MONROE - The death of an elderly woman while crossing a city street recently, prompted her neighbors to take action.
On Monday, about 15 residents showed up at the City of Monroe Public Safety Committee and convinced the city to put in signs for a four-way stop on 6th Street at 22nd Avenue.
"It's about time to do something," said one of the neighbors of Anna E. Niederberger, who died as a result her injuries following a collision with a vehicle at that intersection.
Niederberger, 82, died Sept. 18 at University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison from the injuries she sustained five days earlier while crossing the street. She was the first traffic fatality in Monroe in more than 15 years.
Citizens who spoke at the committee meeting said vehicles do not observe the 25 mile-per-hour speed limit along the stretch from 20th Avenue to the new Justice Center near 30th Avenue. Some vehicles travel as fast as 50 miles per hour they said.
Councilman Jan Lefevre said she has asked Council for some traffic control at the intersection "numerous times" but her requests "always got shot down."
At the complaints of several residents, "I sat in a driveway, and never once was a car going the speed limit," she said. "I knew it was a matter of time before there was a fatality."
Terry Faith, who lives on St. Claire Court, close to where Niederberger lived, is concerned for her 12-year-old daughter who crosses 6th Street at 26th Avenue on the way to school.
Northside School is located about three blocks south of the Justice Center.
"Pets get hit, parked cars get hit, it's a constant, daily concern," she said.
City Engineer Supervisor Al Gerber said the 26th Avenue intersection became a four-way stop in 1993, which was taken out a few years later. A traffic study had been done for the 26th Avenue intersection prior to installing the stop signs in, but he did not recall a study being done for removal.
Gerber said he was not concerned about the committee installing signs at 22nd Avenue, based on a previous traffic study. However, the intersection at 6th Street and 26th Avenue needs a traffic study prior to any signs being erected, because of state statutes.
"It's still an arterial road for Highway 59, so that's why we have to go through the state," Gerber explained.
The residents indicated they wanted both intersections protected.
"If people have to slow down for stop signs (along 6th Street), maybe they will go around on the highway," a woman said.
Residents pointed out that the new Emergency Room entrance for Monroe Clinic will be on the north side, with easier access from 4th Street off of 18th Avenue.
The city may consider putting in more stop signs at 26th Avenue, a school crossing, once a traffic study is completed. Committee members placed the item on the Oct. 19 agenda.
On Monday, about 15 residents showed up at the City of Monroe Public Safety Committee and convinced the city to put in signs for a four-way stop on 6th Street at 22nd Avenue.
"It's about time to do something," said one of the neighbors of Anna E. Niederberger, who died as a result her injuries following a collision with a vehicle at that intersection.
Niederberger, 82, died Sept. 18 at University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison from the injuries she sustained five days earlier while crossing the street. She was the first traffic fatality in Monroe in more than 15 years.
Citizens who spoke at the committee meeting said vehicles do not observe the 25 mile-per-hour speed limit along the stretch from 20th Avenue to the new Justice Center near 30th Avenue. Some vehicles travel as fast as 50 miles per hour they said.
Councilman Jan Lefevre said she has asked Council for some traffic control at the intersection "numerous times" but her requests "always got shot down."
At the complaints of several residents, "I sat in a driveway, and never once was a car going the speed limit," she said. "I knew it was a matter of time before there was a fatality."
Terry Faith, who lives on St. Claire Court, close to where Niederberger lived, is concerned for her 12-year-old daughter who crosses 6th Street at 26th Avenue on the way to school.
Northside School is located about three blocks south of the Justice Center.
"Pets get hit, parked cars get hit, it's a constant, daily concern," she said.
City Engineer Supervisor Al Gerber said the 26th Avenue intersection became a four-way stop in 1993, which was taken out a few years later. A traffic study had been done for the 26th Avenue intersection prior to installing the stop signs in, but he did not recall a study being done for removal.
Gerber said he was not concerned about the committee installing signs at 22nd Avenue, based on a previous traffic study. However, the intersection at 6th Street and 26th Avenue needs a traffic study prior to any signs being erected, because of state statutes.
"It's still an arterial road for Highway 59, so that's why we have to go through the state," Gerber explained.
The residents indicated they wanted both intersections protected.
"If people have to slow down for stop signs (along 6th Street), maybe they will go around on the highway," a woman said.
Residents pointed out that the new Emergency Room entrance for Monroe Clinic will be on the north side, with easier access from 4th Street off of 18th Avenue.
The city may consider putting in more stop signs at 26th Avenue, a school crossing, once a traffic study is completed. Committee members placed the item on the Oct. 19 agenda.