4-Way Stop Approved for Ormond Lane

Correction: An earlier version of this article misspelled Ormond Lane. We regret the error.

After a yearlong fight to get a four-way stop installed at the intersection of Ormond Lane and Steinhart Avenue, members of the neighborhood prevailed Tuesday night when the voted unanimously to approve the new stop signs.

Previously, the intersection had a pair of stop signs on Steinhart Avenue, but none on Ormond Lane.

About two dozen residents signed a petition to have the stop signs installed. After performing a traffic study, the city engineering department found stop signs were unnecessary and recommended removing three parking spots from the intersection; however, the city's public works commission recommended the installation of stop signs.

At Tuesday's meeting, residents told councilmen that they opposed removing any parking spots because of the limited street parking available in the area.

"The worst thing that can happen on that corner is to take away parking spaces," said resident Howard Darvey. "There's no place to park except on these side streets."

Resident Joel Silverman agreed.

"Removing spots would be terrible," Silverman said. "The four-way stop would remedy the situation."

Nevertheless, Councilman Pat Aust said he was not convinced that installing a stop sign would make the intersection safer.

"I have a hard time envisioning how it would be significantly safer by installing a stop sign, if the only accident was somebody who didn't stop at the stop sign—they just blew through the intersection," Aust said.

However, he added, "I've been against every stop sign, but I'm going to vote for this one."