Council Discusses Reviewing Stop Signs in O'Fallon

discussed reviewing the placement of several stop signs throughout the city during its regular workshop meeting on Thursday.

Ward 2 Councilman Jim Pepper requested city staff consider removal of stop signs deemed “unnecessary.”

Pepper said having several signs placed in close proximity where there are no safety concerns wastes O’Fallon drivers’ time and money.

“It looks like there have been stop signs put in primarily as political appeasement or by the request of residents for traffic calming,” Pepper told O’Fallon Patch. “Stop signs should never be used for traffic calming, but for safety reasons.”

Pepper added that other means of traffic control, such as speed bumps or police monitoring of the areas, would be more effective.

Director of Steve Bender mentioned during Thursday’s workshop that a study done in 1990 found each stop cost driver’s 4 cents when gas was just $1.10 a gallon.

Pepper said stopping at multiple unnecessary signs is even more expensive for today’s drivers.

In addition to being expensive, Pepper said the signs create stop-and-go traffic jams throughout the city.

“All you have to do is drive along Legacy Point Drive, and you’ll see what I mean about unnecessary,” he said. “The signs are a block or two blocks apart, where there’s not a safety issue.”

He also sited Patriarch Court, where a stop sign is positioned a block away from another four-way stop, with only seven houses on a court.

On the other hand, Pepper said there are places in the city, for example, around school crossings, where he would like to see signs added.

Mayor Bill Hennessy said during the workshop that although he does not disagree with Pepper, he sees safety issues with removing and adding stop signs throughout the city.

He added that O’Fallon residents petitioned to put the signs up, and past council members approved them for safety reasons.

Pepper said that just because a past council approved an issue does not mean it’s set in stone.

“Sometimes you need to correct bad laws,” he said.

Ward 1 Councilman Rick Lucas agreed with Pepper that sometimes laws should be corrected, but said he wasn’t sure removing these signs would be a safe option.

“Some of these signs have been here for five to six years for what the council thought were valid reasons, and I’m leery of taking them out now,” he said.

Ward 5 Councilman Mark Perkins said he has seen accidents when signs are removed, and he would like to see city staff approach the issue cautiously and work through the public works department.

City Administrator Keith Riesberg said rather than have city staff review the stop sign placements, he would like to have residents submit petitions if they would like a sign added or removed.

Mayor Hennessy suggested Councilman Pepper start by sending his requests to Riesberg and Bender to take to public works for review. 

Check O'Fallon Patch next week for more city government news.