Council keeps 50th and Cache signal "as is" after safety debate

The Lawton City Council voted 7–0 to leave the traffic signal at 50th Street and Cache Road operating in its current mode after councilmembers raised safety and driver-expectation concerns.

Staff member Michael told the council the proposal would change north–south approaches to flashing red and east–west approaches to flashing yellow, a pattern he said is a national standard intended to allow east–west traffic to proceed while north–south drivers stop and then continue when clear. Councilmember Chapman said she was concerned drivers would not understand the asymmetrical flashing arrangement and worried the change would increase collisions. Several other councilmembers said repeatedly changing the signal’s mode after citizens had adapted to the current operation could cause confusion and argued leaving the signal as it is was safer.

The motion “to leave it as is” was moved and seconded during the discussion; the motion carried unanimously, 7–0. No fines, schedule changes, or additional mitigation measures were adopted at the meeting. The council’s action instructs staff to maintain the current signal operation pending future agenda items or developments in the surrounding roadwork.

The discussion and vote occurred during the consent-item pull for item 14. The council did not record an amended traffic-control order or adopt a new ordinance at the meeting.