Mayor and
City Commission,
I reside on
the 300 block of North McCullough or one block north of the intersection of
NORTH McCullough and Stenger streets and 1 and ½ blocks SOUTH of Dr. Cash
Elementary School.
Therefore, I
can honestly attest as to the traffic affect due to the loss of the traffic
signal as a result of the traffic accident at the intersection corner of North
McCullough and Stenger.
PRIOR to the accident, exiting my driveway
between the hours of 3 and 5 p.m. was sometimes difficult because of the
traffic (cars and school buses) to and from Dr. Cash Elementary and Miller
Jordan Middle School.
The main
cause or reason for the traffic backup in both North and South Direction on
North McCullough was due to the intersection traffic light NOT having a “PROTECTED
Left Turn Option”. It takes just one vehicle to attempt a left turn (East or
West bound) to back up the traffic on North McCullough. On many occasions that
I have witnessed, ONLY one or two vehicles will cross the intersection during
the “traffic light cycle change“ resulting with basically no traffic movement
except for the vehicle(s) turning left.
AFTER the accident and the installation of
the temporary STOP signs, believe it or not, traffic has run “more smoothly”
due to the fact that everybody has to stop at the intersection and “LEFT
turning at the intersection” has become much easier and efficient.
I don’t
doubt the City Commission or City Administration has received citizen queries
regarding the repair of the traffic signal. I do know my neighbors keep asking
me when the city is going to “get on it”. My confusion and reply was from a
prior conversation two years ago with Mr. Jalomo regarding the street lights at
this particular intersection. They were all out and not functioning and Mr.
Jalomo informed me that those street lights were the responsibility of TEXDOT
and not the city.
The ONLY problem that I or my
neighbors have witnessed is the temporary STOP signs have on occasion been
knocked down by large trucks (cement, delivery, etc) making turns. I have provided
my neighbors the contact phone number at the city to report it. Just today, I
call the Public Works Director and he had someone here within ten minutes to
prop up the STOP sign.
Fortunately,
the large majority of drivers thru this intersection are familiar with the
situation and they stop even though a STOP sign is knocked down. To my
knowledge no traffic accidents have occurred since the temporary stop signs
were erected.
The basis or
point of my long narrative is two-fold.
First, if possible and not
cost-prohibitive, the city should consider replacing the current traffic light
component to one with a “protected left turn option” or a “four-way stop light
or sign”. Either option would solve the problem of the left turn slowing
traffic.
Second, since Stenger Street is not a
residential street but a main business traffic artery or feeder and within the
purview of the EDC, maybe the EDC should share in the expense of repairing or
upgrading the intersection light component/fixture.
Regards,
JR
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