No Right-Turn Sign Draws Council Discussion

Maplewood residents living in the 7300 block of Flora Avenue are divided about whether a no right-turn sign should or shouldn't remain posted at the corner of Flora and Arbor avenues.

The sign prohibits westbound traffic on Arbor from turning right onto Flora. The no right turn is an inconvenience for homeowners living on that block, but it also prevents cut-through traffic; and that's the central debate.

Laura Miller attended a Maplewood City Council meeting on Tuesday night and asked for the sign to be removed.

"It's a cut-through street. It's always been a cut-through street. It’s not a street meant for kids; it’s meant for vehicles,” she said.

Mark Langston, the former mayor who lives on the street, said removing the sign would increase traffic on the street.

“I don’t see why this needs to be done," he said. "If that’s removed I think you’ll see a lot of people use that as a cut through."

Miller and Langston attended the meeting because Mayor James White sent letters to residents on the block and asked them to offer comment on the driving restriction. Another resident, Julie Pile, also asked for the sign to be removed.

Three residents e-mailed White their thoughts too: two in favor of removing the sign, one against it.

"As a parent of a 6 year old and a 6 month old, I would not like more traffic in front of my home," wrote Chris Ketcherside in an e-mail. "I purchased the house my family and I live in because it was on a quiet street."

White sought wider feedback in May 2010 when he posed a similar question in the Maple Leaf city newsletter. Out of those who responded, 12 block residents suggested the sign be removed while three asked to keep it in place, White said. Twelve to 14 more residents asked the sign be removed but they didn't live on the block.

During the meeting, White asked council members to consider removing the sign.

“Our streets should be designed to move traffic through our cities, not impede. I feel very strongly that this right turn should be removed,” he said.

Both ward 3 councilmen—who represent the block residents on city council—suggested the city poll each household before any vote is taken.

“I think the council would be better served to let the people on the street decide in a little bit more official capacity,” Ward 3 Councilman Shawn Faulkingham said.

Ward 3 Councilman Barry Greenberg suggested the city send letters to each home on the block. If most residents want the sign removed, then city council would vote to remove it. It's the same protocol followed when the city adds speed bumps to residential streets, like on nearby Elm Avenue.

The sign was originally added more than 15 years ago because it was meant to discourage traffic, Ward 2 Councilman Tim Dunn said.

High volumes of traffic poured through the streets because out-of-town drivers would cut through residential streets on their way to the Clayton area. Traffic volumes have decreased in recent years because a widened Big Bend Boulevard connects Interstate 44 with Highway 40, Dunn said.

Ward 1 Councilman David Cerven said residents should expect traffic on their streets.

"I understand that people like their privacy, but we don't have cul-de-sacs," he said. "We don't have these things that are designed to be private streets."

City Manager Marty Corcoran will draft a letter seeking input from each block resident before presenting the results to city council at its May 10 meeting.