Meredith Drive and 142nd Street is a major crossroads in the heart of a rapidly expanding area of Urbandale.  It currently functions with a four-way stop sign, leaving rush-hour commuters often spending over five minutes waiting at the intersection. This is not merely inconvenient, but it is also dangerous-- many drivers fail to understand who has the right-of-way at such a busy intersection. This leaves a chaotic mess of drivers trying to safely maneuver across without colliding with oncoming traffic. 

The solution is simple: a traffic light to replace the four-way stop sign.  While traffic goes one car at a time at a four-way stop, a stoplight enables many cars to get through the intersection at the same time, keeping things moving quickly.  Moreover, at equally busy intersections nearby that do have stoplights, the results speak for themselves. Meredith Drive and 156th Street, for example, has a smoother traffic flow because it is always clear which cars have right-of-way.

Installing a stoplight at 142nd Street and Meredith Drive would ensure Urbandale remains a community where drivers can truly feel safe on the road.