Jun. 18—ATHENS — Athens is going through a trial phase of changing traffic signals to stop signs at three downtown intersections, but one councilman says the change will create more problems than it will solve.
The first resolution concerning the intersections was during the April 28 City Council meeting. It was to convert the intersections of Hobbs Street and Marion Street, Washington Street and East Street, and Washington Street and Beaty Street from traffic signals to stop signs. The council tabled the agenda item due to concerns from Wales and so that the council members could look further into the details of the project.
The same resolution appeared on the May 12 council agenda, however, Wales was absent, so the resolution did not get a vote. At the May 19 council meeting, the item was on the agenda, but this time for the stop signs to go through a trial period for 60 days. District 2 Councilman Harold Wales was the only council member to vote against it, so it was approved.
Council President James Lucas voted in favor of the change.
“I talked with some of the people that live in the area, and they really want the change,” he said. “I don’t see a problem with it; I believe it would help. So, I’m not against it at all. I hope it’ll have a better traffic flow with the flashing lights.”
Athens City Engineer Michael Griffin said the traffic signals are entering into a flashing mode for 30 days with red lights, which will be an observation period. Next, they will unbag the stop signs for 30 days, also for observation. After this period, assuming no increase in traffic accidents, added congestion or any other problems, the traffic signals can be fully retired.
“None of these met the warrant conditions (for traffic signals) according to the ‘Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices,'” Griffin said. “That is the national standard, and none of them met it.”
Athens Police Chief Anthony Pressnell said the four-way stop is especially needed at one of the intersections.
“The one at Hobbs and Marion there at City Hall, if you’re going west on Hobbs wanting to turn south on Marion, good luck. You’re probably not going to get it unless somebody just lets you turn. That one just doesn’t work well,” he said. “The other ones will probably work going to a stop sign. If it doesn’t work, we’ll go back to a signal; they’ll still have them.”
Pressnell said there have not been many accidents at the intersections in question.
“We have some, but most of the ones we have at those intersections is where the car ran the red light,” he said. “That’s usually the cause of it. Either they ran the red light, or they failed to yield to a vehicle that had the right of way.”
Wales said he was told by other council members that people speed through the intersections.
“That’s probably going to be related to people speeding up to beat the red light,” Pressnell said.
Wales said the stop signs will increase congestion.
“My concerns are, to start with, I could not see the need in what they were trying to do,” said Wales. “The need there, they said, is to slow people down. Well, yes, stop signs will do that. It stops every car all four ways. So, that’s going to create more traffic. I don’t think we need more traffic downtown. If you come through downtown, it’s full of cars, and the restaurants are full — and I’m proud of that.”
Motorists have gotten used to having traffic lights at those intersections, Wales said.
“Some people really depend on that,” he said. “I just did not see the need. But other people thought differently, so it was approved, and I’m not going to fight a losing battle. But I just do not believe we need to take those red lights down.”
Wales said if traffic becomes congested, people will take other routes.
“We are getting in such a congested traffic area downtown and on (U.S.) 72 that we need to find a way to move traffic. This will not move traffic; it will slow traffic down,” he said. “People will find something easier, and I don’t want that. I want people to come to downtown and to the restaurants and stores. And we’ve got plenty of that now with the red lights. I do not see that part improving just because we put in stop signs to stop every single vehicle.”
District 5 Councilman Wayne Harper supported the change.
“I had the understanding that we’d leave the lights up and either cover them or put them on a flash for a couple months and see how it goes,” he said. “I think the ones on Washington shouldn’t be any trouble at all, but the one at City Hall on Marion Street, it’s a little more traffic, so I’d be interested to see how it goes there. …
“If it causes congestion or there’s accidents, we can certainly cut the lights back on.”
—erica.smith@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2460.