WARSAW — The City of Warsaw Traffic Safety Commission approved a motion during a meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 1, to make a portion of Meijer Lane a two-way drive to accommodate a proposal to construct a restaurant in the Meijer outlot, at the corner of Anchorage Road and Lake City Highway.

The restaurant, that was not named during the meeting, has proposed a plan to construct a building in the Meijer outlot. It was requested that traffic continue to be one-way for traffic coming off Anchorage Road and then turn into a two-way into Meijer Lane. It was noted that the restaurant will not contain a drive-thru that would further complicate traffic. The commission unanimously approved the motion.

In Warsaw, you are most likely to get in a car accident from 4-6 p.m. on a Friday during the month of December, according to 2016 annual traffic report prepared by the Warsaw Police Department. WPD Capt. Kip Shuter released the report and commented on its findings during the meeting.

The report indicates that the WPD investigated a total of 1,027 motor vehicle crashes. In each category in the collision data, the numbers have gone up from 2015. According to the report, Warsaw Police investigated 854 property damage accidents, up two from 2015. They recorded 171 injury collision, up 44 from 2015. The total injuries recorded in 2016 were 231, up 60 from 2015. There were two fatalities in 2016, versus one fatality that occurred in 2015.

The most collisions occurred during the month of December in 2016. Often the most collisions occur from 4-6 p.m. when many individuals are traveling from work. This finding was a switch from 2015, when most accidents occurred from 11 a.m to 2 p.m. during the lunch hour.

It was also mentioned that Lake City Highway and Detroit Street had the highest number of accidents. Shuter noted this was because those roadways see the most traffic.

During the meeting, the commission discussed unfinished business in reference to parking at the southwest corner of Lake and Market streets at the Mutual Bank Exit. Personnel with the bank had previously asked the commission to look into parking on the street outside the bank because it can be difficult for patrons to have clear vision as they exit the bank.

After the last meeting, the commission decided to look further into what options could garner a possible solution. During the meeting, the commission considered various options such as reverse angle parking and parallel parking. The option to switch to parallel parking would result in losing two parking spaces in that area.

Commissioner Cindy Dobbins commented, “I would hate to see us lose those spots because they are pretty heavily used.”

Shuter mentioned that no accidents had occurred at that exit.

City Planner Jeremy Skinner mentioned that driving downtown requires individuals to be cautious, “When you’re pulling out, you have to be careful.”

The commission unanimously approved a motion to keep parking as is at that corner.

The board further went on to discuss whether or not the handicapped parking space at the north end of that same area should be kept. A report was completed by a parking inspector to determine whether the spot was being used. It was found that after visiting the space three times a day from Jan. 9 through Jan. 12 and Jan. 17 through Jan. 19, the space was continually empty. This led the commission to believe the spot was not needed.

Skinner indicated that oftentimes handicap spots are requested, but then often found unused after the individual requesting the spot has moved on. He mentioned he did not know whether this particular spot had been requested or not, however, if it is found that a handicap spot is needed, one can be put in. The commission unanimously approved the motion to remove the handicap spot.