05/30/1978 Board of Public Works Minutes

Home Browse Search

136 REGULAR MEETING MAY 30, 1978 REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS - NORTH SHORE - MICHIGAN SIGNALIZATION A discussion of the North Shore - Michigan Signals was held last week following receipt of a letter from Councilman Roger Parent raising some questions about the operation of the signals. The Board requested a report from the Bureau of Traffic and Lighting. The following report was submitted: I . "On May 23, 1978 this Bureau met with citizens representing the Madison School Parent & Home Association, the North Shore /Angela Triangle and Harter Heights reference the signal modernization at North Shore & Michigan. The basic concern expressed by the residents revolved around the %pedestrian signals and their actuated operation requiring the operation of a push button by the pedestrian. The operation of the actuated controller, the sequencing of the lights and traffic movements were explained to the group. It was noted that modernization was in conjunction with the rebuilding and widening of the Michigan Street bridge and the addition of a left turn lane for north and south bound traffic, which would require a separate traffic movement phase. The operation of a semi - actuated intersection with major street minor movements was explained and examples of existing installations given The pedestrian phasing of the controller and of the intersection was discussed. It was pointed out that for a pedestrian to activate the controller to produce a-walk light, a button located on one of the traffic poles and marked with a _sign would have to be pushed by the pedestrian. The greatest objection was that a grade school age child would be required to perform this action in order to cross the street with' a -walk it was felt that this might be confusing to the child. (It was pointed out that these installations are in effect at seven other locations in the City, affecting both parochial and public schools and involving grade school, middle school and high school children). The requests of the group were: 1. Keep the signals in the same operation as they are today. 2. Put the. signals on actuation only in the late evening hours. 3. Have the controller act as a fixed time controller giving breaks to North Shore whether vehicular traffic was present or not, and at the same time give pedestrians a walk signal whether there were pedestrians there or not. 4. Install optically programmed signals so as to eliminate the traffic signals from the view of the children, allowing them to see only the pedestrian signal and thereby eliminating any confusion in their mind. 5. Increase enforcement to reduce the speeding down the hill from Angela and increase enforcement reference the "No Turn on Red" signage at the intersection, which is now evidently disobeyed frequently. The results of the meeting were: 1. To adjust the traffic controller in a manner to assume an operation close to what is in existence today. 2. To maintain the operation of the pedestrian portion of the controller in a manner similar to today's operation through - out the remainder of the school year and the summer months. 3. Through Sgt. Hecklinski or a member delegated by the Police Department, have the children instructed about the operation of a push button in the fall school year of 1978. 1