Pontiac Trail meeting 4-25-2007
From Northsidewiki
Meeting Notes
Public meeting about Pontiac Trail construction and traffic
April 25, 2007, 6:30-7:30pm
Northside Community Center
City representatives:
Nick Hutchinson (project manager)
Rob Wagner (inspector)
Pat Cawley (traffic engineer)
Eli Cooper (transportation program manager)
Approximately 10 neighborhood residents were in attendance.
CONSTRUCTION PROJECT DETAILS
This summer, plans are to completely reconstruct Pontiac Trail from John A. Woods to the railroad tracks. The project is currently scheduled for the end of the summer, but it is likely to actually start earlier, even as soon as May. The construction will take approximately 2 months.
The city will replace all asphalt, curbs, and gutters, and install "edge drains" behind gutters. No change is planned for sewers, which are reported to be in "relatively good shape."
All driveway approach aprons will also be replaced at no individual cost to property owners. At that time, it will be possible to change the width and/or angle of one's driveway. (Property owners who wish to do so should contact Nick or Rob.) Local access to driveways will be maintained, except for several days when one's approach apron is under construction. Residents will be notified of the dates that construction on their apron will occur.
TRAFFIC ISSUES
Several issues were raised related to traffic safety on Pontiac Trail. Several residents stated that they had observed high rates of speeding on the street. An accident that occurred on April 23 was mentioned, where a speeding car ran into the rear of a school bus. Currently traffic travels uninterrupted between Barton Drive and Swift, and the only marked crosswalk is at Taylor Street. Several residents asserted that the lack of traffic signals or stop signs, along with speeding traffic and poor visibility as the street slopes, make the street difficult and dangerous to cross, especially for children. The confusing intersection at Moore and Pontiac, and the difficult conditions for pedestrians on Bowen St., were also noted.
Concerns were raised about the possibility of the speed limit being raised above the current 25 mph. City representatives stated that they do not foresee the speed limit being raised, and that any changes to the traffic plan will take into consideration the residential character of the street.
Several residents said they thought that speeding has seemed worse since parking was removed and bicycle lanes were painted. One said that the bicycle lanes and lack of street parking makes it look "more like an arterial street." Other residents noted that many bicyclists do not feel safe in the bicycle lanes and continue to use the sidewalk.
City representatives stated that the loss of parking and painting of bicycle lanes was part of the city's Non-motorized Transportation Plan, and that they had heard little opposition until now.
A suggestion was made that the bicycle route be changed so as to follow Wright Street to Swift, thus avoiding the area between the railroad tracks and Broadway, where there are no bicycle lanes and a complicated intersection. City representatives replied that bicycle advocates have always asked for lanes on major streets, so they would be unlikely to agree with such a plan. They also stated that the city may do a bicycle traffic survey later this year.
A number of possible traffic calming strategies were discussed, including more marked crosswalks and "bump-outs," which could be made with ramps to accomodate the bicycle lanes. City representatives stated that they would consider such measures in the reconstruction plan.
The possibility of a streetlight at Pontiac and Taylor, near Northside Elementary School, was raised. City staff meet regularly with the Ann Arbor Public Schools Transportation Safety committee. Residents were asked to bring the issue to the attention of the school administration as well.
Residents asked about the possibility of additional traffic lights on Pontiac. City officials said that additional study would be needed.
