US 30 traffic has steadily been increasing in recent years. InkFreeNews file photo by Dan Spalding.

WARSAW — The increase in traffic and accidents in Warsaw along US 30 dominated discussion at the Warsaw Traffic Safety Commission meeting, Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 5.

Warsaw Police Chief Scott Whitaker presented the commission with the department’s annual traffic report.

Total reports of collisions within the Warsaw city limits increased by 47 cases in 2019. Graphic provided.

According to the report, a total of 1,088 accidents in Warsaw were reported in 2019. This is an increase of 47 since 2018. Reported property damage accidents totaled 932 in 2019. The number of injuries related to collisions increased to 222 from 211 in 2018.

Mayor Joe Thallemer noted that the number of accidents on US 30 continues to increase.

Whitaker attributed the rise in accidents on 30 with the increasing traffic on US 30.

Within the city limits, US 30 (Lake City Highway) ranked highest in crashes. The number of crashes increased from 166 in 2018 to 193 in 2019. The statistic includes crashes that occurred along private lots and private property.

Roadway Crashes ranked high along Lake City Highway/US 30, Winona Avenue and Center Street. Graphic provided.

Outside of the city limits, on US 30, “auto accidents have increased but not nearly as much as within the city limits,” Whitaker said.

According to a study conducted at the end of 2018, traffic doubles to roughly 30,000 vehicles along US 30 within the Warsaw city limits, City Plan Director Jeremy Skinner said. Outside the city limits, the amount of traffic on US 30 is cut nearly in half to 15,000-14,000 vehicles east or west side of the city limits.

“Fifty percent at peak times is local traffic going to the stores, getting on and off 30,” said Thallemer.

“The truck percentages are increasing as well,” said Thallemer.

About 6,000 trucks per day travel along US 30 through the city, according to Skinner. This amounts to roughly 40% of the total daily traffic on US 30.

On US 30, “the through traffic mixing with the local traffic is where the issue is,” Thallemer said.

Thallemer is heading up a US 30 Coalition made up of counties along the route in trying to develop long-range plans for a new US 30. A county coalition is working to determine its preferred path of a new highway. It could go to the north or south of the city or along the existing path.

In other matters, Commissioner Lance Grubbs expressed interest in traffic statistics at roundabouts in the city. Whitaker said the department can add those statistics in next year’s report.

“I can tell you they are few and far between,” Whitaker said of traffic accidents at roundabouts.

Roadway crashes also increased on several residential streets in Warsaw. Crashes on Winona Avenue more than doubled from 35 in 2018 to 75 in 2019. Crashes in Center Street increased from 119 in 2018 to 172 in 2019.

Whitaker said the increase in crashes on Winona Avenue and Center Street correlated, in part, with the closure of East Market Street for much of 2019.

Other business included:

• Mayor Joe Thallemer swore in Grubbs as the new Traffic Safety Commissioner. Grubbs is a former Warsaw Police Officer of 21.5 years. He worked on the Governor’s Taskforce for Impaired and Dangerous Driving. After retiring from the Warsaw Police, Grubbs worked for the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute as a Law Enforcement Liason, covering the northeast region of Indiana. He also works part-time for the Indiana Prosecutor’s Office.
• The commission tabled discussion of handicap spaces near Fribley Field on East Market Street. The commission decided more discussion is needed with the Warsaw Parks Department regarding the placement of the handicap spaces.
• Updating of railroad crossings from Polk Street to Lion Street will begin in a few weeks, according to Thallemer. The city will aim to minimize traffic disruption during the update process.
• In May, IDOT is scheduled to replace the seven stoplights on Detroit Street/SR 15. The stoplights will communicate with the updates at the railroad crossings from Polk Street to Lion Street.

Newly-sworn in Warsaw Traffic Safety Commissioner Lance Grubbs is pictured Wednesday, Feb. 5. InkFreeNews photo by Kory Stoneburner-Betts.