Milton officials inch forward on all-way stops

Milton Town Council is easing into the lane when it comes to converting four intersections into all-way stops, approving a feasibility study on one, but tabling three others for further review.

The four intersections in question are Federal and Wharton streets, Federal and Union streets, Mulberry and Lavinia streets, and Mulberry and Magnolia streets and Lake Avenue. The proposal to create all-way stops at those intersections was brought by the streets and sidewalks committee. At its Nov. 7 meeting, council approved moving forward, by a 5-2 vote, with engineering feasibility studies on the intersection at Mulberry and Lavinia, but tabled the other three for various reasons. 

Improving pedestrian and traffic safety has been a priority. In October, council voted to move forward with design work to convert the intersection of Chestnut, Wharton and Atlantic streets into an all-way stop with improved sidewalks and ramps, and Delaware Department of Transportation is looking into a possible all-way stop at the intersection of Mulberry, Federal and Wharton streets as part of the traffic- impact study for the Granary at Draper Farm development.

At council’s Nov. 7 meeting, Mayor John Collier said an engineering study of Federal and Wharton wasn’t necessary because DelDOT is already doing it. Council was close to taking a vote on whether to pursue moving forward with an all-way stop anyway, but that motion was pulled back. 

Collier was supportive of considering changes to the intersection of Federal and Union streets, which serves as the town’s main artery, but he said the town was already seeking grant funding for a study there. Councilwoman Randi Meredith, who chairs the streets and sidewalks committee, said the Federal and Union intersection has significant right-of-way issues, a lack of clarity for when cars are supposed to go and a lack of pedestrian infrastructure. She said if the town was going to make changes there, it should make it an all-way stop since that is relatively inexpensive.

“This is an intersection that has been ignored purposefully, and I don’t think we can ignore it anymore because of the safety issues,” Meredith said.

Collier said the Federal and Union intersection is odd, but he believes the town could move forward with improvements by going through the grant process instead of paying for an engineering study. 

Meredith argued that while making changes can be scary, making improvements to the intersection would drastically improve the town center. 

Regarding the intersection of Mulberry and Magnolia with Lake Avenue, Collier said that one was a bit trickier because the intersections are not aligned. Council agreed to table it for further review. 

The Mulberry and Lavinia street intersections were the least controversial, as council moved forward with an engineering study, with council members Fred Harvey and Lee Revis-Plank voting no.