No Easy Solutions to Speeding Problem on Sprague Road

How can the Village slow down traffic on streets that are commonly used as shortcuts to avoid lights and stop signs on main routes?

That was the subject of a meeting at Village Hall on Tuesday August 1 when Jeff Coleman, Superintendent of the Department of Public Works, presented recommendations from consultants FHI on how to slow down cars and trucks on Sprague Road. The consultants were retained in 2022 in response to resident complaints about speeding cars and near misses on their narrow residential street. They reported that due to the placement of stop signs on parallel streets (Boulevard and Locust) that also traverse the neighborhood, traffic has migrated to Sprague Road where there are no stop signs or lights.

The consultants studied the traffic flow and recommended the use of an array of traffic calming methods including chokers, traffic diversions, chicanes, half closures and traffic circles. See below for a diagram of these countermeasures.

Though residents had asked for stop signs, Jeff Coleman who is a traffic engineer, explained that the situation on Sprague Road does not meet the required warrants listed in the federal and New York State Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for the installation of stop signs and therefore, they cannot be installed. He explained, “Stop signs are warranted when there are five or more accidents in a one-year period in that location that could have been prevented by stop signs. He said the Village reviewed the accident reports for the previous years and did not find that this was the case.

Furthermore, the FHI report says, “Although some residents expressed support for stop signs, others noted that vehicles frequently roll through the stop signs. Additional conversations with the Village raised concerns about the usefulness of stop signs and the potential to increase crashes. Stop signs are typically not recommended as a traffic calming because studies have shown they have limited effectiveness in slowing vehicle speeds. Drivers frequently do not stop, particularly in locations where the stop is not perceived as needed. This can result in an increase in crashes. In rare circumstances such as locations with visibility constraints, stop signs have been implemented in locations that otherwise do not meet traffic volume requirements. This alternative was eliminated because the location does not appear to have the visibility concerns or overall traffic environment that would warrant an exception.”

From the consultant’s recommendations the Department of Public Works selected to two alternative schemes for consideration at the meeting:

Alternative 2

This alternative proposes the following changes:
1. Installation of neighborhood traffic circles at Gaylor Road, Nelson Road, Bradley Road, and White Road.
2. Installation of a choker east of Bell Road and east of Madison Road.
3. Curb radii reductions at Bell Road, Webster Road, Lyons Road, Madison Road, and Johnson Road.

Alternative 3

This alternative proposes the following changes:
1. Installation of neighborhood traffic circles at Gaylor Road and White Road.
2. Installation of curb radii reductions at Bell Road, Webster Road, Lyons Road, Bradley Road, and Johnson
Road.
3. Installation of half closures at Nelson Road and Madison Road thereby prohibiting through travel along Sprague Road at both locations.

Asked for more background on the issue, Village Manager Rob Cole explained, “We have received a number of complaints over the years. There were analyses that showed there were more accidents there than in other parts of the community. That’s why we brought in FHI to propose some tools that could be used. We want to transform it from a speedway to a regular street. It will enhance life and property values if we can stop the speedway.”

There were quite a number of residents at the meeting and on ZOOM. When they provided their feedback it appeared that there was as many opinions about what should be done as people in the room.

One resident, Alan Stewart asked if a traffic study had been done. Others asked for speed bumps and more enforcement of the 25 MPH speed limit by the police. Others were afraid that if there was a two blockdiversion, traffic would become heavy on the surrounding streets. Another asked if we had consulted with neighboring municipalities to get their perspectives.

Ann Marie Nee said she was speaking for herself, her parents and her brother who all live in the area. She said, “Sprague used to be low traffic but is now high traffic because there are stop signs and crossing guards on Boulevard. Stop signs were put there and traffic was diverted. I live near Sprague and Gaylor. We hear the accidents and I call 911. What is wrong with a stop sign on that corner? There are visibility issues on the street prevent people from seeing. When cars inch out to see before pulling out, they risk being hit.”

Stop signs on Boulevard and Locust have caused traffic to move to Sprague Road.

About the consultant’s proposals she said, “Placing a hazard in the intersection without a stop sign is expensive and there is nothing comparable anywhere. Will a bus be able to negotiate around this traffic island? What about kids standing out there waiting for the bus. It scares me. There is a telephone pole, a storm drain – you raise the risk that you’ll hit it. Why put a traffic circle on the top of a hill? It makes no sense. Chokers will cause accidents. We already have parked cars – and they are chokers and they get sideswiped. If we close the street, traffic will be diverted to Nelson which is already busy. I am against alternatives 2 and 3 – and we would like to see about stop signs. I would also like to see those solar panel speed signs. And I would like to see $500,000 used to repave Bell Road where you can’t ride a bike. Why can there be stop signs on Boulevard and Locust and not on Sprague?”

Cole responded, saying, “Even with the stop signs, Eastchester’s crash rates are much higher than Scarsdale’s. The more you put in, the more likely it is that people will ignore them and have an accident. The standards for stop signs are not met for Sprague Road.”

Linda Killian said, “I used to cross Sprague at Madison every day and I have almost been hit many times. Now I don’t go that way anymore. I would suggest you find solutions that work – like stop signs and enforcement. Find something that will work and keep people safe.”

Farley Baker said “I live at the corner of Johnson and Grand Boulevard. Now we have three sets of stop signs. They made a tremendous difference in slowing down traffic on Johnson. I can’t believe that there is no leeway in the criteria for stop signs. I don’t support the proposals.”

Ruth Berkowitz of 167 Madison Road said, “People speed like crazy on Madison Road and don’t expect the traffic. Why are we not speaking about the speed humps? That might make it more palatable.”

At one point, Mayor Justin Arest answered the residents by saying, “We are not forcing this on you for no reason. If you’re happy with the way things are we can leave it.”

And that’s what just might happen if the neighbors don’t come to some agreement about what they would like to be done. With stop signs off the list of options, and a limited appetite for chokers, half closures and traffic circles, they might just be left asking the police for better speed limit enforcement.