Finally, the stop signs residents pushed for… along with some startling news
Residents near the intersections of Kansas Avenue and Quincy Street NW spent the last few years asking for four-way stop signs at the intersection. Recently, the intersection saw two traffic collisions on the same day. The stop signs followed soon after.
The new stop signs on Kansas Avenue NW. Image by the author.
Whether you were on foot, bike, or car, poor lines of sight made it very hard to cross Kansas via Quincy when there were no stop signs. In asking DDOT to install stop signs in every direction at the intersection, Petworth ANC commissioners noted that they were a feature at almost every other four-way stop in the area.
Still, DDOT representatives refused the neighborhood’s requests for a long time, suggesting instead that the solution was to remove parking spaces to make it easier to see. Residents objected, saying doing so would both cut needed parking supply and entice people to drive faster on Kansas.
About a month ago, the community members turned up the pressure after yet another avoidable crash. On Saturday, July 11th, back-to-back collisions in the morning and afternoon prompted a deluge of neighborhood concern, expressed at the scenes of the crashes, over local listservs, and even in the Post.
The aftermath of the first July 11th crash. Image from a neighbor, who lives adjacent to the intersection.
Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon Todd, along with representatives from the mayor’s office, the police department, and DDOT, were quick to pay attention. DDOT’s representatives tracked traffic patterns and deployed a Traffic Control Officer.
On Thursday, July 16th, all-way stop signs went in at the intersection.
Neighbors are thrilled. People on foot no long have to detour around the intersection when walking with their children or pets, and drivers on Quincy have a much easier time crossing Kansas.
When it comes to traffic safety, there’s still work to do
Because the second July 11th crash was less serious than the first, officers at the scene didn’t file an official police report. When witnesses asked why, they learned that the Metropolitan Police Department doesn’t require reports on some minor collisions.
Given that DDOT decision makers consider the number of reported crashes at an intersection in a 12-month period when weighing whether or not (PDF) to install an all-way stop, MPD’s policy creates a dangerous information gap.
If crashes go unreported, are decisions that affect safety all that reliable? How many other intersections in DC meet the criteria for an all-way stop?