Whitehouse Updates Controversial Stop Sign
Posted/updated on: January 12, 2013 at 4:39 pm
WHITEHOUSE — Some Whitehouse citizens may have noticed a change involving a controversial stop sign near an abandoned railroad crossing. As our news partner KETK reported in March of 2011, Whitehouse drivers on Acker Tap Rd. complained about having to make an unnecessary stop because of a sign posted at an unused railroad. At the time, a citizen said that the “railroad ties are caved in, weeds are overgrown. The tracks haven’t been used in about 8-10 years.” Despite the lack of use, drivers were still getting tickets if they failed to make a stop.
At the time of the 2011 report, there had been more than 200 tickets written at the location. But in a release to KETK, Whitehouse Assistant City Manager Kevin Huckabee stated that there had been no tickets written there since Craig Shelton was appointed as Police Chief in March of 2012. Now Huckabee says the city has taken steps to handle the problem. He noted it presented other issues besides unnecessary tickets. According to Huckabee, the traffic would back up on Acker Tap Rd. from the stop sign and on FM 346 in front of the local fire station because buses would be required to stop at the railroad. “This was an issue for the Municipal Fire Department and EMS Services trying to respond to emergencies during certain times of the day,” Huckabee said.
Huckabee made contact with Union Pacific, the company that owns the railroad. They informed him that the tracks were indeed no longer in service, but they did not want to remove them. Since Union Pacific would not remove the railroad, the City of Whitehouse is hesitant to remove the stop sign completely. However, the city discovered a solution. Officials have installed “EXEMPT” signs on the stop signs, so that drivers know the railroad tracks are not in use. TxDOT officials have also been notified about the crossing on FM 346, since that part of the road is maintained by them. TXDOT has opted to install “EXEMPT” signs at that location as well. The signs in that location will be replaced in the near future.
