‘Do not pass’ sign to be added to Newcastle Way bus stop
October 9, 2011
By Christina Lords
New “do not pass” street signage has been added near the bus stop on Newcastle Way near the Coal Creek Parkway intersection in an effort to warn drivers not to pass buses loading and unloading passengers there.
The Newcastle City Council voted Sept. 6 to add the sign after members of the community, the council and the city’s Public Works Department expressed concern about drivers performing the dangerous, illegal lane changes.
The sign was installed in the landscape strip on the north side of Newcastle Way before the bus stop.
“We’ve heard from council members who feel strongly that there is a safety issue here,” Councilman Sonny Putter said. “It would be inappropriate for us to do nothing.”
The council opted out of Public Works Director Mark Rigos’ additional preferred alternative of adding about 10 mounted plastic traffic delineators along the route to create a physical barrier for motorists attempting to pass the bus.
Alternatives considered by the council also included increased police presence in the area, installing curbing along the route or taking no action on the issue.
Rigos said drivers who pass the bus illegally could ultimately cause a dangerous a head-on collision.
A $1,000 traffic study was conducted by consulting engineers to determine options to address the problem, and the sign and its installation should cost about $500, Rigos said.
Drivers have a tendency to leave the westbound travel lane to pass the stopped bus — which blocks the traffic lane and bike lane because there is no bus pullout at the location — in the center lane and move back into the westbound lane. A vehicle crosses the double yellow line twice every time a driver performs the illegal maneuver.
The stop serves two weekday Metro bus routes, and there are 39 individual stops made at the Newcastle Way location each day. The stop is just west of the intersection with Coal Creek Parkway.
Members of the Public Works Department will review the effectiveness of the sign and report back to the City Council once it has been installed, Rigos said.
Comments
Got something to say?
Before you comment, please note:
- These comments are moderated.
- Comments should be relevant to the topic at hand and contribute to its discussion.
- Personal attacks and/or excessive profanity will not be tolerated and such comments will not be approved.
- This is not your personal chat room or forum, so please stay on topic.
