06-02-1969 - Laserfiche WebLink

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TRAFFIC SIGNAL REQUEST On morion of Councilman Brooks, seconded PACIFIC AND WARNER by Councilman Herrin and carried, the traffic problem at the intersection of Pacific and Warner was referred to Staf~ for study and.report at the meeting of June 16, of the possibility of closing the'Warher-Paclfic intersection to north and south traffic and recommendation of alternative routes for automobile and pedes- trian traffic, The motion further directed the City Manager to provide police patrol at the intersection for the next two weeks. The motion followed a pre'sentation by Mr. William Burns, Attorney, representing a.group of parents from Jefferson School ~vho had requested installation of a traffic~-~ s~gnal at the intersection on two previous Occasions and Were again rna.king the request as a direct result of a recent accident at the intersection in whxch a young boy was seriously injured. Mr, Burns stated that he had devoted considerable time to the study of the City's records regarding the intersection. He described the area, stating that it con- tained a walled residential t~a~t with Pacific being the only open street within several hundred feet; that there was no commercial zoning within the tract; that it was necessary to cross warner at pacific to go to the store; and that it was just not a simple school crossing. Mr. Burns further stated that it was not p~0ssible to split the responsibility for Children's welfare between the City and ~he parent; that it was a joint responsibility; and that both have the moral responsibility for the welfare of citi'zens at all times. He als0 stated that warrants were guidelines which a governmental body must have in order to properly function; that like all guidelines without flexibility, they can result'in injustices; that there were special circumstances which took this inter- section out of the general category of warranted signals; that development of industry in the area and new housing development, introducing additional iraffic, have con- tributed to creating a monstrous intersection. He reviewed the accidents that had occurred at the intersection and films of the crossxng were shown. The City Manager stated that the intersection was an intolerable crossing; that children should not be crossing it at any time; that any signalization of the inter- section would have to be tied into the Bristol Street intersection; that both inter- sections would indicate "green" at the same time and thereby invite drivers to speed up in order to get through the light at Pacific; that a traffic light affords no protection unless it is placed in accordance with good engineering practice; that the odds for a death at this intersection with a light are at least four times as great as they are without one. Mayor recognized Mr. Burns, who stated that the intersection should have a signal: and a crossing guard; that the "f~ur times as many accldents~' possibly would not / apply if the intersection had both, and that the guard would control the children and the signal would control the traffic. The City Manager stated that in his opimon the best possible solution would be to close the intersection to both auto and pedestrian trafflc. CITY COUNCIL June 2, 1969