Council to tackle traffic safety issues
JANESVILLE — The city council Monday will consider alternatives to a pedestrian tunnel under Milwaukee Street.
One alternative would reduce traffic lanes at the mid-block crossing from four to two lanes and add a pedestrian island.
In other traffic-related matters, the council will be asked to:
-- Approve long- and short-range solutions at Milwaukee Street and Wuthering Hills Drive, the site of a fatal accident.
-- Consider a consultant’s recommendation to reduce East Milwaukee Street from four lanes to three between Wright Road to Highway 14. The change would create a left-turn lane and to reduce speed.
-- Remove the stoplight at West Racine and South Franklin streets.
Bike trail
The bike trail crosses east Milwaukee Street between Wright Road and Shannon Court.
A pedestrian tunnel under Milwaukee Street, suggested because of safety issues, has been delayed for two years because of cost.
The last estimate of $625,000 has been modified to $590,000. The city has a $235,000 grant from the state.
Two vehicle-versus-vehicle accidents have been reported at the site since the trail was built in 2000, but many near misses between pedestrians and vehicles have been reported, said Jack Messer, public works director. Most occur when drivers stop for pedestrians in one lane, blocking the vision of other drivers traveling in the same direction.
Other factors include:
-- Speed. About 42 percent of drivers travel at more than 35 mph, with the highest speed recorded at more than 61 mph.
The speed limit is 30 mph to Shannon Court, where it increases to 35 mph.
-- Visibility. While the crossing itself is visible, the bike trail is below the street and is not visible to drivers, who do not expect a mid-block crossing.
-- Width. Pedestrians are forced to cross four lanes of traffic.
Staff recommends two alternatives:
-- Build the tunnel, which would fix all of the safety concerns.
-- Remove a lane of traffic in each direction and build a pedestrian island. Messer said the two lanes would handle the 8,000 vehicles that travel the street daily. Typically in urban areas, a traffic count of 15,000 triggers four lanes.
The configuration, however, could mean more sideswipe and rear-end crashes as vehicles merge from two lanes to one lane and then stop for pedestrians. But those types of accidents typically cause less injury than a vehicle hitting a pedestrian, Messer said. The funneling also would help slow traffic.
Cost is estimated at $102,900.
Messer does not recommend doing nothing nor does he recommend widening the road to build a pedestrian island while maintaining the current number of lanes.
Some residents have suggested an overpass. That is not possible because an overpass could not meet handicapped accessibility regulations, Messer said.
“Ultimately, this is a question of the risk aversion of the community,” Messer said.
Milwaukee Street and Wuthering Hills Drive
A consultant recommended solutions at this intersection in light of September’s fatality, and the transportation committee agreed.
Marguerite Bladorn, 49, was turning left onto Milwaukee Street on Sept. 12 when her car was struck broadside by a car traveling at least 55 mph in a 35 mph zone, according to the Wisconsin State Patrol.
Short-term recommendations include speed feedback signs as motorists near Wuthering Hills Drive; installing crosswalk markings and trimming low branches of nearby trees.
Those could be done this summer for less than $10,000.
A long-term solution includes a roundabout because delays in making a left turn off Wuthering Hills will grow as traffic increases.
Reducing lanes
The consultant and Messer both recommend reducing the number of lanes on East Milwaukee Street from Wright Road to Highway 14 from four to three, with the third being a left turn lane.
The change would help reduce the speed of traffic along the corridor, Messer said.
Messer is looking for council authorization because it is considered a major change. Staff typically decides on pavement-marking changes.
Racine and Franklin streets
The transportation committee has recommended removing the traffic signal at South Franklin and West Racine streets.
Cost is $2,500.
The committed decided signals are no longer needed because of decreased traffic counts.
The traffic pattern changed when Jackson and Franklin streets were converted from one-way to two-way traffic, committee and councilmember Bill Truman said.
IF YOU GO
The Janesville City Council will consider traffic issues at Monday’s meeting. A public hearing is scheduled to remove the stoplight at South Franklin and West Racine streets.
While public hearings aren’t scheduled concerning the Milwaukee Street corridor, residents can speak at the beginning of the meeting.
The council meets at 7 p.m. in City Hall, 18 N. Jackson St.
Jun 22, 2008 at 2:03 a.m.
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Nothing "snarky" or "sarcastic" intended. What was intended was to point out that this is not "the only question worth asking."
Up until the final approval is given, there should always remain the option of asking more questions. And most of them are "worthy."
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The project cost is now estimated at $590,000 not $355k. The other $235,000 is still tax money, whether it's in the form of a grant or not.
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The options and cost factors have been hashed and rehashed in another blog. But the fact remains that up until the final OK is given, all questions are worth asking, especially if a lower cost alternative could achieve the same results.
So, while a tunnel may be the "preferred" option by many, I don't believe it to be the most cost effective option.
I believe it's worth a try to re-route the path to the nearest intersection to cross.
So, while you may not agree, please realize that the question you may prefer to ask is not "the only question worth asking."
Jun 21, 2008 at 8:08 p.m.
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While it may be fun and easy to be snarky or sarcastic, it isn't helpful in this case. In this instance, the project has been approved. The studies have been done and the costs tallied. The only thing left to do is build it or shelve it all together. At this intersection, the bike path crosses a very busy four lane road where speeding is a way of life. Issues outlined in the article are a fine example of the dangers of this particular location. If there are other areas or intersections in this fine little city, I would hope that our elected officials would investigate them and take appropriate action. While I empathize with your point that we as a city waste too much money, I don't think that saving lives and preventing great bodily harm falls in the "waste" column of the balance sheet. Just my opinion.
Jun 21, 2008 at 6:55 p.m.
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If "that is the only question worth asking", then why stop at the tunnel?
Let's buy every safety option available throughout the city and county.
Jun 21, 2008 at 6:33 p.m.
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Is one life worth $355k? That is the only question worth asking. Sooner or later, someone using the current path will be killed by a passing car. Once someone is killed, the tunnel will go in. The tunnel would all but assure that there would be no pedestrian vs car crashes there. So think about your friends and neighbors and decide if their life is worth the price.
Jun 21, 2008 at 1:01 p.m.
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People in cars don't realize how contemptuously bicyclists are treated by many drivers. The other day I was almost creamed as I passed DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF a van stopped at a stop sign. I had the right of way, but they didn't even seem to see me there. (And then they yelled abuse at ME for being in their way.)
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I was shocked at how expensive the tunnel seemed to be getting, but the traffic levels on the bike trail (which is used easily nine months of the year) probably justify a separation. Given that, if the city wants to consider reducing lanes on E Milwaukee as one overall solution, I think the tunnel could be placed on a wait-and-see list while other fixes are tried.
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My personal idea is to add a gentle curve both ways, with an island in the middle, so that you get the benefit of both traffic calming and give the trail users a refuge between lanes, so they need only negotiate one direction of traffic at a time.
Jun 21, 2008 at 12:01 p.m.
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Spend the 355k. It's a one time expense with literaly life long benefits. If you don't you will be coming back to this issue again.
Jun 21, 2008 at 11:33 a.m.
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After reading the article, I'm not sure if the $102,900 lane reduction covers just the bike path area, or all of Milwaukee Street east of Wright Road.
Jun 21, 2008 at 11:28 a.m.
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There was a huge thread about the tunnel proposal.
I drive that section of Milwaukee Street every day. $355K for a tunnel (after the grant), that will only be used half the year, is excessive. Reducing the road down to three lanes is a good compromise, and will have the added benefit of reducing speeds at the Wuthering Hills intersection. Reducing lanes seems to have been effective on other roads, like Wright Road, and the south end of Milwaukee Street.
Jun 21, 2008 at 10:42 a.m.
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also if it is so dangerous why do you keep using the intersection!!!!!????????? go a different way.
Jun 21, 2008 at 10:41 a.m.
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sounds just great- lets spend a boat load of money we dont have. are we going to get an underground tunnel for ALL dangerous intersection. how about look both ways before crossing!!!!!! left , right then left again and maybe right left AGAIN!!!!!!
Jun 21, 2008 at 10:32 a.m.
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There's already a tunnel under highway 14 and, to my knowledge, there has never been any reports of assult or other crime from perps hiding in the tunnel.
Jun 21, 2008 at 10:23 a.m.
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Stoplights at that pedestrian crossing triggered by pedestrians will not work. The majority of the time, those lights will be green. People will be conditioned to seeing those lights being green. People do NOT stop now when they turn to flashing yellow. Likewise, I have witnessed this spring, at the Jefferson school light on Mt Zion, two motorists in as many days run that light when it has been red. It was very fortunate that no one was injured. Until enforcement cracks down hard on the moron drivers on E Milwaukee St, that driving behavior will not stop. Just look at the town of Rosendale (on HWY 26). Anyone who speeds through that town on their way to a Packer game deserves a ticket. People "know" not to speed through that town because they know most likely they'll get a ticket. The same principle could work out on E Milwaukee St, yet for some reason, the city feels compelled to "sell" the taxpayers an expensive solution. I don't get it...
Jun 21, 2008 at 8:37 a.m.
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A Tunnel that will cost over $600.00!!! Think of all of the road improvements we could do with that money. We don't have the money for this anyway. Yeah it will be safer for people crossing the street, but then we will have to worry about getting assulted when in the tunnel. We've already had perpatrators loose on the bike trail. A tunnel will just be a perfect place for more crime to happen. How about an actual stop light that people control when they are walking they press it and it turns red. Just like they have infront of some schools for the kids walking. Sounds a lot cheaping to me and safer.
Jun 21, 2008 at 7:10 a.m.
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Just build the tunnel already. I have seen/been part of several near misses this spring alone. Just yesterday cars stopped in 3 of the 4 lanes, but a guy driving in the outer lane furthest from me decided to just keep on going. The current set up puts bikers and walkers/runners at risk and leave drivers who are actually stopping to let people cross vulnerable to being rear ended by unattentive drivers.
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