The new stop sign on North West Street.
Lauren Scott | Collegian

The intersection of North West and Fayette streets is now a four-way stop, following a recommendation of Hillsdale’s Public Safety Committee to prevent accidents by adding stop signs on North West Street.

The City of Hillsdale Police Department released a temporary traffic control order that was signed by Chief of Police Scott Hephner on July 17, creating a 90-day trial period before a vote by the Hillsdale City Council to make the signs permanent.

“Several citizens reached out to me about the North West Street and Fayette Street intersection,” said Ward 4 City Council Member and Hillsdale College alumnus and current grad student Joshua Paladino, TKTK. “They didn’t feel safe crossing the street. The hill on the south side of North West Street makes it difficult to see oncoming traffic when you are stopped at Fayette Street.”

Senior Emilie Moneyhon, a student who lives on North West Street, said she supports the new stop signs. She said there were at least two traffic accidents in the area toward the end of last semester, only a couple months before the stop signs were put in place.

“I love it, as soon as I came back to the town and saw that there was a stop sign I was so excited. It’s such a hard turn to make because you can’t see anything over the hill,” Moneyhon said.

But Hillsdale resident Bobbie Hasch said he is concerned drivers won’t follow the new signage.

“I was so happy when the stop signs went up,” Hasch said. “Unfortunately people still run the signs.” 

As the traffic control order nears the 90-day mark of the trial period, the police department and city council will consider the stop signs’ effectiveness.