data” at the time; additional police crash reports and a formal study are being submitted to the county. The chief said police could periodically patrol the intersection but cannot permanently station cars there.

The manager and staff said they will set up a meeting with county traffic engineers and bring a report back to the commission once the consultant’s study and the county review are complete.