By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Priscilla Stockner sees no sense in counting cars at the intersection of Pearl and South Maple streets. She just wants the city to put a four-way stop there so motorists don’t take risks pulling into the intersection.
In March, the Bowling Green Traffic Commission heard neighbors’ complaints about the need for a four-way stop, since drivers heading southbound on Maple can’t see oncoming traffic due to a driveway close to the intersection.
The city has visibility regulations, but those tend to deal with trees, Municipal Administrator Lori Tretter said. Those regulations don’t cover residents parking in their own driveways.
Tretter said at the March meeting that a traffic study could be conducted on Pearl Street, to see if the numbers warrant a four-way stop.
However, the demands of the construction downtown led to the traffic study being put on hold.
“I over-promised and under-delivered,” Tretter told the traffic commission.
However, Bowling Green City Council member Bill Herald said the delay was actually good, since the data would have been tainted by the downtown construction.
But Stockner, who lives at 309 S. Maple St., scolded city officials for the delay.
“You cannot see on Maple Street,” she said. “We don’t need to count the traffic. Somebody’s going to get killed there.”
Stockner said neighbors have been trying to years to get a four-way stop at the intersection.
“You can’t see around that corner unless you pull way out,” she said. “Those folks on the corner have a right to park there.”
Doug Cubberley, newly-elected chair of the commission, tried to explain to Stockner the reason for getting a good traffic count at the intersection.
But Stockner challenged traffic commission members to try the intersection.
“It is treacherous to come out there and turn,” she said. “You need to pull out there and see what we’re talking about.”
Also at Wednesday’s meeting, the traffic commission talked about three other concerns expressed by citizens.
One involved parking along Finch Drive, where an S-curve creates a blind spot for oncoming traffic. A resident in the area asked that the city consider restricting parking in that area of the street.
Tretter said that while banning street parking can cause hardships for residents, there is precedence for restricting parking for safety reasons. Both Fire Chief Bill Moorman and Police Chief Tony Hetrick – members of the traffic commission – said they would like to view the area before making a decision.
Another citizen requested that the city consider a pedestrian crossing in the area of the Work Leads to Independence facility on South Main Street, between Napoleon and Gypsy Lane roads.
Tretter said she would like to delay any study there, since a large renovation project is planned on South Main Street in 2024. She recommended that the city contact the Ohio Department of Transportation about conducting a safety study there in 2022.
“Unfortunately, to get on the list, you need to have an incident,” Tretter said.
A recurring citizen complaint was received by citizens asking that stop signs be switched at the intersection of Waterford and Kildare Lane in Cogan’s Crossing.
Moorman said that it would be “unwise to reverse” the signs. And Hetrick agreed, saying “switching them up is a bad policy.”
The commission asked the city to study the issue and make a recommendation.
