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Committee approves four-way stop at West Town Avenue and Brad Street over staff recommendation
Summary
Despite staff analysis that traffic volumes and crash history did not meet MUTCD warrants, the Building & Grounds Committee voted 4–1 to convert the West Town Avenue and Brad Street intersection to a four-way stop after Alderman Joe Piper and neighbors pressed for action to slow drivers.
Alderman Joe Piper introduced a neighbor request to convert the intersection of West Town Avenue and Brad Street to a four-way stop, saying residents "support a 4 way stop" because drivers come down a hill and often travel fast. Piper asked the committee to slow traffic in the neighborhood to improve safety.
City traffic staff (Alex) reviewed guidance from the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and said warrants for an all-way stop typically require much higher traffic volumes (e.g., 300 vehicles per hour on the major road for extended periods) or a safety history such as five crashes in 12 months; staff reported roughly 400 vehicles per day at the intersection and only one crash in the five-year sample, so the MUTCD criteria were not met. "Between the lower volumes and the lack of a crash history, we don't have the magnitude required to meet those thresholds to follow our standard," Alex said. Committee discussion emphasized neighborhood experience; a motion to convert the intersection to a four-way stop was moved and seconded and carried 4–1.
