Traffic signal at Stephanie is one option for discussion

The intersection at Stephanie Way and Highway 395 qualifies for a traffic light, the Nevada Department of Transportation said Tuesday.

State transportation spokesman Scott Magruder said the light will be one of the options discussed at a traffic safety meeting set for Saturday.

"In light of the petitions, it will be one of the more popular ones," he said. "Still we want to discuss other options, such as eliminating left-turn movements or lowering the speed limit. We want to talk about all of it."

A light at Stephanie Way would be similar to the one at Johnson Lane, where southbound traffic would continue unimpeded. The light would affect northbound lanes and allow left-hand turns onto Stephanie.

The movement for a traffic light at the intersection was sparked by the July 15 death of 17-year-old Douglas High School student Bridget Chambers, who was killed when a car turning left onto Stephanie pulled into her path.

The Chambers family has been working to have a light installed, conducting protests and gathering signatures on a petition that was presented to Gov. Kenny Guinn.

Bridget's grandfather, Gardnerville resident Bob Chambers, said her mother, Terri Chambers, received a phone call from Nevada Department of Transportation Director Jeff Fontaine on Monday.

"I think that if, in fact, this happens, it is nice to know that our state government is listening to the people," Bob Chambers said. "We had 5,700 signatures on the petition and they continue to come in. At the demonstration on Saturday, we had two people come up to us and ask to sign our petition right at the state Capitol."

Magruder said the state took into consideration the left turn from Highway 395 onto Stephanie when examining the intersection.

"National criteria don't always consider that movement," he said. "But when we looked at it, we took it under consideration. There was an increase in traffic, but taking the left turns into consideration really met the conditions. The guidelines allow us to look at that."

The state is conducting both long- and short-term examinations of the Highway 395 corridor south from Highway 50. The short-term study, which will be discussed at a public workshop 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Carson Valley Middle School, deals with safety on Highway 395 between highways 50 and 88 in Minden.

Other options to be discussed Saturday will be lowering the 65 mph speed limit on Highway 395, which was implemented when the national speed limit was repealed, and eliminating left turns onto Stephanie.

"We want to discuss all of it," Magruder said.

A final decision on a traffic signal will be made after the state hears from the public and meets with Douglas County Commissioners.

"It certainly will be nice to see things work the way people want," Bob Chambers said.

n Contact Kurt Hildebrand at khildebrand@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 215.

If you go

What: Public workshop to discuss Stephanie Way

When: 9 a.m.-noon

Where: Carson Valley Middle School, 1475 Highway 395 South in Gardnerville