North Royalton to pursue targeted traffic studies after crash‑data review; four‑way stops may precede signals

The Safety Committee discussed several high‑crash intersections on June 16 and agreed to pursue targeted traffic studies to determine appropriate control changes.

Chair Mary Gorjanc presented a chart comparing city police crash records with a GPD report. Assistant City Engineer Brian Binsley said studies typically remove non‑correctable crashes (wildlife strikes, driveway collisions, weather, impairment) and that funding applications and engineering practice depend on a multi‑year sample (GPD used 2019–2023 for its analysis). Binsley warned that if an engineering study warrants an all‑way stop but the city installs a traffic signal instead, the city could face liability if a crash occurs and the more conservative all‑way stop would have been appropriate.

Mayor Paul Marnecheck said the City will sequence countermeasures—install an all‑way stop where studies indicate before advancing to a signal—and suggested a monitoring window of longer than six weeks to evaluate impacts. Binsley recommended conducting traffic counts after school resumes and estimated a one‑month turnaround for a traffic‑warrant study; the Mayor asked staff to get cost estimates and consider adding the topic to the Streets Committee if warranted.

Discussion singled out sight‑distance obstruction as a key problem at Bennett & Akins; Binsley said vegetation on private property is often the proximate cause. Resident Rich Harrell urged the city to use its right‑of‑way authority to address vegetation that impedes sight lines. No traffic‑control changes were ordered at the meeting; staff were directed to run the traffic warrant studies and report back with findings and cost estimates.