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City mulls options at Norris and H
McCOOK, Neb. — A busy intersection in McCook was discussed by the McCook City Council, City staff and pubic citizens Monday night.
After discussing options concerning kids crossing the Norris Avenue and H Street intersection, Mayor Mike Gonzales directed city staff to bring back to a future council meeting an analysis of those options and a possible an action item.
City Manager Nate Schneider said he wasn’t sure if a cross walk at that intersection is the best option for several reasons, including the high number of turning traffic and that cross walks can give kids a false sense of security. He said a previous study found 3,260 vehicles per day at that intersection, but it’s not the most busiest street in McCook, which is J Street at 4,000 vehicles per day. It is, however, one of the most used intersections during certain points of the day to get from the east side of McCook to the west side, Schneider said, most notably in the mornings from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., again when school is dismissed, from about 3 to 3:45 p.m. and in the early evening, from about 4:45 to 6:15 p.m, so traffic flow is a consideration.
Schneider said he and Public Works Director Kyle Potthoff drove around McCook, noting current crosswalks and other high-traffic areas and came to the conclusion that a cross walk at East G and Norris would work better for children. This is a less busy street and would draw children away from crossing at H Street and Norris and also address children walking to and from Central Elementary.
Other options brought up by the council and city staff were pedestrian-activated stop lights and a four-way stop at Norris/H Street. Greg Wolford, street superintendent, said a large portion of traffic on Norris/H Street is turning traffic, with much less traffic on East G.
Det. Kevin Hodgson of the McCook Police Department presented to council his review of traffic accidents for the past three years at Norris Avenue and H Street. He found there was a total of seven, with two needing medical attention: car versus car and the other, car versus a bike.
Noting the relatively low vehicle accidents at the intersection, Councilman Jerry Calvin said kids have been crossing that intersection rather safely through the years. He added there are other intersections that also have high traffic during the day, such as West Seventh and J and West Third and M, by the city pool.
Councilman Jarod Muhlenkmap said his concern is with distracted drivers using cell phones while driving. The Norris/H Street intersection is definitely an issue, he said and wondered if kids going to and from the park and library would actually use a crosswalk at G Street.
Former City Councilman Bruce McDowell told the council that keeping the traffic flow should not be the priority. People can get across town in five minutes so slowing down at an intersection shouldn’t be an issue for drivers, he said. Although he doesn’t want it to cost a “pile of money,” McDowell said a cross walk on Norris and H makes the most sense, as asking traffic to slow down a bit is not asking too much when it comes to kids’ safety.
Keri Galarneau, parent of three children, said she visits the library and Norris Park often with her kids and a cross walk would help kids understand how to cross Norris Avenue. A crosswalk at Norris/G Street would be good for Central students, but doesn’t eliminate the need for a cross walk at Norris/H Street, she said. Another parent, Tasha Blomstedt, agreed that a cross walk at Norris/H Street is a good idea as it helps teach kids the right way to cross the intersection. Blomstedt said she’s seen a lot of near-accidents at Norris/H Street, with some kids crossing from the islands. She suggested that the number of pedestrians be counted at the intersection instead of just vehicle numbers.