Southern York County Life

This is just a thought :idea: and I’m curious what folks think.  I’ve wondered if it would be better if the 4-corners at the RR Station (where Rte 851/Hill St. meets Rte 851/Pennsylvania Ave.) would be better as a 4-way stop rather than a 2 and 1/2 way stop.  Here’s my reasoning:

1. When approaching from Hill St. (roughly from the SSE) only those familiar with the intersection realize that those approaching from town on Pennsylvania Ave don’t have to stop if they’re turning right.  They can see the back of the stop sign but not the part that says it’s ok to turn right without stopping.

2.  Since the primary road, Rte. 851, makes a 90 degree turn at the intersection, many cars turning left when approaching from Shrewsbury do not use their turn signal.  Therefore cars coming down Hill St. could end up pulling in front of someone inadvertantly.

3.  Those coming from Shrewsbury and going straight up Hill St. tend to travel a bit fast.  That’s especially bad in the evenings when there are a lot of pedestrians getting snow balls or ice cream at the little shop on the corner, or when the RR is running.

4. Those approaching from roughly ESE on Pennsylvania Ave have a difficult time seeing around the shop to their left and thus have to pull out where a car coming from Shrewsbury and going straight could clip them.

There are a few other very minor issues but my overall thought is that a 4-way stop would reduce confusion and be safer at that location.  The only downside I see is that everyone has to stop, but I’ve seen pretty busy intersections operate effectively that way.  An example is in MD where Rte 23 meets Rte 146 South.

My guess is that the State may have jurisdiction over the intersection.  In any case, I’m really just curious what others think.  Perhaps you have another idea or like it just the way it is (likely if you only travel the part that is Rte. 851 at least).  Just seems not so ideal to me. 

Dan, Good idea, the thing you need to do is bring it up at a streets & roads committee meeting and see if they can do a traffic study in order to see if the intersection warrants a 4-way stop.  we have had a few bad crashes there in the past.  That intersection I believe is doing to be repaved at some point, I think when the Mill St project is being done.   

I support the implementation of a 4-way Stop there.  Not knowing that those that turn right to continue on 851 East can lead to misunderstandings, which in turn may lead to accidents.  A 4-way Stop removes the need to exercise what could be a risk interpretation of another’s intentions.

Add me to the list!
1) I have had three near misses over the past year due to someone not knowing or caring that I have no stop when turning right at the intersection.
2) The location of the “Yellow” candy store increases the number of children in the area.  The forced stop would make people look closer before driving on.
3) Right on red after stop provides a safer alternative for just a continued right of way.

Thanks for the idea.
Craig Brown  

I have forwarded this request and everyone’s comments to the Borough Office and to the Streets & Road committee for further discussion.

Thanks,
Jeff Bruening
Councilmand
Stewartstown Borough

I agree also :!: With the sno ball / candy store there are A LOT of children in that area now on bikes and what not :arrow: I think it would be safer.

Hope

Eh.  It wouldn’t bother me one way or the other.  Perhaps there wouldn’t be as many collisions (there are no accidents) if people would pay attention to driving and not their cell phone conversation, putting on make-up, fixing their hair, eating, reading, ect while driving.  And yes, there are a LOT of kids at that intersection.  Maybe a jersey wall so they can’t run out into traffic?  Of course, if the parents would actually watch them instead of letting them run wild (yes, I have 2 kids)....  That is another topic altogether.  As long as there is no stop light involved, I don’t mind one bit.  Go nuts, make the stop sign huge so the people from Md will actually stop (and yes, I used to live in MD but learned to drive in DC so I can make fun of the Baltimorons and I’m glad to hear I am not the only one who calls them that), put those cool little things in the road that make noise when you drive over them and wake up the kids, paint neon colors on the road by that snowball stand.  The day there is a stop light in town, my house goes on the market. 

An update on the 4-Way Stop Sign:

The folks from PennDot came down to Stewartstown and reviewed the site and came to the conclusion that a 4-way Stop Sign was not necessary.

They based this decision upon a 3 year crash history, geometric review, sight distance, speed data and the traffic volume.

What I did not see mentioned in the report was the safety concerns about pedestrians at the General Store or the Railroad.

I’ll keep everyone posted if the situation changes.

Thanks,
Jeff Bruening
Councilman, Stewartstown Borough