At Monday’s Carroll City Council meeting, members will be presented with the results of the traffic signal removal study that began on June 22, when the signals at the intersections of Highway 30 and Adams and Court Streets were covered. The 90-day removal study is now complete and it is time for the council to review the data collected and to begin discussion on whether the lights should be retained or removed. At the last council meeting, owner of Browns Shoe Fit, Steve Blackburn, brought his and other downtown business owner concerns to the council. He then spearheaded a petition drive to retain the stoplights at North Adams.
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Safety, Blackburn said, was the number one concern he heard from those signing the petition.
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Business owners are also concerned with safety first, but Blackburn said, to be honest, as a business owner it is not his sole consideration.
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His experience in other communities has Blackburn worried about reduced foot traffic. The petitions, both online and the paper version at Browns Shoe Fit, will remain open until 5:30 this afternoon (Friday) and Blackburn said they will get the petition results to council members prior to the meeting. He is hoping what the petitions reveal will be considered in the discussion of whether or not to close the Adams Street location, whether another intersection could be closed or if there is some other solution that would alleviate his and other community members’ concerns. He is also asking for community members to take time to attend Monday night’s meeting.
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City staff have collected 39 comments over the 90-day study period with a total of 21 in favor of removal of both stoplights and 18 against. The most common comments for removal were favorable travel times and the most common against cited crossing delays and pedestrian safety. There has only been one accident reported at those intersections, involving a left turn from Court Street. The study revealed a total driving delay reduction of 17 hours. The estimated cost of removing both lights is $41,500. An online version of the petition is available by following the link included below. The Carroll City Council meeting will begin at 5:15 p.m. Monday in council chambers at City Hall.
Petition To Retain Adams Street Traffic Signal