A tree-street intersection could be changing from a two-way to an all-way stop soon.
Staff are recommending two more stop signs at the intersection of Cedar and Second Street, a result of requests submitted by residents.
According to a report going to the Development and Operations standing committee on Feb. 20, both intersections have been evaluated in the past, but one is showing volumes to support an all-way stop now.
The report states staff received a request in November, 2018, inquiring about the installation of a four-way stop due to recent accidents at Second Street and Cedar Street.
There are two ways an intersection qualifies for stop signs (or additional stop signs in this case).
First, if there are four or more collisions per year over three years at the intersection, but that doesn’t include right-angle or turning collisions.
Second, if two sets of volume criteria are met including number of vehicles through the intersection and the ratio of cars on each road that makes up the intersection.
Town staff gathered data from the Ministry of Transportation on collisions and found there was one collision between January and August of 2018, and two in 2017 at the Second and Cedar Street intersection.
Town staff also installed tube counters to track volume.
Third and Cedar is considered a major road intersection and requires 500 vehicles per hour for eight hours a day. Traffic counts gathered in August 2018 showed about 300 cars per hour, so that intersection didn’t qualify for any additional stop signs.
Second and Cedar Street is a minor intersection, and therefore only required 350 vehicles for any one hour in a day. Data collected by town staff and included in the report to council showed the three highest volume hours range from 370 vehicles to 399. The volume split ranged from 43 to 64 per cent crossing Cedar Street, and 36 to 57 per cent crossing Second Street. The minimum volume split in the town’s existing policy for stop signs is 65/35.
So according to town policy, an all-way stop at Cedar and Second street is warranted. The staff report states the costs for the two signs will be about $1,800.
If you’d like to deliver a comment or question about the new stop signs, you can do so at the Feb. 20 standing committee meeting, which starts at 5 p.m. at the town hall council chambers.
