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Uxbridge committee weighs changing stop controls, rumble strips and advance warnings at several intersections
Summary
Committee members debated whether to convert some 4-way intersections to 2-way stops and agreed to first exhaust lower-cost options (rumble strips, 'stop ahead' pavement markings and moving stop signs closer to the curb) and to consult MUTCD guidance before any removal of existing controls.
The Public Safety Committee discussed several nearby intersections — including East Hartford, Rivulet, Linwood and Granite — where drivers frequently fail to recognize stop signs, leading to enforcement stops and crash clusters. Committee members described motorists telling officers "I had no idea there was a stop," and debated whether removing some stop signs (converting 4‑way to 2‑way) might reduce confusion or could increase high‑speed collisions.
DPW staff (S6) emphasized that any sign or control change must meet MUTCD standards and accessibility setbacks. Staff recommended exhausting lower-impact alternatives first: relocating stop signs closer to the curb to improve visibility, installing advance "stop ahead" signage (potentially illuminated), painting "STOP AHEAD" pavement legends, and considering shallow rumble strips that provide audible/vibratory warning without creating plow or roadway issues.
Several committee members said they prefer testing pavement markings and rumble warnings before altering control types; one member noted the potential safety risk of removing a stop sign without a clear, multi‑month public notice program. The committee directed staff to research the MUTCD placement rules, evaluate the feasibility and plow impacts of rumble strip treatments, and return with recommended low-cost interventions for the Select Board where required.
