The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety (BPWS) approved the request made by the Plymouth Complete Streets Committee to install two Tactical Urban Projects in the month of May.
Board member Jeff Houin recused himself from the vote to present the project as a member of the committee. According to Houin, these projects are designed and implemented to slow traffic and increase safety for pedestrians by narrowing the lanes.The projects are implemented on a temporary basis to evaluate the pros and cons for potential permanent placement.
The first project will be installed on the corner of Gibson St. and Liberty St. in front of the Lincoln Education Center next to the Lincoln Junior High School. The goal of this project will be to enhance safety for pedestrians at that intersection. There is no stop sign for Liberty Street drivers. Traffic moving along Liberty Street and coming from Garro St. creates a challenge for pedestrians to cross Liberty St. at that location.
The second project will be installed on Randolph St. in front of Plymouth High School at the exit from 1 Big Red Drive. There is also a crosswalk coming from the Greenways Trail where the bridge crosses the river across the street at that location. That street is 40 feet wide not counting the slip lane exiting the circle drive. “It is an extremely long distance for a pedestrian to cross. If you’ve ever been in this area before or after school, traffic is pretty intense.” The goal for that location is to narrow the distance across the street for pedestrians, slow traffic down, and eliminate passing.
Both of these projects will enhance safety for pedestrians in these school zones. Discussions were held with Plymouth Community School Corporation Superintendent Mitch Mawhorter and Director of Security Ted Brown. According to Houin both men are “strongly in favor” of both projects. They will assist in the evaluation process for efficacy of both projects and possibly incorporate the findings in their own work moving forward.
The City of Plymouth Street Department installs and removes the temporary materials which are supplied by the Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG). City of Plymouth Engineering Assistant / GIS Coordinator Chris Marshall worked with the committee on the drawings and recommendations for the projects to ensure they met engineering standards.
The committee requested approval for the month of May so that they could make the evaluations before school is out of session for the academic school year.
Street Superintendent Jimmy Marquardt asked Houin if the committee wanted to extend the project in to June. Though that option was discussed, Houin recommended implementing the project for May and requesting an extension only if further evaluation is needed; unless it was the desire of the board to approve both months during the meeting.
Houin also informed the board that the projects will be removed immediately for any safety concerns that should arise.
Board member Shiloh Carothers Milner said, “We need to be proactive, not reactive.” The board approved the projects; Houin recused himself from the vote.
These will not be the first projects that the committee has installed. Previously a study was done on Jefferson St. by the permanent supportive housing project Saint Katharina Kasper Serenity Place. Then another was completed in downtown Plymouth last summer.
