Neighbors worry 294 new apartments on Nixon Road will worsen traffic problems
Residents check out the plans for a 294-unit apartment complex on Nixon Road at a meeting Tuesday night at the Traverwood Branch Library in Ann Arbor.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
"It's hell right now," said Cathy Baker, who lives in the Barclay Park condominiums and says traffic regularly backs up on Nixon Road during rush hour.
About two dozen residents attended a citizen participation meeting hosted by the developer Tuesday night at the Traverwood Branch Library in Ann Arbor.
A map of the site location provided by the developer.
Residents who live in neighboring apartments and condominiums said they're particularly worried about worsening traffic backups where Nixon Road meets Green and Dhu Varren roads — an unconventional four-way stop where the road jogs, with no traffic light.
"All kinds of people who live in the Detroit area come down this way," Baker said. "I mean, I can leave my house at 8 o'clock and it'll take me five minutes to get through the intersection."
The development, proposed by Bleznak Real Estate Investment Group, is the latest in a series of new multi-family housing projects in the Ann Arbor area.
Bleznak's proposal calls for five apartment buildings with 294 total units to be constructed in two phases on the southeast corner of Nixon and M-14 in Ann Arbor Township. The property is located near the Barclay Park and Arbor Hills condominiums and Windemere Park apartments.
"I know one of the big concerns that everybody has is traffic," said Scott Betzoldt of Midwestern Consulting, the civil engineer for the project. "This will produce more traffic on Nixon Road."
Betzoldt said the city's most recent traffic study on Nixon Road showed about 7,600 daily trips around the Dhu Varren/Nixon/Green Road intersection.
"This project — when complete with both phases — would add about 1,200 new trips per day to that total, for an increase of about 15 percent," he said. "The first phase we're proposing right now would add about 900 trips per day, which is an increase of about 11 percent."
Betzoldt said peak traffic — during both the morning and afternoon rush hours — amounts to about 750 vehicles per hour. The first phase of development, he said, would add about 80 trips per hour, and ultimately the full buildout would add a total of 110 trips per hour.
Scott Betzoldt of Midwestern Consulting, the civil engineer for the project, gave a brief overview of the project and fielded questions from residents Tuesday night.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
Betzoldt pointed out Ann Arbor has talked about putting in a roundabout, which he said definitely would help with traffic there — especially given the jog in the road.
A number of residents said installing a roundabout at the intersection would help a lot. Some said they'd also welcome a traffic light.
City Council Member Sabra Briere, D-1st Ward, said plans for a roundabout at that intersection have been pending for years, primarily because a piece of property owned by the Nixon family would be needed to align the streets and make it work properly.
"And they can't get it yet," she said. "Until they can get a piece of that parcel, they can't put in a roundabout."
Briere added, "I don't know what we're going to do about this irregular intersection between now and the time when we can talk about a roundabout."
Records show the developer purchased the roughly 54-acre property for the new apartments from Don Nixon and his sister Betty Nixon Spurway for $1.3 million in December.
Among those in attendance Tuesday was 93-year-old Betty Nixon Spurway, who said the farm property had been in her family since 1909.
She said she and her brother had dual interests in the property, and since neither of them have any children, it was up to them to figure out what to do with it.
They still own other parcels in the area that Betty acknowledged also could be sold for development at some point in the future.
The property on Nixon Road where a 294-unit apartment complex is proposed.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
Betzoldt offered details on the unit mix and monthly rents for the proposed apartments.
The tentative plan calls for 130 one-bedroom units (around 750 square feet) priced at $1,100 a month, 145 two-bedroom units (ranging from 1,100-1,300 square feet) at $1,300-$1,600 a month, and 20 three-bedroom units (a little more than 1,400 square feet) at $2,000 a month.
Some residents said they consider the area a family neighborhood and they fear lower-income people and possibly University of Michigan students will move into the new apartments.
Betzoldt said they'll probably attract young professionals and empty nesters.
"I don't think this is going to attract low income, and this is not a subsidized housing development," he said. "They're not crazy high-end apartments. They're market-rate apartments."
Betzoldt said the first phase — which includes roughly 220 units — could break ground next spring. The timeframe for the second phase is undetermined and likely will be market-driven.
In response to a resident's question, Betzoldt said there's no chance of an M-14 interchange going in at Nixon Road. As far as sidewalks, he said, the plan is to have a sidewalk across the property frontage on Nixon Road that will connect to the Barclay Park sidewalk to the south.
This site layout by Midwestern Consulting was on display Tuesday night.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
"Basically in the 1940s, almost all of it was tilled," Betzoldt said. "Then I suspect what happened is some of the farm tiles kind of gave way and they were never replaced."
He said historic photos show how wetlands appeared on the property over time. He thinks the development of M-14 had a lot to do with that.
"From that point on, farming basically took place only to the west of the main part of the wetland," he said, adding only about 15 acres of the site was being farmed in recent years.
Betzoldt said there are about 25 acres on the site that are developable — areas not impacted by wetland restrictions.
"The intention of this proposal is to minimize any disturbance to the wetlands and most of the existing woods on the site," he said.
The project requires a property annexation from the township to the city of Ann Arbor, which isn't expected to be a problem.
The developer plans to submit a formal proposal to the city's planning department in about a month, after which the project will go to the Planning Commission and City Council.
Betzoldt said the developer is asking the city to zone the property R4A residential, which would allow up to 540 apartments standing 35 feet tall with two parking spaces per unit. But the proposal they're planning to present doesn't quite reach that level of density.
These renderings by Humphreys & Partners Architects were on display Tuesday night.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
The company is family owned and based in Birmingham, Mich. Betzoldt pointed out they've been in business more than 40 years. In the late 1960s, he said, they developed the Woodbury apartment complex off South Industrial Highway and have owned it ever since.
Some residents who live in Arbor Hills said Tuesday night they were worried the new development on Nixon Road might try to connect to their private roads, but that's not planned.
Ig Justyna, who lives in Arbor Hills, said he's also concerned about the potential future loss of nature areas between his subdivision and the apartments.
"Where we have a nature area now, this is now all open to development, so that's the concern that we have," he said.
Kami Meader, another resident of Arbor Hills, said she's concerned about the number of new apartment tenants who will be riding the bus and getting dropped off on Nixon Road.
She said buses already come because of the Windemere Park apartments and they drop loads of passengers off close to the Dhu Varren/Nixon/Green intersection.
"It dumps off like 20 people every time it stops," she said. "And everybody is at that intersection, and I have seen people almost get run over because the cars don't know when to go.
"They drop them off right at that 5 o'clock rush hour — it's really awful," she added. "They need to fix that intersection. I mean, it's scary bad and I've seen several accidents there."
The field on Nixon Road where a 294-unit apartment complex is proposed.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.
Comments
kuriooo
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 8:59 p.m.
Wow, there is a lot of anti-development sentiment on here. I don't think it's that big a deal. There is plenty of farmland just minutes outside Ann Arbor.. and if I were the owner of one of these properties I'd want as much for it as possible. I just hope they do a good job creating a nice community for people who hopefully will contribute to the community in which they live.
Jay Thomas
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 6:39 p.m.
I have never seen a development in this area stopped because of the concerns of the community. Neighbors couldn't even stop the government housing project that is there. So therefore it will be built (as will Bill Martin's stupid development where the pond was). The greenbelt people went looking for property to buy that I don't even think was listed for sale (and way out in the boondocks too!). Why couldn't they have bought land like this? Buses going up Nixon is idiotic enough.
John Q
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 7:48 p.m.
It's located within the freeway ring and where the city provides water and sewer. The Nixons are looking for development prices for their land. In that scenario, it's not realistic for the city to pay development prices to keep it farmland.
cibachrome
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 4:45 p.m.
I'd like to remind the NIMBYciles that this land sale represents a good part of the Nixon's 401k/IRA and they probably would like to have a break from farming (or would you demand that they continue to try and eack out a living plowing, planting and harvesting soybeans and corn?). Oh and I'm sure some of you are the estimated 1.6 million citizens that believe you are allergic to corn gluten and processed soy products. As I stated before, you have only to purchase the property, maintain it and pay the taxes on it if you want to continue your dreamworks belief that others should toil while you enjoy their property. Sniff, sniff. Sob sob. Boo Hoo. Just think of all the exotic restaurants that one could stash here !!!
a2citizen
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 5:36 p.m.
And the discussions of socialism within.
Mickey Mouse
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 4:16 p.m.
This is a beautiful land... to bad it has to be turned into apartments. There are plenty of apts and house for rent in the area. Why doesn't the city, township check to see what is empty before they plan all these other apartments or condo's. I know the folks that own land are taxed to death. That to is unfair and not only that is brings more crime into the area does anyone think of that. And with cut back with police who is going to help who?
KathyMac
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 4:13 p.m.
I drive to our summer cottage that way and said to my son that I was glad to see the land was still open and no big developments. My son said...just wait Mom it will all be gone. We moved to the northeast area in the early 80s because it wasn't as developed as other areas of the city. Now it looks like every bit of space will be taken up by out of town developers and builders. How sad that our city doesn't have the sense to keep the small town in at least one area of the city.
John Q
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 7:46 p.m.
No offense but if everyone has the attitude of moving places where "it wasn't as developed as other areas of the city", you end up bringing the development you wanted to avoid with you.
Dog Guy
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 3:19 p.m.
The above photos of a field remind me of 1963 and two Warsaw Pact jets overflying a corner of West Germany: HQ ordered "Forward immediately photographs of the violated airspace!"
Ross
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 3:02 p.m.
""Basically in the 1940s, almost all of it was tilled," Betzoldt said. "Then I suspect what happened is some of the farm tiles kind of gave way and they were never replaced." He said historic photos show how wetlands appeared on the property over time. He thinks the development of M-14 had a lot to do with that." I guess he didn't actually look at any historical photos and decided just to assume? One quick check on the ewashtenaw GIS map shows that in 1940 and 1960, the existing wetland/pond/swamp was EXACTLY where it stands today. Nothing to do with M-14, no change.
JRW
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 2:46 p.m.
That whole area is condos and apartments. Too much density for the roads and infrastructure. Leave the green space and stop all the developments! It will be filled with students. There is no way to keep them out, if that is a concern for the "neighbors" in the other apartments and condos.
JRW
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 2:41 p.m.
"Some residents said they consider the area a family neighborhood and they fear lower-income people and possibly University of Michigan students will move into the new apartments." The cheapest apartments are 750 sq ft for $1100. Hardly low income apartments.
NSider
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 5:26 p.m.
Are they (or are you) actually calling UoM students "low rent"? $1100 is nothing to today's students, 4 to and apartment (or 6 if you use bunk beds) and its down to $200-$300 each per month.
Haran Rashes
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 2:33 p.m.
The proposed location of the apartments, in all likelihood, permanently eliminate the possibility for an intersection at M-14/US-23 and Nixon road, that I know has been talked about for a long time. Traffic in that area is a problem and this is the city's chance to do something about it and get someone else to pay part of the bill, in exchange for annexation, sewer and water. It has been less than 25 years since Nixon road was a dirt road with a lovely little farm stand where Traver Village Stores now sits. Back then Green Road did not go through and ended (from the West) at Windemere Park Apartments and (from the south) at Gettysburg/Burbank. Yet with all the development in that area, including some major subdivisions (Fox Fire, Arbor Hills and Barclay Place) the city has done nothing to examine and improve the misaligned four way intersection at Nixon, DhuVarren, and Green.
JRW
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 2:42 p.m.
Very typical. The city likes the tax dollars and doesn't want to spend any $$ to deal with traffic issues.
Local Yocal
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 2:13 p.m.
There are 2 huge parcels of land that may be developed west of the DhuVarren /Nixon intersection. I would imagine a subdivision. Just a matter of time.
kuriooo
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 8:52 p.m.
I just hope they keep the ponds when these parcels get developed.
NSider
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 2:58 p.m.
Nah, its a better place for the transportation center... the train track is right there, build some freeway offramps, you can catch traffic from 4 directions as well off of Pontiac Trail which could collect the North Territorial drivers as well. Light rail and Express Buses (onto the freeway from there) to many destinations from that point. Don't forget much of that land sits on gravel, which means a lot of drainage problems.
Ryan J. Stanton
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 2:33 p.m.
You might be right. With predictions for thousands of new jobs in Ann Arbor in the years ahead, these new workers are going to want some place to live, and the supply of single-family homes already is relatively low here compared to demand.
cibachrome
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 1:12 p.m.
Hello ! Gerry Swann and I used to ride our horses from Bill Steude's farm north of M-14 down to Plymouth road and stop at Carpenter Bros. From there, on to the retirement center on Geddes. The News even did a story on it. The horses didn't mind trotting over the Nixon road bridge, but the cars on M-14 sure did. Can you try to imagine such an activity today? Then, THEY moved into THEIR apartments and condos on Nixon and played golf at Traver. THEY honked at us for being on the roads and THEY took the shortcuts at expressway speeds up to Pontiac Trail and THEY brought their kids out to play in our hay fields. And now THEY want to complain about someone else moving in to THEIR territory? Gimme a break ! They are NIMBYciles. It is a Natural Law that cities are a conglomerate and magnate for people who can not stand or bear to live on their own. They need others to assist them in living. Eventually the system wears out and the place runs down hill. Ann Arbor is no different that all other cities that came before it. Welcome to REALITY.
Ross
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 2:59 p.m.
Interesting. What year was that and how old are you now? (if you don't mind me asking).
Jon Wax
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 1 p.m.
if you haven't lived here long enough to remember when Nixon wasn't paved, then to be honest, you're part of the problem. the "neighbors" at the spot before the bridge? or the neighbors who can't seem to figure out how to use the staggered 4 way intersection? yeah, most of them ARE the traffic that the locals have to put up with. this new thing shouldn't be built and for sure not on nixon. build it in pittsfield. they need the help. Peace Wax
NSider
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 2:55 p.m.
Loved it when that was mostly cornfield. Miss that and my friends the Bolgos' farm as well.
Gretchen Ridenour
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 12:56 p.m.
What about $1100 a month for a one-bedroom, 750 sq ft apartment shouts "lower income people"? This equates to 25% - 30% of take home pay for a single income of $50 - $60,000/yr. I know many hard working people with an education in A2 in this salary range who don't consider themselves "low income". And Kami Meader said she's concerned about the number of new apartment tenants who will be riding the bus and getting dropped off on Nixon Road. Won't using public transit ease the traffic at the intersections of Nixon, Green and Dhu Varren roads?
demistify
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 3:49 p.m.
"Won't using public transit ease the traffic at the intersections of Nixon, Green and Dhu Varren roads? The bus stops adjacent to that intersection contribute to the traffic backup. So does the fact that all the buses are making a turn at the intersection. More buses, more gridlock.
Mike58
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 12:51 p.m.
I'm more concerned about the school crosswalk to Clague. It's poorly marked and at the bottom of the hill on Nixon. This has been an issue for years. I have talked to several of the crossing guards and have heard about many near misses of cars and kids, and cars and crossing guards. Sabra Briere says city council has been aware of the issue for years but nothing has been done about it. So now they want to put a larger volume of traffic through the area. There was some supposed grant that was to increase the safety of the crossing but that was reported nearly a year ago. We really need to do a better job protecting the children in Ann Arbor.
kuriooo
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 8:49 p.m.
This location would be a good place for the HAWK lights.
DJBudSonic
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 6:12 p.m.
That is the kind of top-notch representation we have on city council - 10 years and nothing but talk. Ms. Briere takes longer to say nothing about anything than anybody I know.
NE Steward
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 3:19 p.m.
Agree 100% - - this concern was brought up at the meeting but not enough was said nor reported on by Ryan. Everyone got wrapped up on the intersection problems! An improvement in that intersection will help the flow and as well as make it more constant. But with more traffic and at a higher flow rate, we will have major problems with the kids crossing to get to the schools. We have been struggling for years with these school crossing and safety concerns at Nixon with very little support from the city. How can we promote our children to walk and ride their bicycles to the schools if we cannot provide safe conditions?
NSider
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 2:53 p.m.
Overhead, glass enclosed, crosswalk would solve the problem
sun runner
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 12:49 p.m.
Another piece of land falls victim to the bulldozer blade...
Skyjockey43
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 7:09 p.m.
I suppose it was perfectly acceptable for you when the bulldozer tore up the land to build your house though huh?
EyeHeartA2
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 12:37 p.m.
Natural consequence of that moronic green belt.
DJBudSonic
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 12:24 p.m.
Once again the field looks nicer than the proposed housing. It was not that many years ago that Mr. Nixons price for the property seemd so high that no one could profit from building there, but with the free for all in Ann Arbor development the math has changed. It is a shame, really. I had hope for the small farm movement to take over this area before the hive housing movement did. The planning commission and city council are under no obligation to change this zoning from what I assume is now agricultural to residential. Show how green you are, city council, deny this zoning request .
Veracity
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 12:12 p.m.
Are the present water and sewer services to the area capable of handling the extra demands that will accompany 294 new families? What a shame that an interchange with M14 is not possible. An exchange at that site would siphon some traffic off Nixon Road and off Plymouth Road.
foobar417
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 1:26 p.m.
All it would do is enable sprawl north of M14, which would lead to more traffic, which would congest everything again.
Nerak
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 12:06 p.m.
Definitely time for a roundabout so the traffic can flow better. But the main traffic problem is allowing so many dense residential projects (with no supportive commercial to shorten trips) to be built that have only one access point and that don't connect to each other. The city has danced around this issue for years (think Arbor Hills and Barclay Park).
NSider
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 2:52 p.m.
Spur the proposed "connector" out Nixon Road, all the way to Pontiac Trail. Then buy the farm land at Pontiac Trail & Nixon and build a big parking garage, with light rail train station there.
Ryan J. Stanton
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 12:05 p.m.
In case anyone is curious, I asked Betty Nixon Spurway and she said she never lived on the farm on Nixon Road where this development is proposed. She actually grew up on Main Street in downtown Ann Arbor — where the Ashley Mews condominiums now stand — in one of two Queen Anne Victorian houses that were famously moved to Huron Parkway in June 1987. "I joined the Navy and I didn't come back here for 63 years," she said. "I liked living in other places, but I've been back (in Ann Arbor) for 10 years. And people say, 'Why did you come back?' I say, 'Well, I thought I'd like to vote in the place where I pay property taxes.' " She's also been taking care of her brother, who has been battling cancer.
Ryan J. Stanton
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 1:26 p.m.
Unfortunately, I talked to her before the meeting started, before I knew that was an issue, and I didn't catch her afterward. It's a good question, though.
Ed Kimball
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 1:12 p.m.
Did you ask Ms. Spurway why there's a problem in selling the land needed to install a roundabout at the Dhu Varren/Green/Nixon intersection?
Ryan J. Stanton
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 12:07 p.m.
Background on the house move: http://www.annarbor.com/news/the-1987-show-stopping-move-of-two-historic-downtown-ann-arbor-houses-preserved-for-all-time/
Tex Treeder
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 11:56 a.m.
This is an ongoing problem: Slight increase in population on Nixon creates a demand (by a vocal minority) for higher capacity roads. Higher capacity roads mean more people living around Nixon, leading to a demand for higher capacity roads, and on we go. Sometimes NOT increasing capacity is the right answer. Three hundred apartments means what, 500 more cars? This is just the wrong type of development for this location.
Tano
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 1:38 p.m.
Why is that? It seems perfectly reasonable to assert that some sprawl is ok, but there is a limit as to what is desirable - i.e. people who live in a certain level of sprawl have every right to argue that more sprawl is undesirable.
Fordie
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 12:14 p.m.
I completely agree from a planning perspective and from the that perspective of people living in sprawl don't get to whine about more sprawl.
Silly Sally
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 11:46 a.m.
If this development is going to exacerbate traffic problems, especially at Nixon and Dhu Varren/ Green, the City of Ann Arbor should make the developer pay for a roundabout as a condition of being annexed. They need Ann Arbor water and sewer services. Ditto for other traffic problems. I, as a taxpayer do not want to pay for it.
NE Steward
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 2:53 p.m.
The idea is that these "new" renters will pay the needed taxes????
Silly Sally
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 11:43 a.m.
The Hawk lights are the only good thing about the crosswalks. It allows a driver to know that someone is trying to cross, and to look out for them. THe islands are silly, as they provide no safety, a car and especially a truck can jump the curb. Worse, all of the poles sticking up are a distraction when a driver is looking for a person. Other cities use a guard rail island instead - much better. But the Hawk lights solve these problems. Hawk light on, someone crossing, slow down and stop.
NSider
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 11:40 a.m.
wah, wah... Listen to the NIMBYs now. They weren't complaining about the increase in traffic that they themselves created, were they? And that "3 way" stop? Check again, you'll find it is a 4 way stop, only one of the roadways think they are _entitled_ to blow through the stop sign because they are turning right... HEY people, it is right turn allowed AFTER stop (including at a red light), it isn't "lean back like a gangsta and drive right around".
Ryan J. Stanton
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 12:02 p.m.
You're right, it's essentially a four-way stop, where the three roads come together. I just tweaked one of the sentences in the story to clarify that.
Ryan J. Stanton
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 11:27 a.m.
I was driving down Plymouth Road on my way back from the meeting last night and a pedestrian activated one of the flashing crossing signals. The cars ahead of me slowed down to let the pedestrian safely cross. I couldn't yet see the pedestrian ahead, but I could see the flashing signal going off, so I think that it was helpful. I didn't mind the 3-second delay.
Ryan J. Stanton
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 11:29 a.m.
Oops, meant this as a reply to the Diag Squirrel's comment above.
Richard Wickboldt
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 11:26 a.m.
Welcome to the Mayor's vision of a higth density Ann Arbor. The path to saving the world!
Jay Thomas
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 6:41 p.m.
Yes, using every square inch of land within the city limits... and greenbelt buying outside the city limits.
TheDiagSquirrel
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 10:21 a.m.
I drive on the north side from time to time, and those insufferable HAWK pedestrian walkways are a bigger nuisance to traffic than anything...
kuriooo
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 8:46 p.m.
DIag, I live on the Northside and have to highly disagree with you about the HAWK lights. I drive Plymouth Road often, and really appreciate the extra visibility as a motorist. Pedestrian crossings in other parts of town are more difficult because you don't necessarily see a pedestrian far away or that the car in front of you is doing a super quick stop for a pedestrian until you are closer. The HAWK lights alert all the traffic from a good distance, so you can be slowing down before you even see the pedestrian. ' And yes, they last a bit longer than the "normal" crossing time. Ok with me. I proceed with caution.
LAEL
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 1:47 p.m.
I like the pedestrian crossings on Plymouth, and I say that as a driver and not a ped. The flashing lights are visible from a distance and since they are placed high, they are not obstructed by other traffic. I thinkif the pedestrian has finished crossing and there are no other peds that you can go through the crossing even if the lights are still blinking. At least that's how the traffic usually treats them. The main problems I've noticed with them are pedestrians who don't push the signal buttons, and pedestrians who decide to cross near but not at the crosswalk.
Tex Treeder
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 11:53 a.m.
I think the HAWK walkway is the one by the Y downtown, but I agree: those crosswalks on Plymouth do not help. They blink far too long, there are bus stops right next to them so you're never sure if the pedestrian is really a would-be bus rider, people cross 20 feet away from them anyway, etc.
TheDiagSquirrel
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 11:31 a.m.
I was referring to the ones on Plymouth Rd. I can understand ones on Nixon and Green, but Plymouth Road is not the place for them. I have seen people push the button and just dart out into traffic, or push the button and take their sweet time crossing with no regard for traffic. I have also seen the lights triggered without anybody crossing at all, which means the sensors need adjustment also.
NE Steward
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 11:20 a.m.
Are you referring to the crossings on Green or Nixon. Without the crossings there is no way the children can reach the schools safely! A real issues is how to protect the 3 schools - 2 of which are directly on Nixon from the added traffic and higher speeds! These are family oriented neighborhoods dependent on safe roads
Ryan J. Stanton
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 11:07 a.m.
What problems have you noticed them causing?