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Lincoln Daily News
520 Broadway Street
Lincoln, IL 62656
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To the Editor:
I would like to share my experience with our city council's
decision-making process regarding safety concerns on the narrow
section of Elm Street between 8th Street and 10th Street.
Many residents have raised concerns about this stretch of road. The
speed limit on Elm Street is the same as on Woodlawn: 30 mph. But
let's be honest, how many drivers actually travel the posted speed
limit? With no stop signs along Elm Street, many motorists see
little reason to slow down. When two larger vehicles pass each
other, drivers have to be careful not to lose a side-view mirror.
The situation becomes even more dangerous at the intersections.
Drivers traveling on 9th Street in either direction must often pull
partway into Elm Street before they can see approaching traffic
because of limited visibility.
Several options were proposed to address these safety concerns. For
reasons that remain unclear, council members focused almost
exclusively on converting this section of Elm Street into a one-way
street. However, there was little agreement on where stop signs
should be placed at the "pinch point" where Elm Street narrows near
10th Street. Some council members argued that these changes would be
inconvenient for drivers.
[to top of second column in this letter] |
What
was never seriously discussed was another proposal: making the intersections of
9th Street and Elm Street a four-way stop. Such a change could improve
visibility, allow drivers to navigate the blind spots more safely, and help
reduce speeding. Then again, I suppose stop signs are considered an
inconvenience to drivers as well.
The one-way proposal was approved
twice, and twice the council reversed its decision. In the end,
aside from posting reduced speed limit signs, council members chose
to take no meaningful action.
So much for Decision-Making 101.
At the end of the day, the narrow section of Elm Street remains
unchanged. Drivers will continue to speed, or not. Motorists will
continue to contend with blind spots. Pedestrians will continue
walking in the roadway because there is no continuous sidewalk. And
I will continue to grow sunflowers in the patch near the alley, even
though they partially block the view for drivers turning unto Elm
Street. Why? Because, unlike our city council, I made a decision;
those sunflowers make me happy.
Sincerely,
Margie Douglas
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