Mobilized.
Word spread quickly Tuesday that the DOT had its eyes on Hillsboro’s main intersection — Caledonia Ave. and ND Hwy. 200. The counting had begun.
A 12-hour traffic count — a recount, as it were — would determine the fate of the four-way stop at the crossroads of the town’s two busiest streets. An initial count in November suggested a two-way stop was adequate. City officials and city residents disagreed. The N.D. Department of Transportation conceded to a second count — one residents were convinced would be a truer representation of the intersection’s heavy traffic flow.
At the suggestion of the Banner, the community was alerted to the count and its ramifications. When the counters were spotted the community mobilized and the town’s regular daily traffic was re-routed through the intersection to be counted.
“Stand and be counted. Drive and be counted,” this page urged last week. This week we say, “Job well done.”
Hillsboro residents sent a strong message Tuesday to the DOT — in bold face letters and underlined — a four-way stop is needed; don’t change it.
We’re still waiting for the official word from the DOT on what Tuesday’s numbers revealed. Judging from the steady flow of cars, trucks, scooters, pickups, bicyclers and pedestrians, we feel confident the numbers will convince DOT the four-way ought to stay.
We applaud the individual efforts of local residents who rallied around the cause Tuesday. One car at a time, one footstep at a time, we were counted. Special credit goes to our school kids whose phy. ed. class for the day included a walk downtown.
Acting as individuals, we spoke in one, united voice, shouting that Hillsboro — divided by a busy highway — wants to keep a safe crossing to unite its neighborhoods.
Stand and be counted. United we stand.
DOT counters see community mobilize
May 18, 2007 · 4 Comments
Categories: Banner Editorial
4 responses so far ↓
Former Resident // May 24, 2007 at 6:49 am
As a person who grew up in Hillsboro, I understand the desire to keep the stop sign in place. What I disagree with is artificially increasing traffic counts to get what you want. Do you really want you children to think they can get their way by cheating and circumventing the system. I would also challenge anyone who wanted the wider street to count how many cars are ever parked on the street.
gailmooney // May 24, 2007 at 10:01 am
I would agree, except that the DOT did their first count in November of last year which was jaded to the other side of the spectrum. In November you aren’t going to find nearly the foot traffic, bike traffic or truck traffic that you’re gong to find in the months from April to October. Our kids are certainly not as apt to be going to school on foot when it is cold - not if they can help it anyway. So, I would hope that the state would take into account both ends of the jaded spectrum, realize that there is a middle ground of traffic that is still unacceptably busy to trust our children to. I think the greater lesson to our children is that if we act upon a situation - together and loudly - that change can be effected. There is nothing dishonorable in this and is an ideal worth standing, walking, or driving for.
Editor // May 24, 2007 at 10:41 am
We had the blessing of the DOT’s Fargo office to “mobilize” our community on the day of the traffic count. We didn’t hide what we were doing. We didn’t cheat.
Scoop // July 26, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Yes you did. You organised citizen action to skew the results to meet your own preconcieved idea of an ideal outcome. Other towns may well follow your example, and the next thing you will be fighting is the increased taxes to pay for all the new works.
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