Stop Sign Could Make Neighborhood Safer

After an impromptu softball game featuring some all-star neighborhood kids wrapped up near Crosby Avenue on Monday night, a few neighbors stood on the street talking.

The street is busy with people as well as cars, and if l approves a stop sign—to be placed on Hillsdale Avenue at Crosby Avenue—neighbors said it could make their community a whole lot safer.

“We have about 18 kids that live in this block (of Crosby),” said resident Sean Lach. “Speeding, at certain times, is up.”

On Monday, Dormont Council accepted a from the borough’s Traffic and Parking Planning Commission. The recommendations range from adding the stop sign on Hillsdale, to , and adding traffic calming devices, such as speed bumps, to some borough roads.

Council President Bill McCartney said there are about 13 recommendations in the report, and that council will review them and plans to vote on them at the July meeting.

Some of the issues—like adding a stop sign—are relatively simple and likely won’t require much discussion, he said. Others are more complicated and should be reviewed by the borough’s engineers, Gateway Engineers.

The stop sign would be a small but effective step in making Dormont streets a bit safer, especially at the corner of Crosby and Hillsdale, neighbors said.

In addition to the children in the neighborhood, most of whom are elementary age, Crosby also is a busy street for runners and dog walkers. People often walk from the neighborhood to nearby for exercise, or to attend events.

Traffic is heavy, especially during rush hour when neighbors said the street often is used as a cut-through to avoid West Liberty Avenue. A stop sign at the corner would help slow down traffic, and they’re looking forward to seeing one there.

“I think they’ll put one in,” Lach said. “It would definitely make the street safer. The fear is just that I don’t want them to react after something happens.”

Council plans to discuss the Traffic and Parking Planning Commissions recommendations at the next council meeting, which is scheduled for June 25 at 7 p.m.

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