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Minor traffic inconsistencies around Dodge City's city limits were addressed Monday after the Ford County Commission approved three new resolutions directed at clearing up several muddy issues.
The problems, ranging from illegal U-turns near the high school to speeding in residential areas, were presented by Ford County engineer John Halbgewachs and Ford County Sheriff Dean Bush.
The biggest issue came from 110 Road, Bush said, also known as 14th Avenue inside the city limits. Because of large-scale traffic back-ups as students and parents attempt to turn west onto Ross from 14th, some would drive in the right-hand lane past Ross Boulevard.
Once past the intersection, Bush said, drivers would flip a U-turn and turn right onto Ross.
"I've seen way too many near-misses," Bush said. "Something needs to be done."
Although U-turns are already illegal near the intersection, Bush said because it wasn't clearly labeled, there were many who may not understand they were breaking the law.
Halbgewachs said posting a "No U-turn" sign near the intersection would give law enforcement a little more heft behind the ordinance.
"It allows us to put up the signs so we can enforce the signs," he said. "It gives us bigger teeth."
The other two traffic adjustments boiled down to public safety, allowing the county engineer to post speed limit signs in various county residential areas. According to state law, unless otherwise noted, the county speed limit is set at 55 miles per hour.
However, County Administrator Ed Elam said he had received complaints from residents around Wagon Wheel Drive that drivers were speeding down the dead-end street at high speeds.
Although Bush said he personally hadn't received any calls, and the issue may have boiled down to pleasing a small group of people, he tended to be conservative when it came to residential speed limits.
"I feel that in housing areas, it should be lower than the presumed 55 miles per hour," he said.
Commissioner Terry Williams agreed with Bush, saying posting new limits wouldn't be considered overreacting.
"I don't think that's beyond what should be done," he said. "I don't think, in this situation, it's overkill."
Speed limit signs will designate the area as a 30 mph zone.
Similarly, the area along Wilroads Gardens will also be bumped down to 30 mph, except near the school, where it will be 20 mph.
Reach Mark Vierthaler at (620) 408-9932 or e-mail him at mark.vierthaler@dodgeglobe.com.
Minor traffic inconsistencies around Dodge City's city limits were addressed Monday after the Ford County Commission approved three new resolutions directed at clearing up several muddy issues.
The problems, ranging from illegal U-turns near the high school to speeding in residential areas, were presented by Ford County engineer John Halbgewachs and Ford County Sheriff Dean Bush.
The biggest issue came from 110 Road, Bush said, also known as 14th Avenue inside the city limits. Because of large-scale traffic back-ups as students and parents attempt to turn west onto Ross from 14th, some would drive in the right-hand lane past Ross Boulevard.
Once past the intersection, Bush said, drivers would flip a U-turn and turn right onto Ross.
"I've seen way too many near-misses," Bush said. "Something needs to be done."
Although U-turns are already illegal near the intersection, Bush said because it wasn't clearly labeled, there were many who may not understand they were breaking the law.
Halbgewachs said posting a "No U-turn" sign near the intersection would give law enforcement a little more heft behind the ordinance.
"It allows us to put up the signs so we can enforce the signs," he said. "It gives us bigger teeth."
The other two traffic adjustments boiled down to public safety, allowing the county engineer to post speed limit signs in various county residential areas. According to state law, unless otherwise noted, the county speed limit is set at 55 miles per hour.
However, County Administrator Ed Elam said he had received complaints from residents around Wagon Wheel Drive that drivers were speeding down the dead-end street at high speeds.
Although Bush said he personally hadn't received any calls, and the issue may have boiled down to pleasing a small group of people, he tended to be conservative when it came to residential speed limits.
"I feel that in housing areas, it should be lower than the presumed 55 miles per hour," he said.
Commissioner Terry Williams agreed with Bush, saying posting new limits wouldn't be considered overreacting.
"I don't think that's beyond what should be done," he said. "I don't think, in this situation, it's overkill."
Speed limit signs will designate the area as a 30 mph zone.
Similarly, the area along Wilroads Gardens will also be bumped down to 30 mph, except near the school, where it will be 20 mph.
Reach Mark Vierthaler at (620) 408-9932 or e-mail him at mark.vierthaler@dodgeglobe.com.
