SPRINGDALE -- It finally happened, Nathan Edwards told the city's Traffic Committee. His car was struck as he tried to exit his driveway onto New Hope Road.
Edwards and his neighbors came to a recent committee meeting, asking the city to slow the speeding cars on the narrow, curvy road.
The committee provides a platform for residents to speak face to face with city officials about one of the city's most common frustrations -- traffic, said Ryan Carr, assistant director of the Engineering Department.
August's agenda had 17 areas residents think need attention. Carr said city employees or police officers and City Council members bring problems to the committee, but most come from the residents.
"Whatever issue it is, bring it to the committee, and we will try to fix the problem," Carr said.
A police report of that June wreck notes the driver who hit Edwards was traveling 50 mph in a 20 mph zone. And Edward's driveway is hidden behind a sharp curve.
"I am anxious to go across the street and get my mail," Edwards said. "You've got to do something better about enforcing the traffic laws."
The Traffic Committee agreed to start with traffic and speed counts on the road.
A self-proclaimed "traffic watcher," Joel Gardner sees it getting worse. Gardner, executive director of Ozark Regional Transit, came to the committee because the heavy traffic on East Robinson Avenue -- where the offices and bus garage are located -- leaves his drivers waiting quite a while for a chance to enter traffic.
Gardner said the traffic has increased exponentially in last three, non-covid-19 years.
Members include representatives of the city's Engineering, Public Works, Police and Fire departments, who can work together to better the situation.
"We can get together and everybody can get hands-on," Gardner said.
Quick Fix
Signs by the road and stripes on the road can improve traffic in many instances, Carr said.
For example, a three-way stop at the corner of South Pleasant Street and West Maple Avenue might provide drivers a break to make a left turn. Or the city could paint lanes -- including a turn lane -- to point drivers to a solution, he said.
A problem on Pleasant Street was brought to light last fall when Patrick Hall emailed the committee to complain about buses traveling too fast in a 20 mph zone.
Hall said Pleasant Street offers a north-south route for drivers wanting to miss traffic on Thompson Street. Pleasant also provides access to two schools, the Public Library, Murphy Park and the Aquatic Center.
The west side of the street is residential, and bikers and walkers transverse the area, Hall added.
Carr said the committee would have the Public Works striping staff investigate and bring their expertise to the table. The road is wide, which often makes drivers feel they can go faster, he said.
"We really depend on the sign division and the Police Department," he said. "They know the streets. They are out there more. They can go see, and we'll have a lot better knowledge."
Signs and stripes have drawbacks, Carr said.
"If you start to see a lot of signs, it becomes sign pollution and drivers start to ignore them," he said. "It's too much information."
Signs also provide only the necessary information, he continued. A sign reserving parking spaces for handicapped drivers needs to say just that. Carr said it doesn't need to say parking without a sticker could result in fines and how much they are. Drivers recognize the sign and what's expected of them.
"And the Police Department can easily add patrols or traffic enforcement," Carr said. "Especially if the problems happen at certain times of the day."
Police Capt. Derek Hudson agreed. He said traffic officers will take each item on the agenda and investigate themselves, looking for a way to improve the situation even if the Traffic Committee doesn't take any action on an agenda item.
"Our guys deal with it every day and might be facing the same problems as the motorists," he said.
Follow the Map
Carr said the Engineering Department follows the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The manual gives cities guidance on signs, striping and other traffic matters to ensure consistency in cities across the nation. For example, drivers will see the same sign for handicapped parking in Fayetteville, Rogers or Seattle and know what it means, he said.
The committee also follows the city's Traffic Calming Policy, approved by the City Council in 2014.
The measures listed in the policy are intended to reduce drivers cutting through neighborhoods, reduce speed in neighborhoods, increase bicycle and pedestrian safety and control traffic flow at intersections. The plan is available on the city's website.
Any changes to the current street design must be backed by data from speed studies, vehicle and pedestrian counts, through-traffic surveys, accident records and intersection capacity, the policy explains.
Nor can the solution shift the problem to another street or neighborhood or delay arrival of emergency response vehicles.
And the changes must stay within the parameters of the city's Street Plan.
"I think it's important for people to know we can't always just do it," Carr said. "We have to follow the proper procedures and do what's right for everybody."
And what the city can afford.
Paint and signs are easily affordable, but items such as signals, guardrails, bollards or speed bumps must be added as individual items to the next year's budget.
For example, speed bumps for both sides of a street cost $3,500,
The city doesn't use traditional speed bumps because the Fire Department's trucks have a low clearance and get can caught and damaged on bumps. The city instead considers speed cushions, which have breaks at the width of the Fire Department's axles.
Speed tables such as the ones in front of the Jones Center also work, said Assistant Fire Chief Jim Vaughan.
The city's street plan also calls for more narrow streets through neighborhoods, a common traffic-calming tool.
First Steps
Gardner said he was happy the Traffic Committee is available to those who live, work and drive in Springdale.
In his quest for a stop at Robinson and Dick Smith Street, he has spent the last six or eight months bouncing between various state agencies. Robinson also holds the designation of U.S. 412, therefore only the Arkansas Department of Transportation can make decisions about the road.
Carr brought him to the Traffic Committee meeting, which can study the intersection and make recommendations to the state. Carr also was pragmatic, telling Gardner it might take months or years before he sees a stopping measure at the intersection.
"I understand this is the first step to formally request a traffic signal there," Gardner said.
Edwards said he is glad the city will study the traffic on New Hope. But he's worried speed bumps the city plans to place on Dearing Avenue, the next street north, will send more speeders to his road. Dearing, New Hope and Johnson Mill Road all serve as shortcuts to Arkansas 112 when Interstate 49 backs up.
"We're growing," he said. "And we aren't alone in having traffic on our street. And I don't want a fix here to change traffic somewhere else. It's going to go somewhere."