Description

The "Transportation, Traffic & Parking Department - Manager of Operations, Process Improvement" has just closed a request from 2015 for a review of inadequate traffic signs along Hemlock Road and at the intersection of Hemlock with Birch Drive.

Contrary to the implication, this issue is neither "historical" nor resolved.

A Complete Streets application was filed with the city in 2012 to address traffic issues regarding Hemlock Road, Marvelwood Drive, and Birch Drive. In the fall of 2016, the city organized a neighborhood meeting and walk-around to discuss the proposals, which was attended by the Alder, the City Engineer, and, if I remember correctly, also by a representative from Transportation,Traffic & Parking, although not by the Director, who at the last minute could not be there.

At the conclusion, there was great optimism that the city was taking a genuine interest. But there has been no action since.

The major thrust of the Complete Streets application was to address traffic safety. One part of this was to correct inadequate signage that results in a) cars swerving around the corner form Birch to Hemlock, and b) cars traveling the wrong way up one-way Hemlock.

a) There needs to be a Stop sign at the T-intersection of Birch and Hemlock. Every city official who has looked at this has immediately declared that one is _required_, yet none has been installed.

b) The Do Not Enter signs at the foot of Hemlock need to be repositioned, straightened, and reoriented -- in a way that matches the actual sight lines of drivers approaching the foot of the street. Also, an additional Wrong Way sign needs to be placed farther up the street, before the Birch Drive intersection.

c) Ideally, a Do Not Enter stanchion, similar to the one at the intersection of Fowler Street with Frederick Street, should be placed within the very broad intersection of Hemlock and Marvelwood Drive.

d) A No Right Turn sign should be placed on Marvelwood to catch the attention of drivers approaching Hemlock from the northeast.

At the very least -- the city should be willing to review these issues, which could be inexpensively resolved, rather than, in effect, declaring them obsolete.