Chief of Police JR Wilson presented a report on traffic data for the locations to start out the public hearing.

"The purpose of this memorandum is to provide known local site data related to traffic safety concerns for West 7th Street near the intersection of Caney Creek Drive in Hope, Arkansas," Wilson said. "This study is meant to support a determination for the need to install traffic calming/warning  devices in this area."

The first set of data he presented to the Board was citation data collected in the area from Jan. 1 2019 to July 1 2021 where the Hope Police Department (HPD) issued about 29 citations for the areas between Mockingbird Lane and Caney Creek Drive. The data can be represented in the graph below:

The 2nd data Wilson presented to the court was data on the amount of accidents that occurred in the area which determined that three accidents occurred on W 7th Street near the interaction of Caney Creek Drive between Jan. 1 2019 and July 1 2021.

The third set of data for the area found out that about nine calls for service or incidents related to traffic accidents or complains were made to HPD between Jan 1, 2019 and July 1, 2021 near the area. Four were for traffic complaints, two were for traffics accidents with no injury, one was for a traffic accident with injury and one was for other complaints.

The fourth and final set of data presented looked at the speed of vehicles traveling west bound and east bound on the street. Outlined in the graphs below, about 2,629 cars were recorded between May 5, 2021 and May 13, 2021 going west bound. Of those cars measured, 138 (about 5%) exceeded the speed limit by 10 mph to 20 mph, which is defined as a moderate risk. 42 of the recorded 2,629 vehicles (about 1.6%) exceeded the speed limit by 20 mph or more with the highest recorded speeds being between 71 and 75 mph, defined as a high risk.

Going east bound, 609 cars were recorded between May 14, 2021 and May 19, 2021. Of those 609 cars, 9 (about 1.5%) were recorded exceeding he speed limit by 10 mph to 20 mph while 2 (about .3%) were recorded exceeding the speed limit by 20 mph or more with the highest recorded speeds being between 56 and 60 mph.

• West Bound data

• East Bound dataa

"The portion of W 7th Street between Mockingbird Lane and Caney Creek is a residential street well-traveled for access to the Caney Creek Mobile Home Park," Wilson said. "This street provides access and egress to the rear entrance/exit of Hope Fair Park and is primarily residential and recreational in nature. An approximate ninety-degree curve is located in the main area of concern. W 7th Street east of the curve is lengthy and lacks typical traffic control devices such as intermittent stop signs commonly associated with residential area providing for slowing of vehicular traffic. This allows for increased speeds along this area of roadway."

The data concluded that the area is of high speed concern with a risk greater than 5%medium to high risk chance of occurrence and determined that a speed bump would reduce excessive speeds, accidents and traffic complaints in or near this area.

Board Member Linda Clark made the motion to approve and Board Member Trevor Coffee seconded it. It was unanimously approved by the board.