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North Platte council tables Buffalo–Philip stop sign decision, directs $20,000 corridor study
Summary
After months of resident complaints, the council tabled a proposal to install stop signs at Buffalo Bill Avenue and Philip Avenue and asked staff to perform a Buffalo corridor traffic study (estimated ~$20,000) to return recommendations on signals, stop controls and mitigation measures in the spring.
The North Platte City Council on Oct. 21 tabled a proposal to place all‑way stop signs at the intersection of Buffalo Bill Avenue and Philip Avenue and directed staff to commission a corridor traffic study to evaluate broader changes, including signals and targeted safety measures.
Brent, the city’s engineering presenter, told the council the intersection did not meet most of the all‑way stop warrants from the Federal Highway Administration’s guidance. “The FHWA has a process for looking at all‑way stops, and they have what’s called the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices,” he said, walking the council through five standard warrants including crash history and eight‑hour traffic volumes.
The difference between temporary fixes and broader signalization became the central issue. Several council members and residents described two daily peak periods when traffic becomes congested and argued a four‑way stop could create gaps that help side‑street traffic. Brent warned of trade‑offs: stop signs are not designed for speed control and can increase rear‑end collisions if the major street carries substantially more traffic.
Council discussion focused on unintended consequences and implementation methods for any change. Brent estimated a targeted Buffalo corridor study would cost roughly $20,000 and deliver findings by spring if scheduled, using more modern counting tools (video and AI) to capture representative school‑day and non‑event traffic. Councilman Garrick moved to table action until the study is complete; the motion passed.
The council did not adopt new traffic controls at the meeting. The study will examine corridor‑level signal warrants, counts at multiple intersections, potential left‑turn queueing, and mitigation options such as flashing beacons, advanced signs, enforcement presence and signal actuation. Staff said they budgeted for one traffic study this year and intend to focus it on the Buffalo corridor from Rodeo Road to Walker (and potentially to State Farm) if approved.
Next steps: staff will scope and budget the corridor study and return recommendations to the council for any formal ordinance or traffic‑control actions.
