McCullough and Stenger Street traffic light is still out, city considers alternatives

By DINA AREVALO
Special to the NEWS

Two months after an auto accident disabled the traffic signal at the intersection of McCullough and Stenger Streets, the city of San Benito is still weighing traffic control options.

Since the Oct. 8 incident, traffic at the intersection has been governed by temporary stop signs as well as a police officer directing traffic.

“We put an officer there. We told him to be there during the peak [traffic] times …,” Mayor Celeste Sanchez said Monday. She went on to say the city commission, which heard public comments regarding the intersection last week, has repair discussions on the agenda for next Tuesday’s meeting on Dec. 16.

The electrical box that controls the signal was damaged when a driver traveling west on Stenger Street failed to yield the right-of-way to a driver northbound on McCullough Street. The driver on McCullough Street struck the one traveling on Stenger Street, causing that driver to lose control of their vehicle and strike the control box, an aluminum utility pole, and a wooden utility pole, according to a police report obtained by the San Benito News.

After filing a report with the driver’s insurance company, the city sought cost estimates from the Texas Department of Transportation about repairing or modernizing the signal control mechanism. “It’s an older system. It’s been difficult to find parts for it,” said City Manager Manuel Lara. He said he is expecting work estimates from three vendors. In the meantime, the Public Works department installed permanent stop signs, he said.

Both the mayor and city manager said they have received positive feedback from residents now that the intersection has become a four-way stop, which has prompted inquiries about including protected left turn signals. “One person commented that the four-way stop lessened traffic congestion,” said Mayor Sanchez.

In a letter addressed to her, as well as the city commission, resident Joe Rodriguez, who lives near the intersection, states, “believe it or not, traffic has run ‘more smoothly’ due to the fact that everybody has to stop at the intersection” and makes it easier for him and his neighbors to exit their driveways during school hours. He went on to say the city should consider a “protected left turn option.” Speaking with the News Monday, Rodriguez elaborated, saying the city “should save money and leave it as a four-way stop.”

But Lara says McCullough Street may not be wide enough to accommodate a turning lane. “That’s another reason we’ve brought TxDOT in,” Lara said, to examine the “width of the road to see if it allows us to have a left turn signal.” Lara says the city is willing to consider a four-way stop if a turning lane is not possible. “We really appreciate all the comments from both sides,” he said. “We’re working on it,” he added.

Mayor Sanchez echoed that sentiment, saying she advised people to “drive safely. It’ll get fixed.”

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2014/12/09/16916/

7 comments

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    • Very Concerned on December 10, 2014 at 10:42 pm
    • Reply

    This is incompetence by the City. Period!

  1. As Mayor Celeste Sanchez said, “It’ll get fixed.”

    It will take some time because it involves an insurance company who has yet to commit via a signed document that they will recover the replacement value ($21,000). Just filing an insurance claim does not guarantee payment.

    If the City opts to upgrade, it will cost much more and any expenditures above $10,000 have to be presented to the City Commission for approval.

    Trust me, as a resident of this hood, traffic is much, much better now that permanent STOP signs have been erected at the intersection. Traffic flow has improved and SPEEDINGon North McCullough to beat the traffic light has been reduced but not eliminated.

    Now all we need from the City Commission is the adoption of an ordinance banning “DRIVING WHILE TALKING/TEXTING ON A MOBILE PHONE”. That is the true cause of the accidents at the intersection of Stenger and North McCullough.

    JR

    You can read my email to the City Commission HERE

    • Triple P on December 10, 2014 at 11:38 am
    • Reply

    “It’s an older system.”
    “It’s been difficult”
    “That’s another reason we’ve brought TxDOT in”
    “believe it or not”
    “should save money and leave it”
    “We’re working on it”

    If you haven’t read the full article, read it! Talk about an eye opener. The city has dropped the ball big time. Excuse after excuse. The city can’t find time to fix the road or the signs but promptly pave political/rich people roads. The city wants to grow, expand, and bring in more revenue but goes about it all wrong. One day there are stop signs. One day there aren’t. If you know it’s not fixed, leave them there.

    Stenger – excellent point.

    Alternatives – excellent point. Students walking before and after school aren’t safe. And it’s all thanks to the great City of San Benito mayor, manager, and other leaders and their inability to lead and provide resolution in a timely manner.

    • WeThePeople on December 10, 2014 at 10:02 am
    • Reply

    Stenger Street is a mess! How does the City continue to allow growth without ACTION! There is NO regulation when it comes to restricting traffic flow. How can they allow the tortillerias near McCullough crammed in with their customers backing directly out onto the street. ON Sundays, forget it! So much for City Code Enforcement.

    • Alternatives on December 10, 2014 at 8:23 am
    • Reply

    Maybe increased crashes and lawsuits to the city for negligence to those driving through the area (don’t forget the two SBCISD schools near by that so many students walk to through that intersection) will get the city moving to fix this problem sooner rather than later. Now that’s an alternative.

    • Stenger on December 10, 2014 at 8:19 am
    • Reply

    It’s no surprise the light hasn’t been fixed. Add that problem to the list of traffic problems:

    New apartments being built on Business 77 & Stookey Rd.
    the presence of the city’s Boy’s & Girls Club
    SBCISD Admin building
    baseball park
    new 510 rd construction to the expressway

    All things listed have led to increase traffic up and down Stenger Rd. from 510 to Sam Houston. The road has yet to be repaved (or striped in some areas) for years and years now.

    • Mr. X on December 9, 2014 at 11:01 pm
    • Reply

    You know, replacing the lights sounds mighty good right now.

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