Traffic consistency
Hays Vice Mayor Ron Mellick's suggestion that there should be consistency in the city's traffic flow is valid. The commissioner's recommendation for implementing this concept on 27th Street between Hall and Plum, however, is not.
The idea of eliminating on-street parking and creating a middle turning lane in this stretch is not new. A 2004 traffic study set this particular project as a medium-priority item.
"This has come up many times ... I think it's time to do it," Mellick said at Thursday's city commission work session. He believes a three-lane design could improve traffic flow, particularly during peak hours.
We respectfully disagree with the suggested street alteration, based on a number of factors:
* A Hays Police Department accident log revealed 18 accidents took place on this portion of 27th Street during all of 2006 and 2007. While that number is high for a one-half mile stretch, all of the accidents involved vehicles pulling onto 27th Street -- not trying to turn off of it. In fact, most of the accidents involved people backing out of their driveways.
* While parking already is banned on the north side of the street, there are a number of residents living on the south side who do take advantage of the on-street parking. Feedback solicited from residents in the area by city staff recently indicated a strong desire to maintain that availability. Citizens cited not enough room for off-street parking on their lots, fear of decreased property values and wanting to keep the 30-mph traffic farther away from the curbs and sidewalks.
* Changing this segment to one through lane in each direction with a two-way left-turn lane in the middle still will leave 27th a little inconsistent. The patterns near Vine and west of Hall both feature two through lanes in each direction and a left-turn lane in the middle.
As we mentioned, the desire for consistency is admirable. We don't believe, however, that it is appropriate in this particular instance. The city commission should side with those affected most by such a restriping: The citizens who reside there.
Editorial by Patrick Lowry
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