Citizens spoke, government listened and as a result, the stop signs located at the intersection of Powell and N. Glaspie streets in Oxford Village are staying put.
Last week, council voted 4-0 to keep them in place.
‘I think without a stop sign there, anybody who wants to cross that street will have a problem,? said Councilwoman Maureen Helmuth. ‘I think we just leave it alone.?
Police Chief Mike Neymanowski had recommended, in a Sept. 24 memo, the stop signs ‘be removed to create a more even traffic flow.? He suggested replacing them with signs that direct drivers to yield to pedestrians.
According to his memo, the stop signs ‘have caused unnecessary traffic backups? during the morning and afternoon periods.
The chief pointed out that although the ‘main intention? of these signs was to reduce the speed of drivers travelling on N. Glaspie St., the Michigan Manual of Traffic Control Devices states, ‘Stop signs should not be used for speed control.?
But after reading a citizens petition requesting the signs stay, Neymanowski rescinded his recommendation. Signed by 14 residents of N. Glaspie St., the petition declared it would not be ‘wise or safe to remove these stop signs.?
‘If these signs provide you with (a feeling of) safety and comfort on that street, then so be it,? Neymanowski said. ‘I have no problem with that.?
The petition stated the signs are needed to help control the flow of young drivers coming from Oxford High School, located north of the intersection, and protect pedestrian users of the Polly Ann Trail, which crosses the intersection.
Speed control was another reason cited in the petition.
‘Before the stop signs were installed, speeding was a major problem on our street,? the petition read. ‘The speed limit is 50 (miles per hour) on N. Oxford Rd. and abruptly changes to 25 mph just north of the stop sign. This causes many drivers to (speed) when they enter and when they exit the village on Glaspie St.?
Dr. Charles Williams, who’s lived on Glaspie St. since 1962, said he’s normally not a proponent of having more traffic lights and stop signs, ‘but this one has been a good one.?
‘It has slowed the traffic down,? he said.
Neymanowski noted he doesn’t ‘entirely agree? that speeding was a major problem. He cited a 2008 traffic study over a three-day period that determined 85 percent of the approximately 3,900 vehicles using N. Glaspie St. on a daily basis were travelling at 30 mph or less.
The chief noted he doesn’t want ‘to get into the habit? of installing stop signs every time someone complains about a speeding problem on their street.
‘Stop signs aren’t made for that,? Neymanowski said. ‘They don’t control speed. They control flow of traffic.?
Having too many stops can cause drivers to disobey them, creating another problem, the chief added.
Councilwoman Sue Bossardet asked if something can be done to reduce the speed limit on N. Oxford Rd.
‘To go from 50 (mph) to 25 (mph) is quite a stretch,? she said.
‘We don’t have any control over that,? Neymanowski replied.
N. Oxford Rd. is located in the township and under the jurisdiction of the Road Commission for Oakland County.
The process for changing the speed limit involves petitioning the road commission and having the Michigan State Police conduct an investigation to see if it’s warranted.
‘We’ve tried to get them to change it and the state police said no,? said township Supervisor Bill Dunn. ‘I could petition them again to take a look at it.?
He noted he would ‘be more than happy to set up a meeting? regarding this subject.
‘We can put a little heat (on them),? he said.
Dunn recalled how previously the state police were opposed to making the intersection at N. Oxford and Ray roads a three-way stop, ‘but we twisted arms? and it got done.
In the meantime, the supervisor indicated he could ask the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office to do some extra patrols on N. Oxford Rd. in order to monitor motorist speed and ticket those who are driving ‘too fast? as they enter the village.
?(It’s) a very simple thing to do,? he said. ‘I just have to request it.?