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WARREN -- City council is expected to approve legislation that will allow the removal of stop signs and traffic lights in various areas around town.
Council since mid-June has been discussing the proposed removal of 19 traffic signals and changing 59 four-way stops to two-way stops.
Councilmen Ken MacPherson, D-5th Ward, and Ron White, D-7th Ward, insisted on having at least two committee meetings to ensure that residents had opportunities to express concerns about the removal or change of traffic signals on neighborhood streets.
Over the course of five meetings -- at least four held by city council's traffic committee and another by the mayor's traffic commission -- more than 100 residents have been able to express their concerns about the study study by Burgess & Niple.
The review of traffic control devices is part of a $1.6 million federal grant the city received from
Eastgate Regional Council of Governments. The study of the stop signs, conducted in conjunction with the electronic devices study, was sought and paid for by the city.
Released in June, the Burgess and Niple study indicated the number of vehicles traveling in the city has been declining, no longer justifying the number of stop signs and traffic lights.
Complaints primarily centered on how the proposed removal of traffic-control devices would increase the speed of traffic, causing more accidents.
"I now can support the passing of the legislation," White said. "My goal was to make sure residents, who had concerns about traffic signals in their area, have a voice."
White said city Engineer Paul Makosky, along with representatives of Burgess & Niple, were able to answer all of his questions about the plan.
The primary concern of Councilwoman Cheryl Saffold, D- 6th Ward, was having something done about the corner of Northwest Boulevard and Southern Boulevard, where over the years there have been numerous accidents.
"That corner was not part of the study," Saffold said. "However, I've been told the city is addressing that corner separately."
Saffold is expected to support the traffic control legislation.
Councilwoman Helen Rucker, D-at large, said she wanted the legislation to have three readings to make sure all of the ward council members were able to answer questions posed to them by their constituents.
"Even when this passes, council members have to remember that over the next year if they have concerns about lights turned to a flashing mode in preparation for their removal, they can ask for a re-evaluation based on what they learn over the next year," she said.
rsmith@tribtoday.com