OMAHA, Nebraska (KMTV) — A big change at 50th and Underwood Avenue is causing mixed feelings among neighbors. It’s one of 10 intersections where the city is evaluating the need for a traffic light in the area.
- It requires the city to determine the need for a traffic light in the area based on federal criteria such as traffic volume, wait times, gaps in traffic and accidents.
- City traffic engineer Jeff Riesselman said via email that current traffic volume data at all of these locations no longer meets the national standard for a traffic light.
- Therefore, this 4-way stop is initially available to neighbors for at least 60 days.
TRANSCRIPT OF THE MISSION:
Hesitation and confusion about right of way, a few near misses, but also reduced speeds. These are some of the things reporter Molly Hudson saw on Thursday at the intersection of 50th Street and Underwood Avenue.
The temporary change to a 4-way stop is part of the city’s master plan to modernize and upgrade traffic signals. The city must determine the need for a traffic signal in the area based on federal criteria such as traffic volume, wait times, gaps in traffic and accidents.
Molly Romero, president of the neighborhood association, is pleased with the change after it was first discussed 12 years ago.
“We hope that this evaluation shows that the number of accidents has decreased and pedestrian confidence has increased,” said Romero.
But Hudson found that the change was met with mixed opinions.
“I just drove through and traffic is slower,” said William Schwening, a neighbor from Dundee.
But neighbor Raven Rose, who often walks, thinks it is unsafe.
“I don’t know if it will be re-education, but it will be re-education, and at what cost? Will it have to be a life, will it be a child,” Rose said.
Trilety Wade, a neighbor and co-founder of Safe Omaha Streets, agrees with the change.
“I believe the design is safe, although it can be dangerous for drivers to drive through. So it’s more of a driver behavior issue and we can address that through education and perhaps enforcement,” Wade said.
And it’s not just Dundee.
There are ten locations that the city is currently examining.
- Florence Blvd and Clark St
- 50th St and Underwood Ave
- Florence Blvd and Spencer St
- 12th St and Fahey St
- 132nd St and Sky Park Dr
- 16th St and Cass St
- 18th St and Dodge St
- 168th St and Harney St
- 18th St and Douglas St
- 30th St and Webster Plz
City traffic engineer Jeff Riesselman said via email that current traffic volume data at all of these locations no longer meets the national standard for a traffic light.
Therefore, this 4-way stop is initially available to neighbors for at least 60 days.
Throughout the study, neighbors will be invited to provide feedback on their experiences in this online comment form.