Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Release #07-04

Contact: Kay Sarlin (212) 442-7033

DOT to Install New All-Way Stop Signs in the Castle Hill Section of the Bronx

New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Iris Weinshall today announced the approval of new all-way stop signs at the intersection of Watson and Olmstead Avenues in the Castle Hill section of the Bronx. DOT received a request from the community in the late summer of 2006 and engineers performed a traffic study during the fall. A new all-way stop was approved for this location in late December and the new signs will be installed by the end of January 2007.

"I want to thank the community for bringing this busy intersection to our attention," said DOT CommissionerWeinshall. "With three schools in the immediate vicinity of this intersection, it's important that children can cross the street safely."

DOT often receives requests from the public for traffic control devices. Engineers are then dispatched to examine the existing conditions at each location. Factors such as vehicular and pedestrian volumes, accident experience, vehicular speeds, visibility, signal spacing and the proximity of schools are all taken into consideration.

DOT engineers evaluate this activity, using standards established by the federal government, to determine the best means to assign right-of-way at the particular location. They may also evaluate if other measures, such as speed limit signs, narrowing of lanes, speed reducers, or increased traffic enforcement are necessary.

The standards for traffic control devices can be found in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which is published by the Federal Highway Administration.

—30—