After several meetings of contentious discussion, the Perry City Council has reached a decision on the North Street stop signs.

The Council decided that while a four-way stop was warranted at the intersection of North and 16th streets, the same couldn’t be said for North and 18th streets. Instead, only the eastbound traffic at the intersection will be stopped. While Councilmember Dean Berkland dissented, the Council approved the second reading of the ordinance, then waived the rules and held the final reading at the same meeting. The ordinance is now in place, and the stop signs on 18th Street have been removed.

Since the completion of the North Street project, there has been a three-way stop at the intersection. To make sure motorists adjust quickly to the change, the City will erect a sign saying “Cross Traffic Does Not Stop.” However, the public works department said the sign won’t be placed for another three weeks. City Administrator Sven Peterson says the City will monitor the 18th and North Street intersection closely, particularly when the “Let’s Connect” trail project is completed.

“The other really big thing that we’ll be monitoring and kind of keeping an eye on of how that affects that intersection, is the connection of the High Trestle Trail and possibly the traffic coming through on that. (We’re) kind of concerned about the safety of folks coming across there with the traffic coming and going. Just something that we’ll be keeping an eye on and monitoring over the years. If it becomes necessary someday, that’s a possibility that the Council could take it back up and put up stop signs.”

There will be traffic counters in place on 18th Street for the first few weeks of the school year, so the City can keep an eye on the traffic patterns. They will also use counters next summer and at the start of the 2018-19 school year. To hear more about the recent City Council meeting, listen to Tuesday’s Perry Fareway Let’s Talk Dallas County program at RaccoonValleyRadio.com.