Communication_Elaine Schueller_Stop Signs on KaufmannJan 17, 2008
Honorable Mayor and City Council
Why have stop signs at Kaufmann, Crissy?
Elaine Shueller
Elaine Schueller
Crissy Drive
Dubuque, Iowa
Why have stop sign at Kaufmann, Crissy?
Safety is top concern
when placing stop signs
and setting speed limits
By TH staff
QUESTION: Why is there a stop sign
on Kaufmann Avenue at Crissy Drive? 1
travel Kaufmann frequently and seldom
see a car entering Kaufmann Avenue
from Crissy Drive. Also, why is the speed
limit an Kane Street 25 mph and the
speed limit on Kaufmann 30 mph?
ANSWER: The stop sign is where it is
and the speed limits are what they are
because the Dubuque City Council de-
termined they were necessary for every-
one's safety.
The Dubuque Engineering Depart-
ment said the "Manual of Uniform
Traffic Control Devices" states that signs
are effective and used only when they
meet the following re-
quirements: ~
/ Fulfill a need.
/ Convey a clear and
simple meaning. ~k p.Y,'~
/ Command atten- l,.
tion and respect. the
/ Give adequate time Til
for drivers to respond.
The Engineering
Department said that before signage
is installed there is a careful study-
review of such things as accident re-
cords, vehicular and pedestrian vol-
umes and visibility. The findings also
must meet the national standards of
the Manual of Uniform Traffic. Control
Devices.
The results of the findings are then
presented to the Ciry Council. If ap-
proved, they become part of the City
Code of Ordinances and are installed.
"In the case of the Kaufmann Avenue/
Crissy Drive/Kane Street area, the City
Council determined it was necessary
for pedestrian and vehicular safety to
install the current signage," an Engi-
neering Department spokesman said.
"When speed studies were performed
on these streets, the 85th percentile
speed was determined and recommen-
dations as to appropriate speed limits
were presented to the City Council. The
speeds that are posted are as according
to the City Code of Ordinances and as
adopted by the City Council."
Individuals can write a letter re-
questing achange in signage if they be-
lieve one is needed. The letter should be
submitted to the Honorable Mayor and
City Council, 50 W. 13th St., Dubuque,
Iowa, 52001.
Have a question for the TH? E-mail City
Editor Ken Brown at kbrown@wcinet.com.
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