Residents request four-way stops, pedestrian crosswalk for seniors

Further research and discussion are needed.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Trying to resolve traffic safety issues is a difficult task at best, the Warren Traffic Commission found during a Thursday meeting concerning four-way stop signs, a pedestrian crosswalk and parking.
Councilman Robert Holmes III, D-4th, said neighbors at Harrison and Charles streets want a four-way stop to reduce speeding. Holmes, a commission member, said the intersection once had four signs, but the two along Harrison were removed.
City Engineer William Totten said it would have taken city council action to remove the signs, but Holmes countered that no such action was taken.
Totten also pointed out that there must be enough traffic to warrant four signs.
Commission member Donald Mumford explained that signs cannot be used as a speed control device. If they are, and someone is injured or killed, the individual councilman is liable, he said.
Mumford said the city has been wrestling with four-way stops since the 1970s.
"This is a problem throughout the city. Nobody obeys the speed limit," Totten said, noting there are not enough police to enforce every traffic violation.
Totten said he would research the four-way stop issue at the intersection to determine why two of the signs were removed.
Resident Joe Kapcsos complained that a four-way rather than two-way stop is needed at Dodge Street and Lexington Avenue to reduce speeding.
He pointed out that nearby Oakdale Street and Drexel Avenue is a four-way stop. Both intersections receive traffic from Tod Avenue and Parkman Road.
Totten said he would have to research the history of the intersections before making any recommendation.
Case for crossing
The commission also took up a request by a resident of Riverview Apartments at Tod Avenue and Buckeye Street for a pedestrian crosswalk. These are two senior high-rise buildings operating by the Trumbull Metropolitan Housing Authority.
Resident Kimberly Watros wrote the commission, saying that the seniors and people who are deaf or have other disabilities have difficulty crossing.
Totten told fellow commission members that a crossing can be dangerous. It must be warranted with at least 100 people crossing every four hours.
Mayor Michael J. O'Brien said that only a handful of people cross daily and questioned if the crossing was needed.
Discussions will be held with housing authority officials to determine the level of hardship on high-rise residents without the crossing.
Other concerns
Two issues may have been resolved.
Councilman James A. "Doc" Pugh, D-6th, called attention to two residents at Tod Avenue and Fifth Street who can't sleep. Pugh said trucks make loud noises when they strike a sharp dip in the street.
O'Brien said the problem must have been caused by a broken water line, and he will have the water department correct it.
In addition, the commission will recommend to city council that parking be allowed only on the north side of Grant Street. Currently there is parking on both sides of Grant.
yovich@vindy.com