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LED lights will soon be a staple of stop signs at McKinley and Jefferson streets in Warsaw. The flashing lights (like those appearing on the sign in the video) were approved by the Warsaw Traffic Commission this afternoon.

As seen in the photo from Google, the stop sign for southbound traffic on McKinley Street is obstructed from brush and has resulted in some near misses.

Calling the LED lights “attention getters,” Warsaw Police Lt. Kip Shuter, who is also the traffic safety commissioner for the city, said, “I don’t want them to become commonplace for us. They have to be done on a case by case scenario … definitely have to show there’s an issue.”

Traffic studies will also be completed later this spring as improvements to Market Street and McKinley Street are considered as part of the Ride+Walk program.

In another matter we told you about last week (See related), the WTC discussed new traffic lights that Indiana Department of Transportation is in the process of replacing.

The protected/permissive left-turn signals provide a protected period of time when left-turning vehicles have exclusive right-of-way. The new signals also provide a permissive period when left-turning vehicles are allowed, if there are no opposing through vehicles.

Shuter said he spoke with a representative of INDOT and the lights will be installed as new signals and modernization efforts are made over the next few years.

Locally, Shuter said possible sites for the new lights are U.S. 30 at CRs 150 West, Meijer, Spring Hill Road, Commerce Drive and CR 250 East. City planner Jeremy Skinner noted that when or if the new lights are installed, it will include new signals for all directions at those intersections.

Also, stop lights around town will soon be getting black visors. The black piece that will be attached to the back of the lights are to enhance visibility in direct sunlight. An example of the visors exists at Parker Street and Argonne Road in Warsaw.

The next meeting of the Warsaw Traffic Commission will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 2. Meetings are held in the training room at the Warsaw Police Department.