Bree emailed me to ask:
Have there been any posts concerning the new stop signs at the intersection of 3rd &; Bates? I feel like the stop signs popped up overnight (sometime this week), and I almost got smashed by a guy who ran through the sign this morning driving about 45 miles an hour.
Is there anything the city can do to draw more attention (temporary flashing light) to these new stop signs?
Do anyone know anything? I noticed them yesterday.
Bates Area Civic Association 
We can only guess what the city is doing. The stop signs do surve as a ‘traffic calming measure’ while not destroying the Metro Buses. The signs went up with no warning or justification. It will take drives a few days to get used to the new signs, so be CAREFUL. I would expect that more drivers will now avoid 3rd street. I would expect this traffic to shift to racing through the alley or down 1st street.
As a resident of Bates, I am glad about the new stop signs. I would normally have to creep out until I was basically in the middle of the road to get a decent view to oncoming traffic.
I agree with Peter – could never figure out why there wasn’t any sort of stop there…the number of times I have almost been hit creeping out of Bates to turn onto third was getting tiring…
Hopefully people will get used to the signs quickly. It would definately be good if there was a temporary flashing light or something indicating that the signs are there…
Neighbors,
The new stop signs at 3rd and Bates are the results of numerous past and more recent renewed efforts to gain attention from DDOT administrators about our transportation service needs. The request along with a another request for the same at Bates and First Streets, NW was submitted to DDOT several months ago. Although I was not informed ahead of time about the installation, I too am very happy that it’s finally happened.
The following DDOT service requests are pending for our neighborhood: (1) speed humps on Bates and 4th Streets; (2) repair of cracked brick and concrete sidewalks — First, 3rd, Bates, P, Q, R, 4th Streets, Richardson Court, and New Jersey Avenue; (3) repair of alleys behind and around Richardson Court onto 4th Street. Once the rains stop, I believe these services will commence, but will keep you informed.
Thanks for the information Anita, and for your efforts working with DDOT.
Thanks, Anita, for continuing the push for speed humps on 4th Street!
Lisa Bakke