The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) is proposing to make permanent the lane configurations and four-way stop that it tested last summer and fall at the intersection of Greybull Avenue and Sixth Street.
While they stopped short of asking for an endorsement of the plan, opting instead to solicit input through the end of March, WYDOT officials made it clear they believe the modified lane configurations alleviated problems with truck turning movements and that the four-way stop reduced the time motorists spent at the intersection.
The tests, conducted between Aug. 10 and Sept. 30, shifted the southbound lane of Sixth Street (U.S. Highway 16-20) to the west, reduced the westbound lane of Greybull Avenue (U.S. Highway 14) to one lane between Fifth and Sixth streets and eliminated approximately 11 parking spaces.
WYDOT also tested the intersection and collected data on the time motorists spent there with both the current signal light system and the four-way stop.
Taking turns at the podium, WYDOT representatives Cody Beers, Keith Compton and Jeff Mellor made the case for the changes, using video footage captured during the test and earlier this winter, as well as maps and handouts.
WYDOT officials contended that the all-way stop forces drivers to look in all directions and is safer for pedestrians, as well as that the all-way stop is more efficient for left turning movements onto Greybull Avenue from Sixth Street.
Mellor said that with 2024 projected traffic volumes, the average delay time per vehicle at the all-way stop would be 13.9 seconds. With the traffic signal, it would be 24.4 seconds.
There apparently is also a jaywalking problem in the downtown, as WYDOT’s study found that 74 percent of the pedestrians who crossed Greybull Avenue on Jan. 13, 2010 did not use the expected crossing locations.
For those reasons, and others, WYDOT is proposing a $615,000 improvement project, one that would include ADA upgrades between Second Avenue South and First Avenue North.
The improvements would include a new overhead structure, the implementation of the all-way stop to reduce overall traffic delays and help with southbound left-turn movements, as well as the possibility of TEAS funding to assist with downtown beautification along with education and enforcement about pedestrian crossings at the intersection.
The consensus of the council and staff appeared to be one of support for the lane modifications. The proposal to make the four-way stop permanent, however, wasn’t as well received.
Mayor Frank Houk said that while additional education would help, WYDOT did not go far enough in addressing concerns about pedestrian safety, saying it must ensure that there is a safe zone for people to cross the street.
“Motorists are supposed to yield to pedestrians,” Mellor said. “It will take time. People are not used to an all-way stop condition, and there is a possibility … of an overhead, flashing beacon that would (make it clear to motorists) that it’s a stop condition for traffic.”
Compton, the district construction engineer, added, “We didn’t have the best conditions for testing pedestrian movements. With the existing traffic signal on flash mode, that may have added some confusion. And we didn’t have ADA ramps in place to show the designated place to step off the curb and enter the crosswalk.
“Although that isn’t all the issues, I think that might have contributed to the confusion.”
Councilor Kay Fleek pressed the issue, saying that the community’s seniors were “scared” to use the intersection when it was set up as an all-way stop.
Police Chief Bill Brenner spoke against the all-way stop as well, saying he “can count on one hand how many accidents we’ve had at that intersection in the last eight years, compared to the 20 or so accidents we have every year at uncontrolled intersections.”
Brenner said he biggest problems officers noticed were the pedestrian safety and cars following other cars through the intersection without realizing it was a four-way stop.
“Education is fine, but you aren’t going to be able to educate the tourists, and that’s the majority of our traffic in the summer.”
Public Works Director Randy Rumpler predicted that the four-way stop would result in the locals using side streets to avoid the intersection.
“I just don’t see a need for the four-way stop,” reiterated Brenner. “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.”
Councilor Earl Dooley sided with the WYDOT recommendations, saying “traffic flowed way smoother with the four-way stop” than it does with the light, and that truck drivers liked the lane reconfigurations.
Dooley said pedestrians who were bold about crossing were able to do so, “because everybody knows that you have to yield to pedestrians.” Those who waited, and didn’t convey to motorists a desire to cross, spent considerably more time there, he said.
Beers said WYDOT would like to proceed with the improvements during Fiscal Year 2011.
First, though, it is seeking input from the public, with March 31 being the deadline.
To weigh in, contact Mellor, 568-3400, or  HYPERLINK "mailto:Jeffery.mellor@dot.state.wy.us" Jeffery.mellor@dot.state.wy.us, or Beers, 431-1803, at cody.beers@dot.state.wy.us.