Published: March 26, 2008 12:31 am            

WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM: Garden St. strip lacks stop sign, parking signs, sidewalks

The stretch of Garden Street between Adam and Vine streets in Lockport can be hazardous, according to a Union-Sun & Journal reader — and a Lockport councilman said the city will take a look at it.

A reader who lives near the Adam and Vine streets section of Garden told the US&J there are several issues with the section. These include the lack of sidewalks on one side, no stop sign at the Adam and Garden intersection and a lack of parking signs farther down Garden. The lack of a stop sign has caused some problems for drivers traveling on Garden.

“I live near this section of Garden and have seen many incidents of vehicles not yielding for cars or pedestrians when they are turning off Adam onto Garden,” she said.

Councilman at Large Joe Kibler said the spot is an assumed stop. Drivers turning from Adam to Garden Street are supposed to yield to pedestrians and drivers traveling on Garden. Kibler said the city’s traffic advisory board would take a look at it, anyway.

“It’s just courtesy,” he said of the assumed stop. “It’s really basic driving. But I’ll have a look at it.”

Another issue for the reader: There’s no sidewalk on the north side of the section of the street. Pedestrians heading toward Vine Street would have to walk on the south side. Kibler said when people walk in the city, they’ll have to cross streets at some time. Besides, adding sidewalks would be expensive.

“People would have to petition the city for it,” he said. “But their assessments would have to go up. That’s probably why they’re not there: People don’t want to pay for it. There are a lot of sections where we need sidewalks, but we just don’t have the money to pay for it.”

The third issue is that vehicles are allowed to park on both sides of the hill, heading toward Vine Street. The reader said it could be a dangerous situation because a person may not be able to see clearly in either direction.

Kibler said parking is allowed on both sides to accommodate the people living around Garden Street.

“Some of those buildings are old and built without parking space,” he said. “There are a lot of narrow streets here in the city.”

Kibler said all three issues would be looked at by the traffic board.

Contact reporter Joe Olenick

at 439-9222, ext. 6241.

        

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