I was involved in a traffic accident on Nov. 20 at the corner of East and Sixth streets. My 1994 Volvo sedan received massive front-end damage when it collided with another car. I am speaking out in the hope that others who have had accidents or near misses at this intersection will join my quest of installing stop signs on Sixth Street.

At this “T” intersection, there is a stop sign on East Street for traffic proceeding south, but there are no stop signs on Sixth Street for traffic going west or east. My wish is to prevent serious injury (or a fatality) because of the terrible layout of this intersection.

The northeast corner of this intersection contains senior housing, and there are no close on-site parking facilities for the tenants. The intersection is especially dangerous because parked vehicles belonging to the residents and caregivers in the apartment complex face west along Sixth Street. It is also dangerous because of the shallow angle on the street due to a curve in the center of the intersection. A fire hydrant is at the corner and a large telephone/utility pole with glowing yellow stripes is east of that hydrant. Vehicles begin to park east of the hydrant at guide wires anchored between the hydrant and the telephone/utility pole, but forward of the pole. At the time of my accident, there were at least six vehicles parked one behind the other, prohibiting a clear view of Sixth Street. The other vehicle involved in the accident, a Volkswagen, was totally obstructed by the parked cars as it traveled west on Sixth Street.

I have requested that Dennis McCabe in the city of Tracy Public Works Department do a study regarding traffic and safety of this intersection since it has great potential for a horrific accident that could also involve pedestrians trying to access their vehicles.

It would appear that resident Ron Pounding has achieved success in his quest to slow traffic on Lincoln Avenue. I congratulate him and his perseverance. 

Please join me in voicing your opinion if you have had an accident or near miss at the East and Sixth intersection, and do your best to make all of our streets safe as Tracy continues to grow.

Barbara Noble, a 16-year Tracy resident, is an administrative assistant in a Tracy law office.