The Monterey Street Committee is considering installing flashing signs on Crain Street as a potential resolution to slow down speeders and improve safety.
The committee had a lengthy discussion Thursday night about the narrow road and the section of the street where a hill creates a blind spot. During the discussion, Crain Street Resident Brian Williams suggested installing a flashing sign.
“I’ve seen county roads like this, maybe, a warning sign or a warning light on the pole that when a vehicle gets or passes a certain point, it turns the caution light on,” Williams said.
Williams said he believes a flashing sign would need to be installed on both sides, as the hill is a blind spot both ways. Monterey Mayor Alex Garcia said he liked the idea of the flashing sign, and the street committee would look further into it.
“I have no idea what the cost of that would be, but we will definitely look into it,” Garcia said. “I don’t even know if they are wireless or if they are like what those rolls on the street, you know what I am talking about. The ones you roll over.”
Williams said the speeding issues on Crain Street have been going on for too long.
“This has been an ongoing problem for two years since they rerouted the traffic at Burks,” Williams said. “Again the speeders are not just the people leaving Burks. I don’t blame those folks a bit for trying to avoid that school zone, cause it’s a mess in the evening. It’s not as bad in the morning, but it’s really a big mess in the evening. And I don’t blame them for trying to cut through and trying to get home quicker, I don’t. I just wish they would slow down, especially with that street being as narrow as it is.”
Crain Street’s speed limit is set at 15 mph. Monterey Police Chief John Mackie provided a speeding report after running radar on Crain Street. Mackie said the highest speed recorded was 21 mph.
“Evidently, we are not there when they are doing it, of course, you said you observed one of your neighbors flying through there,” Mackie said. “Evidently, the guys just got through going to a radar certification class, and I feel confident that they know how to operate a radar and that you know, radar don’t lie.”
The street committee initially proposed to make Crain Street a one-way street to address speeding and safety concerns, but the town’s Aldermen rejected the proposal after several Crain Street residents spoke against the proposal. The street committee will try to have ballpark numbers to present to the Board of Aldermen on Monday.
In other business, the committee approved to purchase five new Jake-breaking signs to remind truck drivers that unmuffled Jake-breaking is illegal. Each sign will be installed at each entrance to Monterey.
