Hampton Council discusses potential 4-way stop sign near high school

At a Hampton Township Council meeting held Sept. 14, police Chief Thomas Vulakovich requested that the township commission a traffic study to determine if putting a four-way stop sign at Topnick Drive at Park Road would improve safety and traffic flow near Hampton High School.

Vulakovich said traffic is “heavily congested” at Topnick Drive at the school’s entrance in the morning and during events at night. He added that people parking at Hampton Community Park for baseball and soccer games adds to the congestion.

“There are some close calls,” he said. “People not knowing what quite to do or who to let go first.”

Christopher Lochner, municipal manager, agreed that a four-way stop sign is needed or “someone’s going to get hurt.” He recommended that council agree to commission a traffic study for a stop sign at the school’s other entrance at McCully Road, as well, due to safety and traffic concerns.

At the meeting, Lochner also said he’d like to move meetings of township council, the zoning hearing board, planning commission and environmental council back to the municipal building conference room, starting in October. The meetings were switched over to the Hampton Community Center due to the covid-19 pandemic.

Lochner said updates to the conference room — such as installing new camera equipment — won’t be complete by October, and those attending the meetings can “work around it” until construction is finished, potentially in late December or January.

Council members will vote on these items at their regularly monthly meeting, scheduled for Sept. 28 at the Hampton Community Center.