Pedestrian-Friendly, High-Tech Crossing Device Coming

[Jim O'Bryan]

Really...

How about just admitting you are wrong, traffic on Dtroit is a mess and once again
you are in over your head, and completely unwilling to do the right thing as people
will see it as yet another time City Hall screwed up.

Own it.

From the front page!

The city of Lakewood has received grant funding to install a new high-tech Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon near the intersection of Detroit and Manor Park avenues.

The pedestrian hybrid beacon — also known as a HAWK — is a new traffic control device approved by the Federal Highway Administration. The HAWK signal is designed to stop traffic only as needed when pedestrians are present.

Work is expected to begin this summer. The pedestrian crossing, the first of its kind in Northeast Ohio, promotes walkability and safety, said Lakewood Mayor Michael Summers.

“The installation of this pedestrian hybrid beacon is a result of this administration continuing to listen to the community and identifying and pursuing options that make sense for our walkable neighborhoods,” said Lakewood Mayor Michael Summers. “This progressive project is a great example of that. We need to keep adapting to the needs of our residents.”

A 2011 traffic study found that the intersection did not meet the volume requirements for a traffic signal. However, the city of Lakewood received grant funding — to the tune of $65,000 — to pay for the new traffic control device.

Unlike a yellow flashing beacon, the pedestrian hybrid beacon signals the motorists to stop for a pedestrian. Unlike a standard traffic signal, the pedestrian hybrid beacon will allow motorists to proceed through the crosswalk if clear of pedestrians during the flashing red phase. Each vehicle must stop before proceeding through the crosswalk.

“This helps us maintain our goal of being a walkable city, and encourages a pedestrian-friendly lifestyle,” said Mark Papke, the city’s engineer.

The pedestrian hybrid beacon is slated for installation this summer. Temporary message boards will be in place on Detroit Avenue during construction that will direct the public to an instructional HAWK usage video.

If all goes as planned, a second device may be installed at the intersection of Clarence and Madison avenues.

Remember 4 years ago when traffic on Detroit was not a nightmare.

For months we were told it is being fixed. We pointed out that the 6 lights on the very
short Spring Garden was not as needed as a light on Manor Park.

It was pointed out that seniors walking to Giant Eagle and Bob Evans were now being
forced to walk through a dangerous intersection.

We pointed out that no cross walk in this town is treated the same way. Which inherently
makes them all more dangerous.

Then we just asked nicely for a light back on Manor Park and Detroit.

BUT NO, unwilling to give an inch we try yet another "Pedestrian-Friendly, High-Tech
Crossing Device" that will undoubtedly cause confusion with seniors.

Really?

.

[John Viglianco]

I agree with this one.

1. Put up a plain old traffic light on Manor Park and Detroit.
2. Don't add any more of those SHARE THE LANE bicycle signs to Detroit Rd. in the process.

[Jim O'Bryan]

I agree with this one.

1. Put up a plain old traffic light on Manor Park and Detroit.

John

I was just checking, with so many cities getting new cutting edge lights, old style historical
correct lights for this city are pennies on the dollar.

A smart city would be banking on their history, while saving for tomorrow.

.

[Stephen Eisel]

Remember 4 years ago when traffic on Detroit was not a nightmare.

Agreed... I avoid Detroit when possible..

[tom monahan]

I don't understand this penchant to spend money on new gadgets when we have three great examples of traffic signals that could be used at Clarence & Madison and at Manor Park.

The three examples exist at our three fire stations. The signal are on a closed look system and are activated each time a fire engine or rescue squad is dispatched from that station.

The two streets in question could have that same system which would be activated by the pedestrians needing to cross the street. The Clarence Avenue signal is especially important because of the city pool and the many youngsters who use it. And the signal is still there.

[jackie f taylor]

Really...

How about just admitting you are wrong, traffic on Dtroit is a mess and once again
you are in over your head, and completely unwilling to do the right thing as people
will see it as yet another time City Hall screwed up.

Own it.

From the front page!

The city of Lakewood has received grant funding to install a new high-tech Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon near the intersection of Detroit and Manor Park avenues.

The pedestrian hybrid beacon — also known as a HAWK — is a new traffic control device approved by the Federal Highway Administration. The HAWK signal is designed to stop traffic only as needed when pedestrians are present.

Work is expected to begin this summer. The pedestrian crossing, the first of its kind in Northeast Ohio, promotes walkability and safety, said Lakewood Mayor Michael Summers.

“The installation of this pedestrian hybrid beacon is a result of this administration continuing to listen to the community and identifying and pursuing options that make sense for our walkable neighborhoods,” said Lakewood Mayor Michael Summers. “This progressive project is a great example of that. We need to keep adapting to the needs of our residents.”

A 2011 traffic study found that the intersection did not meet the volume requirements for a traffic signal. However, the city of Lakewood received grant funding — to the tune of $65,000 — to pay for the new traffic control device.

Unlike a yellow flashing beacon, the pedestrian hybrid beacon signals the motorists to stop for a pedestrian. Unlike a standard traffic signal, the pedestrian hybrid beacon will allow motorists to proceed through the crosswalk if clear of pedestrians during the flashing red phase. Each vehicle must stop before proceeding through the crosswalk.

“This helps us maintain our goal of being a walkable city, and encourages a pedestrian-friendly lifestyle,” said Mark Papke, the city’s engineer.

The pedestrian hybrid beacon is slated for installation this summer. Temporary message boards will be in place on Detroit Avenue during construction that will direct the public to an instructional HAWK usage video.

If all goes as planned, a second device may be installed at the intersection of Clarence and Madison avenues.

Remember 4 years ago when traffic on Detroit was not a nightmare.

For months we were told it is being fixed. We pointed out that the 6 lights on the very
short Spring Garden was not as needed as a light on Manor Park.

It was pointed out that seniors walking to Giant Eagle and Bob Evans were now being
forced to walk through a dangerous intersection.

We pointed out that no cross walk in this town is treated the same way. Which inherently
makes them all more dangerous.

Then we just asked nicely for a light back on Manor Park and Detroit.

BUT NO, unwilling to give an inch we try yet another "Pedestrian-Friendly, High-Tech
Crossing Device" that will undoubtedly cause confusion with seniors.

Really?

.

We need crosswalks on Madison too. There is a red light at Reverly, 149th @ Madison, the next traffic signal is all the way down at 160th Madison. Crosswalks are needed at Mars, and the Richard Hillard House.

[cameron karslake]

Late to the party here but the loss of two cross walks at Mars and Detroit has been bugging me for years now. What on earth are they thinking, eliminating crosswalks at THE busiest crosswalks in the city (I guessing...)? Now, you have to run across Detroit from Drug Mart to the Library and back, nice! People of all ages are jay walking there, myself included. I know, I know, this was all "figured out" for us by another over-paid, out-of-town consultant with nary a clue about life here in Lakewood. To hell with more consultants! Listen to the people who have to live with and pay for these terrible "improvements"!

How about a three-way stop at Mars? That would give people a chance to cross and not risk life and limb(!) while giving motorists coming down Mars a chance to get onto Detroit. As it stands you have to dodge all the jay walkers and cars that don't have to slow down to get off Mars, pathetic! Now, with three new restaurants and their outdoor patios, pedestrians abound. If Lakewood is truly a "walking" city, how about putting our money where your mouth is Mayor Summers!!!!!!!

Is there anything left for this crew at city hall to screw up any more?

[Lori Allen _]

Hi all,

I found some information that I thought might be of interest regarding the removal of traffic lights of Detroit. This removing traffic lights business started as early as 2008. On September 22nd, 2009, former Mayor Ed Fitzgerald wrote a letter to Richard Pesta P.E., an engineer at ODOT saying that:

"After a thorough review of the warrant reports and removal analyses by our engineering department, and due to budgetary constraints, Lakewood is recommending the removal of the traffic signals at Manor Park/Blossom Park and Detroit and at Mars and Detroit. The removal of these signals will be done as part of the above-referenced project on Detroit Avenue in Lakewood."

However, please note that the "above-referenced project" did not start until 2012, well into the Summers administration. Since Lakewood is the seventh highest-taxed city in the area, I feel that the administration should have put forth the funds to cover the cost of maintaining the traffic signals at Manor Park and Mars.

According to a January 16th, 2009 letter from Richard Pesta P.E. at ODOT to Rhett Wegehaupt P.E. at HNTB Ohio Inc. (an engineering consulting firm), the traffic lights at Marlowe and Nicholson were also not warranted and that the city would have to pay 100% of the cost to retain them.

According to the actual signal warrant report prepared by HNTB Ohio, the traffic lights on Detroit at Arthur, Andrews, Waterbury, and Cohassett were only warranted because they are school crossings. In other words, if there were not schools near these traffic lights, they would have likely been removed also.

In February of 2014, Mike Summers called on NOACA to come into Lakewood and watch the intersection of Manor Park and Detroit to determine the best course of action to make the crosswalk safer. Interestingly, Mr. Summers is the assistant secretary for NOACA's Board of Directors, according to NOACA's website. Glenn Coyne is also listed as a member of NOACA's Board of Directors. Does anyone know if this is the same Glenn Coyne that was present at numerous Active Living Task Force meetings? Nathan Kelly is also on the Board of Directors.

In my opinion, if the city was going to spend money on a study like this, it should have called in an outside, objective firm to do it. Not the same firm where the mayor and several of his alleged friends sit on the board of directors.

According to page 22 of the signal warrant report, 209 pedestrians crossed Detroit at Manor Park on October 9th, 2008 over a nine-hour period. That is 23.2 pedestrians per hour. Furthermore, page eight of the same signal warrant report states that 374 pedestrians crossed Detroit at Mars on October 7th, 2004.

I believe that if the city was going to go on a signal warrant report, that said report should be more current.

If my counting is correct, approximately fifty people have been hit at Manor Park and Detroit since January 2014. I go through this intersection several times daily and notice that the majority of the drivers do not even pay attention to the yellow lights. It is curious that the mayor is apparently so determined to not put a traffic light back up that he is apparently willing to endanger his citizens on a daily basis.

See the attachments below for the letters and signal warrant report.

[Matthew Lee]

We tout ourselves as the most "Walkable" city in Ohio, yet we insist on letting our cars dictate everything.

We should do what most urban London streets do and install "Zebra Crossings". Basically, a pedestrian in the middle of one of these automatically has the right of way. Cars need to stop to let them cross. But no need to install stop lights everywhere, as that is a waste of money.

The challenge is that we, as motorists, have to change our way of thinking. Yet, somehow, London can do it just fine. It doesn't require fancy technology, it just requires better crosswalks and motorists that actually follow the law.