Most everyone appears to dislike the new traffic and pedestrian signals at Main and Washington..
Count the Clarkston City Council among them.
The council’s Nov. 8 meeting included a promise to lobby the Michigan Department of Transportation, which dictated the style and cycle of signals at the Main Street intersections with Washington Street and Waldon Road this past summer.
Mel Vaara spoke to the council during the public comment portion of the meeting. A former city resident, Vaara admitted he now lives in Independence Township but, ‘To get anywhere you have to go through the city.?
Vaara said he has witnessed several near hits because of the confusing system, which requires those wishing to cross Main Street to push a button before the ‘walk? signal is activated.
‘I see them get confused,? he said. ‘If you press the button late, it will not turn ‘walk.? You have to wait a whole new cycle. You get impatient. Kids run across the road. Many people don’t even know it’s there.?
DPW Director Bob Pursley said he and other city representatives have attempted to pursuade MDOT (which has authority over M-15) to change the cycle.
‘The last answer we were given is this is the standard all over the state of Michigan,? Pursley said. ‘It’s an MDOT problem. It’s not a city issue. The city as a whole is not happy with it, and it has been voiced several times to MDOT.?
Some, like Council Member Steve Wylie, said city staff should bypass MDOT.
‘It’s more dangerous with [the new system] than without it,? said Wylie, advocating a return to the automatic walk signal with each green traffic signal. ‘We should just fix it. Let’s just do it.?
Also in question was the MDOT directive to move the ‘no turn on red? sign from its former overhead position to signs on the sides of each street.
‘I’ve never liked MDOT rules,? said Mayor Sharron Catallo. ‘People turn right there anyhow. It is dangerous to the pedestrians.?
‘We’re confused, and we know how it works,? Pursley said.
City Manager Art Pappas said the issue should be raised during regularly scheduled meetings with the Road Commission for Oakland County. A joint effort between the city and county agency may carry more clout with MDOT, Pappas said.
Officials noted a Nov. 4 incident in which a car hit a pedestrian at Main and Washington. Police Chief Ernest Combs said the victim had pressed the button for the pedestrian signal and had activated the ‘walk? sign.
Attempts by The Clarkston News to reach MDOT officials were unsuccessful.