Efforts to improve street and sidewalk safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicles in downtown Northville may include adjustments to traffic lights and the installation of some no turn on red signs.
Julie Kroll, an engineer with Fleis and Vandenbrink, presented the first part of a two-phase report on measures the city can take to improve street and sidewalk safety during a recent meeting of the Northville City Council. Her report, The Northville Downtown Pedestrian Study, incorporated design elements proposed by Grissim Metz and Andriese (GMA) as well as input from the Mobility Network, a group of 10 volunteer citizens.
Fleis and Vandenbrink engineers adjusted the report following the decision of the city council members to make the downtown street closures seasonal rather than permanent. Among the recommendations were the adjustment of traffic lights to give pedestrians advance time to cross the street before vehicles can turn into the crosswalk along with the addition of some “No turn on red” signs. The report also suggest the installation of rectangular rapid flashing beacons in high-traffic areas for pedestrian crossings and the removal of street parking from downtown intersections and within 20 feet of crosswalks.
The second phase is an engineering study of traffic flow and volumes, which began in April, and includes the downtown area as well as non-arterial roads between Seven and Eight Mile roads between Rogers and S. Main/Northville Road.
