Hopewell council adopts all‑way stop at Columbia and Seminary after resident petition and study

Hopewell Borough Council on the night of the meeting adopted Ordinance 9‑15 to create an all‑way stop at Columbia Avenue and Seminary Avenue, following a pilot traffic study and several residents’ appeals for action.

The borough engineer told the council a two‑day pilot study during morning and afternoon rush hours and prior traffic counts showed no significant queuing at the intersection and confirmed Columbia Avenue is being used as a cut‑through, prompting recommendations from the borough’s pedestrian and transportation advisory groups. “Any queuing that was there was actually basically less than one vehicle’s length,” the borough engineer said.

Residents spoke during the public hearing in favor of the measure. “We do see people speeding, and the acceleration is really troubling,” said Jim Waldman of 33 Columbia Avenue, who told the council that children walk to school and to the playground on the street. Alicia Walton, who said she has lived in the neighborhood for about 20 years, said the change would “really, really improve things” for families and pedestrians.

Council members discussed a practical concern before adopting the ordinance: the possibility that installing a stop sign could require removing a healthy street tree. The chair asked borough engineer Candice to evaluate whether the sign could be sited to avoid tree removal.

After closing public comment, council members moved to adopt the ordinance and approved it by roll call.

The council thanked the petitioners and residents who advocated for the change; staff said the fire department and EMS had been engaged during the evaluation and had received the study report. The ordinance is the second reading and was adopted at the meeting; staff will arrange the installation and final placement consistent with MUTCD guidance and the council’s request to minimize tree impacts.