The Monterey Street Committee is back to the drawing board after the Board of Aldermen turned down the idea of making Crain Street a one-way street Monday.
Several Crain Street residents voiced opposition to the plan, designed to limit speeding. Resident Brian Williams said making the street one-way would not solve the problem.
“The people who are speeding now are already ignoring the 15 mph signs,” Williams said. “They are not going to suddenly start following one-way signs. Instead, this change will bring confusion, more dangerous turns, and faster traffic. It’s not a solution, it’s a gamble with our safety.”
Aldermen discussed what temporary options could be used to address the speeding. Alderman Bill Wiggins said the board is tapdancing around the issue and suggested installing temporary speed bumps.
“We can’t keep policemen there all the time,” Wiggins said. “We are not going to be able to widen the road. This street is caught in a traffic pattern that makes it easy for people to use. Sure, it’s narrow. Why don’t we get them down this month, and to ease your fears about snow plows, take them up. I think two months of speed bumps would kind of make some believers out of some folks.”
Alderman Jamie Phillips said he was thinking along the same line as Wiggins. Phillips said he would not mind installing a few temporary speed bumps.
“We may not get the whole five sets, maybe we put down a few sets, that starts deterring it, you know,” Phillips said. “You know they are coming, you are going to slow down. If it doesn’t work, we have not lost that much. You know we didn’t buy for the whole road.”
After a suggestion from Mayor Alex Garcia, the board agreed that the street committee should meet at Crain Street to see the speeding firsthand. A time and date for the next street committee has not been set.
In other business, an ordinance to change the zoning classification of an estimated 5.6-acre property on Peter Avenue from I-1 to General Commercial C-2 was approved.
The board approved to give Garcia the authorization to send letters requesting continued rail funding in the state budget and to change the shared revenue relationship between the town and the state.
The board approved changing the speed limit to 20 mph on Callahan Road and Old Walton Road. Garcia said speeding was the reason for the changes.
The board approved to install “No unmufflered jake braking inside city limits” signs.
