Nucleus stop sign decision stalls

The Columbia Falls City Council seems to be stalled on whether or not to install stop signs along Nucleus Avenue.

The Council tied 3-3 at its Jan. 18 meeting in a vote to install the signs. Mayor Don Barnhart, councilman Mike Shepard and councilman Harvey Reikofski voted against. Council members Dave Petersen, Doug Karper and Julie Plevel voted for the installation. Councilman Shawn Bates was absent from the meeting.

The city has been considering the instalation of stop signs or pedestrian crossing signs on Nucleus Avenue because of safety concerns.

Barnhart said he would favor putting up pedestrian signs in the crosswalks. Signs would be in place during the summer, but would have to be removed for snow removal.

“I’d like to see these signs up,” he said.

Petersen, however, said he didn’t think the pedestrian signs were the right choice. He favors stop signs.

“Half the year we’d have something and half the year we wouldn’t,” he said. “Traffic does increase downtown in the summer, but the rest of the year stop signs would also be very appropriate.”

The cost of installing two pedestrian signs at one intersection is $800. Similar signs in Whitefish, which are located in the middle of the street, are frequently destroyed by vehicles and the cost to replace them per intersection is often as high as $2,000.

The cost for a four-way stop is $300 per intersection.

Barnhart suggested pedestrian signs at Fourth, Fifth and Sixth streets for a cost of $2,400. Petersen suggested a four-way stop at Sixth Street West on a trial basis.

Petersen took issue with the cost difference.

“Stop signs in use 12 months per year are $300 to address our specific safety issues,” he said. “It’s $2,400 to address safety issues for six months and then disconnect them. The least expensive way will cover the entire year. If we do it on a trial basis we have $300 invested. If there is an uproar then we could try plan B.”

There has been little public comment on the issue at City Council meetings. However, the council received three letters on the issue at its meeting.

Jenny Lovering wrote that often cars don’t stop for people waiting in the crosswalk.

“A stop sign at Nucleus and Sixth means that my children could walk or ride their bikes to school,” she wrote. “They could cross the street to use the public library. We could easily cross to go to the Farmer’s Market at Discovery Square.”

Separate letters from Bill and Sarah Dakin both said they would not favor a stop sign on Nucleus.

“We often walk in the downtown and have been afforded remarkable courtesy from drivers when crossing Nucleus and other streets,” Bill wrote.

Councilman Mike Shepard has repeatedly said folks have told him they don’t want the signs and that cars often stop for pedestrians, even those not in the crosswalk.

“If they stop in the middle of the block, why do we need a stop at the intersection,” he said. “I think it’s a misuse of the safety concept on this issue.”

A trial basis for the signs was suggested as a way to test out the public’s response.

“I think that trying the stop sign through the summer into fall is a good test drive,” councilwoman Julie Plevel said. “If people don’t like it we can change it.”

Petersen made a motion to install the signs on a trial basis until September when the decision could be revisited. Plevel seconded the motion. The vote split down the middle.

With Bates absent, the council decided to look at the issue again at its Feb. 7 meeting.