Data from a traffic study conducted in February does not warrant a change of traffic control devices at
the intersection of West Wooster Street and Haskins Road.
Data for the update was collected Feb. 13 as a result of citizen requests in 2013. The technical study
was completed by DLZ, an architecture, engineering, planning, surveying and construction services firm
based in Columbus. The same firm did a study of the Haskins Road area for the city in 2007.
City Engineer Troy Sonner said the scope of the traffic consultant’s work was only to evaluate the
intersection for a traffic signal or a change to an all-way stop based on current and projected traffic
numbers and crash history.
DLZ points out that the Ohio Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices has nine signal warrants, and
requires one or more to be met to justify a traffic signal. DLZ determined that four of the nine
warrants could be applied to this intersection and were the only ones considered.
The five warrants not considered were peak hour traffic, school crossing, coordinated signal system,
roadway network and intersection near a grade (rail) crossing.
The eight-hour traffic requirement was met for six hours, the four-hour traffic requirement was met for
two hours, and a warrant for pedestrian traffic was not reached at any time.
From 2009 through 2013 five correctable crashes were with three of those in a 12-month period. To meet
the crash warrant five crashes must occur within 12 months.
During a brief discussion of the report during Monday night’s BG City Council meeting, At-Large
Representative Bruce Jeffers, who lives near the intersection, said he does not feel comfortable as a
pedestrian at the intersection. He suggested there may be other safety measures that could be taken in
the area and called for future discussion.
At-Large Representative Robert McOmber said in reading the report he found data that indicated a couple
of the warrants are close to be being met. He suggested the intersection continued to be monitored.
"We have conducted more than one review there in the past five years," Municipal Administrator
John Fawcett said. "We will keep an eye on it."
The 38-page report contains numerous pages of graphs and charts to illustrate the data.