GCPD presents traffic study results

GRUNDY CENTER - After concerns about vehicles speeding through town on G Avenue, the Grundy Center Police Department requested a TEAP (traffic engineering assistance program) study from the Iowa DOT to look at options that would potentially help reduce speeding in town.
Over a year after the study was initially requested, GCPD Police Chief Doug Frost presented the results of the survey - conducted by Snyder and Associates - to the city council during their most recent meeting.
“There’s been some concerns and calls about traffic uptown, and drivers speeding by while people are trying to cross the street and things like that,” Frost said. “So, after [the council] directed me to look into it, [Public Works Director] Dan [Bangasser] and I contacted the DOT and they recommended this TEAP study.”
For part of the study, Frost and officers on the police department were directed to take a traffic count of cars going through the area at different locations, the rest was done by Snyder and Associates.
Some of the main areas of concern that the study addressed were the pool crossing at 12th Street and G Avenue and the downtown area, from 4th St. to 9th St., where many pedestrians walk and cross the street, but also where many cars speed. When the council directed Frost to look into the TEAP study, they wondered if lowering the speed limit would help with the issue.
But, when the results of the TEAP study came back, it recommended not to lower the speed limit.
“The report recommends not to lower the speed limit because that could potentially be more dangerous and cause more accidents,” Frost said. “They recommended we leave the speed limit at 30 and shrink the road down from a four lane to a three lane, with one center lane to be used for turning in either direction.”
The study also recommended putting a pedestrian activated crosswalk sign with flashing lights at 12th Street and G Ave., for pedestrians to use when they want to cross the street.
For the full story, see this week's Grundy Register.