Johnston Council Determines No Warrant for Temporary Signal at NW 70th Ave. and NW 100th St. Intersection

The fight for a at the intersection of Northwest 70th Avenue and Northwest 100th Street is all but over.

During Monday's work session, the once again heard from residents about the need for a temporary light.

After a half hour of discussion, both parties agreed waiting for a permanent light at the intersection was the best solution.

City staff members presented information on a previous traffic study in the area, as well as a collection of police reports of traffic accidents.

The traffic study, completed in January 2011, showed no warrants for a traffic light at the intersection.

The accident reports collected showed only two accidents at the intersection over a four-year period.

At the beginning of the meeting Bill Mahanna, who collected 42 signatures on a petition for the temporary light, once again spoke to the council about the need at the busy intersection.

"There was a three-car crash there on Sunday," he said. "So, it's a dangerous intersection. If you look at the traffic flow pattern there's nothing there in the afternoon, but in the morning and evening it's very difficult to get across there."

The temporary signal would cost $35,000 to install and $1,800 to operate each year after.

However, Northwest 70th Street is slated for expansion in the 2014 capital improvement plan, at which time a light could be added, said City Manager Jim Sanders.

While it's possible the project could be pushed back, it could also move forward if the Johnston school district is successful in a bond issue for a proposed new high school in the same area.

If the project moves ahead, the temporary light would only be in use for about a year and a half before it's removed for construction on the road. So the city would spend nearly $37,000 for two years of use.

Councilman David Lindeman said he saw no warrant for the temporary signal, but understood the residents' concerns.

Mahanna said if something will be done in two years, he was fine waiting for a permanent signal.

Dana Garside said he agreed with Mahanna.

"I would like to see it done quicker," he said. "I don't want to be unrealistic, if we need a change and the high school will do that, we can wait. We can wait a year or so. I think there is progress being made."