The Willow Glen Resident Council Watch Willow St. neighbors ask the city council for a stop sign Despite previous denials, neighbors maintain hope By Cecily Barnes After being denied twice for a stop sign at the corner of Willow Street and Camino Ramon, members of the group Willow Glen Neighbors Interested in a Safer Willow Street are taking their concerns straight to the San Jose City Council. On Nov. 17, the council will vote on whether to meet the neighborhood's stop sign request, or to side with the Department of Streets and Traffic, which has recommended against it. "I think the chances are very good, as long as people have the time to go out again," said Patsy Neher, who has led the neighborhood effort for a stop sign. "If [the council] thinks rationally, and if they think in terms of what is best for the neighborhood, then, yes, they will grant it." On two previous occasions, however, neighborhood requests for the stop sign were denied. Senior traffic engineer Joe Garcia explains that a stop sign on Willow Street would hinder the flow of traffic, cause back-ups and pose additional safety concerns. "Willow Street is on the general plan as a major collector and carries over 10,000 vehicles a day. When you put a stop sign on a major street you create congestion and people will cut through the surrounding neighborhoods," Garcia said. "Also, when the side street volumes are a lot less than the major street, people violate the stop signs, because they don't feel it's necessary to stop." On behalf of the Department of Streets and Traffic, Garcia will recommend against the stop sign at Tuesday's council meeting. Neighbor Patsy Neher knows that Garcia will speak against the stop sign, but says she's not worried, because his reasoning makes no sense. "That there are too many cars traveling down Willow?" she asks. "That's an illogical reason. If anything, that's a reason why we should get a stop sign." According to Michelle McGurk, aide to District 6 Councilman Frank Fiscalini, neighbors stand a chance of winning approval from the council. "Our office policy has always been if the residents want a stop sign, than the city should give it a try," McGurk said. "I think it will be one of those situations where the neighbors need to show up and make a really good case to the City Council. They need to present a brief and concise case." The stop sign fight began 14 months ago when Neher and other neighbors complained to the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association that large trucks rumbling down Willow Street chased bicyclists out of bike lanes, rattled windows, and polluted the air. Three weeks after this initial complaint, 55-year-old Mary Nail was struck and killed by a car while crossing Willow Street on her way to Willow Street Park. The tragedy impelled neighbors to take further action; however, their formal request for a stop sign was denied. The San Jose Traffic Appeals Commission also denied the stop sign request, and the City Council will be the last stop on the appeal process. According to McGurk, what the neighbors have to say will weigh heavily with the council. [ Back to Contents Page | Willow Glen Resident Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Willow Glen Resident, November 18, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.